Aeronautics: Morocco scales up

Thanks to its competitiveness in the aerospace industry, its growing expertise, its modern infrastructure, and the quality of its talent, the Kingdom of Morocco is establishing itself as a major player in the Safran Group’s development strategy.

His Majesty King Mohammed VI received Ross McInnes, Chairman of the Board of Directors, at the Royal Palace in Casablanca on Friday, February 13. The Sovereign presided over the presentation and launch ceremony for the project (in Nouaceur) for a landing gear production plant, a subsidiary of the Safran group. This is a major investment amounting to more than 3 billion dirhams (more than 280 million euros). “ It is a new-generation factory covering 26,000 square meters, on a site of more than 7 hectares, with an investment of more than 3 billion dirhams ” , announced Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry, in his speech before His Majesty the King and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Safran. The new industrial site will provide Morocco with a cutting-edge industrial segment in terms of precision machining, special processes, high-tech assembly, testing, certification, advanced maintenance, and more. In addition, manufacturing landing gear systems will enable Morocco to master one of the most advanced technologies and consolidate its industrial integration into global aerospace value chains, Minister Mezzour pointed out during the presentation and launch ceremony for this new-generation factory at the Royal Palace in Casablanca.

25 years and 5,000 employees

This new investment by Safran Landing Systems in Morocco will enable the establishment of one of the largest landing gear production centers in the world! “This new infrastructure is likely to boost the production of our landing gear for short- and medium-haul aircraft and support the ramp-up of the Airbus A320 family ”, said Safran’s management.
A partner of Morocco for more than a quarter of a century, the Safran group employs nearly 5,000 people in a dozen companies located in Morocco. Safran is not only a witness but also a dynamic player that has supported the Moroccan aerospace industry’s move upmarket, in terms of technical sophistication and added value, over the past 25 years. “Our longstanding presence in the Kingdom, spanning more than 25 years, reflects our commitment to continuing to invest in a country with modern infrastructure, a stable macroeconomic environment, and recognized talent” , said Ross McInnes, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Safran, in his speech during the project presentation and launch ceremony before the Sovereign.
Safran’s future plant in Midparc (Nouaceur) is much more than an industrial investment. It reflects the importance and confidence that the Kingdom of Morocco enjoys with the French group, which already has a dozen sites at the heart of Safran’s global production system, contributing to its industrial performance in cutting-edge activities (aircraft engine maintenance, aeronautical cabling, aircraft nacelles, engine and landing gear assembly, etc.). This industrial platform, which is set to be one of the world’s largest factories for equipment and landing gear, will be built to the highest standards. It will be equipped with modern, high-performance production facilities, announced the Chairman of the Board of Directors. According to McInnes, this new site will house high-tech processes and key expertise, enabling the group to support the ramp-up of production of the Airbus A320 family and prepare for the next generation of short- and medium-haul aircraft. Furthermore, the Moroccan plant is set to play a major role in the development of “a resilient and agile industrial model with short industrial routes, given its geographical proximity to Safran’s current assembly sites and Airbus’s European assembly lines ”, explained Ross McIness.
In terms of employability, the new factory is expected to create 500 jobs in the long term. What makes this site unique is that it will be powered entirely by carbon-free energy.

Operations to start in 2029

The Safran Group’s future landing gear systems plant in Morocco is set to produce its first parts in 2029, which will support the ramp-up in production of the Airbus A320 family and prepare for the next generation of short- and medium-haul aircraft. To this end, the 500 qualified managers at the site “will receive support from local players as part of a specific training plan, with a view to meeting tooling requirement ” , announced the French group’s management.

The weight of the industry

In just two decades, Morocco has risen to become a world-class aerospace hub. By the end of 2025, exports of aerospace components amounted to more than 29 billion dirhams (over €280 million). This export momentum demonstrates the sector’s ability to maintain its international competitiveness through increased complexity, subcontracting, industrial integration, and the development of new markets and opportunities. Today, the industrial sector accounts for 25,000 jobs and recognized talent. The Safran group alone employs 5,000 people in a dozen companies located in the Kingdom.

Amin RBOUB