Morocco Lures $27bn Curtiss-Wright to Africa in Aerospace Milestone

Morocco has secured the first African expansion of US aerospace and defence manufacturer Curtiss-Wright Corporation, deepening its ambitions to become the continent’s premier aircraft manufacturing hub as it adds a critical high-value production process to its fast-growing aerospace industry.

The agreement, signed at the Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom, will see Curtiss-Wright Surface Technologies establish advanced aircraft-component surface treatment operations in Casablanca. The investment marks the century-old American company’s debut in Africa and fills a key gap in Morocco’s aerospace supply chain.

The new facility will enable aircraft manufacturers operating in Morocco to process critical components such as landing gear and engine parts locally, eliminating the need to ship them overseas for specialised treatments that protect against corrosion, heat and mechanical wear. The move is expected to reduce production times, strengthen local manufacturing capabilities and retain more value within Morocco’s industrial economy.

The expansion comes as Morocco accelerates efforts to position itself as one of the world’s emerging aerospace production centres. The kingdom’s aerospace ecosystem now hosts more than 155 companies, employs over 25,000 skilled workers and generates nearly $3 billion in annual exports. Local sourcing has risen to 42%, while the industry has recorded average annual growth of around 17% over the past two decades.

Curtiss-Wright, a US aerospace and defence group with roots tracing back to aviation pioneers Glenn Curtiss and the Wright brothers, has a market capitalisation of approximately $27 billion, generated about $3.5 billion in revenue in 2025 and employs more than 8,900 people globally. Beyond aerospace, the company supplies advanced engineering systems for the defence, nuclear energy and industrial sectors.

The investment also complements French aerospace supplier Safran Landing Systems’ planned €280 million ($332 million) landing-gear manufacturing facility near Casablanca, scheduled to begin production in 2029. The proximity of Curtiss-Wright’s specialised treatment operations is expected to support Safran’s manufacturing activities and reinforce Morocco’s integrated aerospace value chain.

Moroccan Investment and Export Development Agency Director-General Ali Seddiki said attracting a specialist company of Curtiss-Wright’s scale demonstrates that Morocco has reached a level of industrial maturity capable of supporting sophisticated aerospace manufacturing processes.

The project is also expected to strengthen technical skills development through Casablanca’s aviation training institutions while supporting Morocco’s long-term ambitions in aerospace, defence and space technologies.

For Morocco, the agreement represents another step in transforming the country from an assembly and components producer into a fully integrated aircraft manufacturing platform, reinforcing its position as Africa’s leading industrial economy and an increasingly important gateway for global aerospace investment on the continent.