The Moroccan Armed Forces have reportedly finalized the purchase of TB-001K combat drones from China as part of the African country’s efforts to modernize its military capabilities and diversify its arms suppliers. Additionally, some sources suggest that this decision is part of broader negotiations between Rabat and Beijing, which would include discussions on other military systems and equipment.
Over the past few years, Morocco has pursued significant acquisitions to modernize and expand the capabilities of its Armed Forces. These efforts have resulted in the establishment of an important and diverse fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of various types and origins, including the Wing Loong 2 from China, a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone used for surveillance and reconnaissance missions; the Turkish Bayraktar TB2; and the WanderB and ThunderB drones from the Israeli company BlueBird Aero Systems. If the selection and acquisition of the new TB-001K—also known as the “Twin-Tailed Scorpion”—are confirmed, it would provide expanded capabilities for Morocco’s growing drone fleet.
Locally designed by Sichuan Tengden, the TB-001 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) capable of carrying out reconnaissance, surveillance, and attack missions. Its second version, designated TB-001A, was upgraded with an additional rear engine, increasing the maximum takeoff weight to 2,800 kg, which translated into an increase in payload capacity from 1,200 kg to 1,500 kg and a ceiling increase from 8,000 meters to 9,500 meters.
Although information on sightings of this drone has been limited, it was only several months ago that Japan’s Ministry of Defense reported identifying one of these units from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) over the western Pacific Ocean during a long-range reconnaissance flight. The presence of the TB-001 south of Okinawa Island in June of last year confirmed to Western sources that the drone was already in service with the Armed Forces of the Asian Giant for reconnaissance, surveillance, and intelligence-gathering missions.
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