Morocco and Africom Unveil Plans for African Multi-Domain Training Center by 2030
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces and the United States Africa Command (Africom) sets the stage for the establishment of the African Multi-Domain Training and Experimental Center (AMTEC) in Morocco by 2030. This agreement aims to enhance military collaboration and readiness in the region.
The MoU was officially signed on July 13 at Africom’s headquarters in Kelly Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany. With this agreement, both parties reaffirm their commitment to advancing military capabilities and fostering resilient partnerships within the African continent.
Strategic Location and Facilities of AMTEC
The AMTEC facility will be strategically located in Tintin, on the outskirts of the Sahara Desert in southwestern Morocco. Once fully realized, the center will feature a Multi-Domain Training Area (MDTA), a Drone Academy, and an Innovation Experimentation Center—each designed to meet evolving defense needs.
Capabilities of the Multi-Domain Training Area
The MDTA will provide a dedicated environment for preparing troops and technologies to function effectively across diverse scenarios. According to Africom’s statement, this training complex is uniquely equipped to operate in competitive environments while addressing challenges across the entire electromagnetic spectrum.
Drone Academy Aims to Strengthen Counter-Terrorism Efforts
The Drone Academy seeks to elevate the skill sets of operators, planners, and instructors from Morocco and allied African nations. The focus will be on enhancing counter-terrorism capabilities to tackle threats in West Africa. Trainees will learn to incorporate Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) into broader military operations, emphasizing airspace safety, multi-domain integration, intelligence for strike capabilities, and surveillance synchronization.
Innovation and Experimentation Center to Foster Collaboration
The Innovation and Experimentation Center will be at the forefront of developing new capabilities aimed at low-cost and scalable solutions for counter-terrorism and community security. The initiative plans to engage with academic institutions to incorporate expertise into cross-functional design teams, fostering innovation through collaboration.
Leadership Perspectives on AMTEC’s Impact
General Dagvin Anderson, commander of the U.S. Air Forces Africa Command, highlighted that AMTEC will significantly enhance the operational readiness of both Morocco and the U.S. He emphasized the unique opportunity it presents for defense industries and academic institutions to experiment with and innovate scalable solutions in the realm of emerging technologies.
Future Exercises Set to Test AMTEC’s Capabilities
General Mohamed Berrid, Inspector General of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, expressed confidence in Morocco’s readiness to transition swiftly from concept to operational capability. He stated that the existing facilities and skilled workforce position Morocco as a reliable partner for joint innovation and export opportunities in defense technologies.
Africom announced that next year’s African Lion exercise will serve as a proof of concept for AMTEC. This annual event, held in Morocco, provides a vital testing ground for integrating cutting-edge technologies into military operations. During the exercise, military personnel will work alongside industry partners to trial AI-enabled systems, autonomous platforms, and advanced communication tools, thus accelerating the shift from theory to practice.
