Óscar Ruiz, career Marine Corps soldier with more than 30 years of experience, has published an article in in which warns of the new military leap that Morocco is going to take in the coming monthssomething that, he assures, raises doubts in Spain and neighboring countries.
The North African country will add Turkish-made Bayraktar Akinci drones to its weapons in 2025which means a unprecedented technological improvement for the Moroccan arsenal.
In that sense, the military man has expressed that “with regard to the security perspective on the part of Spain, the Akinci could represent a potential threat by balancing the military balance in North Africaexpanding the capacity to carry out offensive or surveillance operations in sensitive areas.”
Furthermore, Óscar Ruiz has highlighted, in relation to the Bayraktar Akinci drones, that “its scope could, theoretically, cover strategic areas of southern Spainsuch as the Strait of Gibraltar, increasing the need for reinforced surveillance on the southern flank.”
This is not the first time that Morocco acquires Turkish drones: already has 19 Bayraktar TB2 drones purchased in 2021. However, these new drones bring greater power to the Royal Moroccan Army.
Specifically, as the expert explained, the Bayraktar Akinci drone “stands out for its “payload capacity of up to 1,500 kilos, flight autonomy of 25 hours and range of 7,500 km.”. In addition, the drone is “equipped with an AESA radar, satellite communication systems and advanced weaponry, such as SOM cruise missiles and guided bombs.”
