U.S. Africa Command and Morocco Launch Joint Africa Multi‑Domain Training and Experimentation Center
On July 13, 2024, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Royal Armed Forces of Morocco formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create the Africa Multi‑Domain Training and Experimentation Center (AMTEC). The agreement was signed at AFRICOM’s headquarters in Kelley Barrack, Stuttgart, Germany, marking a concrete steps toward a shared training hub on the edge of the Sahara in Tan‑Tan, southwest Morocco.
Background and Signing of the MoU
The MoU reflects a long‑standing defense partnership between the United States and Morocco, leveraging Morocco’s strategic location and existing military infrastructure. According to the official AFRICOM press release, the signing ceremony was attended by senior leaders from both nations, underscoring the commitment to enhance interoperability and readiness across multiple operational domains.
Components of AMTEC
Once fully operational, AMTEC will comprise three core elements:
- Innovation and Experimentation Center – a hub for testing emerging technologies and concepts in a controlled environment.
- Drone Academy – focused on training personnel in the operation, maintenance, and tactical employment of unmanned aerial systems.
- Multi‑Domain Training Area (MDTA) – a expansive range complex situated on the desert fringe near Tan‑Tan, designed to replicate contested, multi‑domain scenarios.
Training Focus and Capabilities
The MDTA range complex will provide a designated physical space where forces can synchronize air, land, maritime, cyber, and space effects. Key training emphases include:
- De‑confliction of airspace to ensure safe integration of manned and unmanned aircraft.
- Multi‑domain integration, enabling seamless coordination between strike capabilities, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets.
- Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SUAS) employment, teaching students how to embed drones within larger maneuver schemes.
- Operations in contested electromagnetic spectrum environments, preparing forces for contested communications and electronic warfare scenarios.
By offering a realistic, instrumented training landscape, AMTEC aims to bridge the gap between concept development and field‑ready execution.
Strategic Partnerships and Innovation
Beyond pure military training, the MoU outlines collaborative initiatives with academic institutions and subject‑matter experts. These partners will be integrated into cross‑functional design teams to:
- Experiment with emerging defense technologies.
- Develop scalable, adaptable solutions that can be transitioned to operational units.
- Create pathways for joint innovation and export opportunities for U.S. and Moroccan defense industries.
Such collaborations are intended to foster a vibrant ecosystem where theory, experimentation, and practical application inform one another.
Leadership Comments
General Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces and Commander of the Southern Zone, highlighted Morocco’s readiness:
“Morocco’s readiness, demonstrated by our existing facilities and qualified personnel, ensures rapid progress from concept to operational reality and provides Moroccan and U.S. industries with a reliable and competent partner for joint innovation and export opportunities.”
General Dagvin Anderson, Commander of U.S. Africa Command, emphasized the strategic value of the partnership:
“The Africa Multi‑Domain Training and Experimentation Center will increase readiness and enhance the capabilities of both nations. This partnership represents a great opportunity for U.S. and African defense industrial bases and academic institutions to experiment, innovate and develop scalable, adaptable solutions for new technologies.”
Conclusion
The establishment of AMTEC signifies a tangible step forward in U.S.–Moroccan defense cooperation. By combining Morocco’s geographic and infrastructural advantages with AFRICOM’s expertise in multi‑domain operations, the center is poised to deliver advanced training, foster technological innovation, and strengthen the readiness of allied forces operating in an increasingly complex security environment.
[1] U.S. Africa Command Press Release, “AFRICOM and Morocco Sign MoU for Africa Multi‑Domain Training and Experimentation Center,” July 13, 2024.
