Morocco’s armed forces expand cyber defense capabilities ahead of US-led exercises

Saturday 03 - 13:20

Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces (FAR) are expanding their military cyber defense capabilities as they prepare to establish specialized teams capable of protecting operational networks and responding to digital threats.

The initiative is expected to develop further through closer cooperation with the United States, including participation in specialized cyber exercises designed to assess the readiness of Morocco’s emerging Cyber Protection Teams.

The plans were discussed during meetings held from July 27 to 31 in Bedford, Massachusetts, according to information published by the US Army on September 29. Among the exercises considered for future Moroccan participation are Cyber Shield and Wolverine, both of which provide opportunities to train personnel in responding to cyber incidents in controlled operational environments.

Building specialized cyber teams

The creation of dedicated cyber protection units represents a new phase in the development of Morocco’s military cybersecurity capabilities. Rather than relying solely on conventional information-security structures, the FAR are working toward teams specifically trained to identify, contain and respond to threats targeting military systems.

The proposed participation in US exercises would provide an opportunity to assess these teams under simulated attack conditions while exposing Moroccan personnel to established operational procedures and cybersecurity practices.

Moroccan military personnel already have some experience with Wolverine. During an earlier edition in April, they observed both offensive and defensive cyber operations and took part in the analysis of incidents within a security operations center.

That experience could provide a foundation for a more active Moroccan role in subsequent exercises.

Utah National Guard prepares 2027 invitation

The Utah National Guard is now preparing to invite Moroccan military personnel to an evaluation exercise planned for 2027. The event is expected to place cyber teams in scenarios requiring them to address both offensive and defensive activity within a simulated digital environment.

Such exercises are designed to reproduce the pressure of a real cyber incident while allowing participating forces to evaluate procedures, coordination and technical responses without exposing operational systems to actual attacks.

For the FAR, participation would offer another opportunity to measure the capabilities of their newly established teams and identify areas requiring additional training.

Cooperation could extend to Morocco

The planned cooperation is not limited to exercises hosted in the United States. Utah National Guard officials are also examining the possibility of taking part in a cyber-related exercise hosted in Morocco.

This approach would broaden the partnership beyond Moroccan participation in American training activities and could create opportunities for personnel from both sides to work together in a Moroccan operational setting.

The cooperation is also expected to become part of preparations surrounding African Lion, the multinational military exercise involving Morocco and international partners.

Cyber dimension considered for African Lion

Specialists from Utah are expected to exchange expertise with Moroccan counterparts as part of preparations for the 2027 edition of African Lion. The objective is to gradually strengthen the exercise’s cyber component alongside its conventional military dimensions.

Future editions could eventually incorporate simulated cyberattacks, allowing participating forces to test how quickly they can identify an intrusion, protect critical systems and coordinate a response.

Introducing these scenarios would add a digital layer to a multinational exercise traditionally focused on broader military interoperability. It would also provide participating forces with a controlled environment in which to examine the coordination required when cyber incidents occur alongside conventional military operations.

For Morocco, the planned cooperation with the Utah National Guard therefore offers a pathway toward developing specialized cyber defense capabilities while integrating cybersecurity more closely into multinational military training.

Morocco–US military cooperation enters a new cyber phase

The proposed exercises illustrate the growing importance of cybersecurity within military preparedness. As armed forces increasingly depend on interconnected communication, information and command systems, the ability to detect and respond to digital attacks has become an integral part of operational readiness.

For the FAR, participation in Cyber Shield, Wolverine and future African Lion scenarios could provide successive stages for testing and developing their cyber protection teams, while strengthening technical exchanges with US military specialists.