Spain’s Navantia is expected to deliver the Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) it is building for Morocco before August, with July marked as the target month, according to details reported by elEconomista.
The vessel, announced in January 2021, is already undergoing sea trials in Cádiz, Spain. Its delivery will mark the first warship built by Spain for Morocco in 40 years. It is also the first ship built for Rabat by Navantia since the company’s creation in 2005, Morocco World News reported.
The patrol boat is being built at Navantia San Fernando shipyard. It is 87 meters long and 13 meters wide, and can carry a crew of 60. The project has an estimated annual employment impact of around 1,100 jobs over three years.
Navantia will hand over the ship without built-in weapons. Morocco will be responsible for fitting it out after delivery, depending on its needs. The vessel is based on Navantia’s Avante 1800 model, which is designed to carry a 75 or 57 millimeter main gun, two 25 or 30 millimeter secondary guns, and missile launchers for point defense, air defense, and surface-to-surface missions.
The contract value has not been officially disclosed, but it is estimated at around €130 million. In 2022, Banco Santander granted Morocco a €95 million loan to finance the project. The program also includes technical and logistical support, spare parts, tools, technical documentation, and training in Spain for Royal Moroccan Navy personnel.
The new ship has similarities with the Spanish Navy’s Maritime Action Vessels (BAM), though those usually carry fewer weapons.
No further contracts between Navantia and Morocco are currently planned in the short term. The delivery comes as Morocco continues to increase defense spending. According to the latest report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Morocco was Africa’s second highest military spender in 2025, with $6.3 billion. That was up 6.6% from the previous year.
Morocco now allocates 3.54% of its GDP to defense, placing it 15th worldwide by share of GDP spent on the sector. Algeria spent more, with $25.4 billion in 2025, up 11%. That represented 8.8% of its GDP.
Morocco is also seeking to strengthen its navy, considered the weakest branch of its armed forces. One reported priority is the possible acquisition of three submarines in 2027. The Korean KSS-III by Hanwha and the French Scorpène by Naval Group are seen as the most likely options. (elEconomista; Morocco World News; Photo © Navantia: Launch of OPV for Royal Moroccan Navy - May 2025)
