Tekever MoU with Droneway seeks to catalyse Moroccan UAV industry

Portuguese unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturer Tekever announced on 30 October 2024 that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Droneway, the foremost distributor of civil and tactical UAVs in Morocco and North Africa, to become a supplier of UAV technology to military and security organisations in the North African region.

The partnership, unveiled on the opening day of the 2024 Marrakech Air Show, will see Tekever support the development of Morocco’s UAV industry through the establishment of a post-sales office and investment into various supplementary activities: industrial projects; test platforms; training; and assembly, maintenance and logistical support operations. These activities will be rolled out over time in direct proportion to government incentives under Law 10-20 on defence and security materials and equipment, including industrial investment and access to airspace.

Droneway will leverage Tekever’s technology and expertise to provide Morocco’s military and security organisations with immediate assistance in establishing a robust, end-to-end UAV programme that will benefit from the full suite of Tekever systems, including the AR3, AR4, AR5 and ARX UAVs as well as the company’s Atlas data-processing interface.

The strategic agreement marks the latest stage in Tekever’s expansion into the African market and “demonstrates its progressive success in growing its global footprint”, the company asserted. Meanwhile, the company also retains contracts contracts in Europe, North America and Southeast Asia.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Droneway who share our vision for delivering quality drone products and services across both civilian and defence projects,” Tekever CEO Ricardo Mendes was quoted as saying in a company press release. “Through our joint commitment of using cutting-edge technology to minimise the direct risk to humans in complex missions, this partnership will prove critical in establishing Morocco as the African leader in drone technologies. This collaboration reinforces that Tekever is regarded as a trusted partner for governments and security agencies worldwide.”

Droneway CEO Yassine Qammous added, “As a proudly Moroccan company, we understand the unique challenges and opportunities of our region while operating at international excellence levels. Tekever’s cutting-edge technology is at the forefront of the drone market, offering unparalleled capabilities that are essential to driving forward a national drone programme and ensuring skills  transfer with the aim of making Morocco an African hub for the drone industry. We are proud to collaborate with such a forward-thinking partner.”