US Army to test counter-drone technologies in Morocco in 2027

The US Army plans to hold its first technology acceleration event in Tan-Tan, southern Morocco, in spring 2027, focusing on countering small drones and protecting command centers and tactical systems.

According to a US Army statement, the initiative will bring together the US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), and the Global Tactical Advanced Acquisition Directorate (G-TEAD) to test emerging technologies in Africa and deliver solutions to soldiers within 180 days.

The statement highlighted Africa’s open electromagnetic spectrum, relatively uncongested airspace and varied terrain, describing these conditions as difficult to replicate at training grounds in the United States and Europe.

“These conditions allow soldiers to validate solutions to problems in the operational theater and scale them across different military service branches,” the statement said.

G-TEAD operates under the US Army’s innovation and technology pathway, embedding personnel within the Army’s service component teams and commands.

US Army Col. Christopher Hill said the initiative would help put innovative solutions directly into the hands of soldiers. He noted that Army service component commands have long identified capability gaps and priorities but have lacked acquisition authority and funding for research, development, testing and evaluation.

G-TEAD, he added, provides an overview of modernization efforts across multiple commands and helps transfer validated operational solutions throughout the Army.

US Army Maj. Caitlin Van Wye said the planned exercise in Tan-Tan would be driven by urgent, theater-specific technological gaps. The initiative aims to translate commanders’ immediate tactical challenges into clear technical requirements that industry partners and technology developers can address.

The exercise will focus on five capability areas: a fully integrated, air-transportable kit, alongside four subcategories covering small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) detection, kinetic defeat, non-kinetic defeat and passive protection.

According to the statement, SETAF-AF will conduct a soldier-led demonstration in Tan-Tan in February and March 2027, followed by an operational assessment in April and May during the next edition of African Lion, the annual multinational military exercise hosted in part by Morocco.

The event is intended to assess emerging technologies under operational conditions and accelerate their delivery to military personnel.

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