DH NEWS SERVICE
new delhi, Sept 23
Defence Minister Rajnath has said on Tuesday that under the Make In India campaign, we want to develop the capabilities that allow us to defend our nation independently while maintaining engagement with global partners. Along with ‘Make in India,’ we are also pursuing ‘Make with Friends’ and ‘Make for the World’,” he said.
The defence minister was addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Tata Advanced Systems Limited’s (TASL) defence manufacturing facility in Berrechid, Morocco. The facility was jointly inaugurated with the Defence Minister of Morocco Abdelatif Loudyi.
Dubbing the inauguration as a historic moment in the evolving strategic partnership between India and Morocco, Singh said the project is expected to generate significant defence-related employment and create a robust local ecosystem of engineers, technicians and suppliers in Morocco.
Singh underlined that India’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat is not merely to manufacture for its own needs, but to develop capabilities that allows India to become a credible source of advanced technology and high-quality products for the world. “For India, self-reliance does not mean isolation; rather, we aim to develop strategic autonomy under Aatmanirbharta. We want to develop capabilities that allow us to defend our nation independently while maintaining engagement with global partners. Along with ‘Make in India,’ we are also pursuing ‘Make with Friends’ and ‘Make for the World’; this facility in Morocco is a shining example of that approach,” he said.
“This is not just the opening of a new plant, but the beginning of a new chapter in the long-standing friendship between India and Morocco. The establishment of this facility is a symbol of the growing strategic convergence between our two nations and demonstrates the strength of India’s defence industry,” the defence minister added further.
Spread over 20,000 square metres, the facility will undertake production of the indigenously developed Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8×8, jointly designed by TASL and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The WhAP is a modern modular combat platform equipped with advanced mobility, protection and mission adaptability. Its features such as a survivable monocoque hull with scalable ballistic and mine protection, independent suspension, central tyre inflation system and high-power engine ensure superior off-road performance.
Configurations include infantry fighting vehicle, armoured personnel carrier, reconnaissance, command post, mortar carrier and even ambulance variants. Options for manned or unmanned remote weapon stations and anti-tank guided missile capability further enhance its versatility.
Under its contract with the Government of Morocco, TASL will deliver WhAP 8×8 vehicles to the Royal Moroccan Army, with initial deliveries scheduled to begin next month. The facility became operational three months ahead of schedule, and production has already commenced.
Approximately one-third of the components and sub-systems will be sourced and assembled locally from the outset, with the share of local value addition rising to 50 percent in the coming years. Dedicated partners are also engaged to provide critical subsystems and technologies, ensuring in-country product support.
The defence minister further stated that Morocco’s strategic location as a gateway to Africa and Europe makes the facility an important hub for exports and collaboration, further enhancing defence ties between the two nations.
