Rabat– Morocco is participating alongside numerous nations in the large-scale ORION 2026 military exercise, led by France from February 8 to April 30.
According to Spanish daily La Razón, the exercise aims to strengthen armed forces’ preparedness for complex scenarios in hybrid operational environments, while enhancing coordination, interoperability, and the protection of territories and populations.
The Moroccan contingent includes the frigate Mohammed VI and forms part of an international coalition that features Spain, Germany, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, South Korea, Estonia, the United States, Croatia, Italy, Greece, Japan, Norway, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Qatar, Romania, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Switzerland.
ORION 2026 focuses on planning and executing joint operations across land, sea, and air domains, as well as in cyber and information spaces. The exercise also provides a platform to test modern military technologies, including drones, artificial intelligence, and electronic warfare capabilities.
Organized in three phases, ORION 2026 began with operational planning on January 6, followed by field implementation from February 8 to March 1. From April 7 to 30, participating forces will integrate into a NATO-led exercise, reinforcing multinational coordination.
France is deploying significant resources for the exercise, including a corps headquarters, three joint brigades, approximately 2,150 tactical vehicles, 40 helicopters, and 1,200 combat and specialized drones. The aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, two amphibious helicopter carriers, 50 carrier-based aircraft, and nearly 25 combat units are also mobilized to support the operation.
The exercise affirms Morocco’s commitment to international military cooperation and its role in enhancing collective defense readiness within a global coalition.