Bird & Bird has advised Indian aerospace manufacturing, military engineering and defence technology company Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), in relation to its strategic partnership with the Kingdom of Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces and investment in new facilities for local production of Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) combat vehicles.
The contract will see the delivery of the 92 WhAP vehicles to the Moroccan forces over a three-year period, making it the largest deal for Indian-made armoured vehicles to date, both within India and on the global stage. This landmark agreement marks a significant step in expanding the company's footprint as a Defence Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) on an international scale, and represents the first large defence manufacturing plant in Morocco and the first overseas venture for an Indian defence Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).
This partnership underlines Morocco’s ambition to become a regional leader in defence manufacturing while simultaneously strengthening India’s presence in international defence markets.
The plant will be set up in the Casablanca area and will also target export markets.
Tata Advanced Systems Limited was advised by Bird & Bird, with a team comprising Boris Martor, Salma Bedraoui Idrissi, Louise-Marie Nicolas, Pierre-Benoit Drancourt and Edward Noakes.
