Morocco Transforms Tata’s WhAP into Heavily Armed Light Tanks with Israeli Turrets

The Royal Moroccan Army is making a bold leap in modernizing its armoured vehicle fleet by upgrading its Tata-built Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8x8 vehicles with powerful 105mm and 120mm turrets. This transformation will turn the WhAP from a typical armoured personnel carrier into a highly mobile light tank with heavy firepower.

Originally developed in India by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the WhAP is a modular, amphibious 8-wheeled platform designed for high mobility and protection. Morocco began producing these vehicles locally after signing a major defence partnership agreement with India in September 2024. Under this deal, a joint venture—Tata Advanced Systems Maroc (TASM)—was established in Casablanca to produce the first batch of 150 vehicles, with plans to ramp up production to 100 units per year in the coming years.

Now, Morocco has confirmed plans to dramatically upgrade the combat capability of these vehicles by equipping them with large-calibre gun turrets—either 105mm or 120mm—supplied by Israel’s leading defence firm, Elbit Systems. This shift from the standard 30mm cannons or missile launchers typically mounted on WhAP vehicles signals a new strategic direction for the Royal Moroccan Army.

Elbit Systems is believed to be designing the turrets specifically to meet Morocco's operational requirements. The company is already a key player in Morocco’s defence sector, having signed a \$370 million deal to supply Atmos 2000 self-propelled howitzers. Elbit’s experience in similar projects—such as the Sabrah light tank, which features the same calibre weapons—makes it well-suited for this task.

Fitting the WhAP with 105mm or 120mm turrets significantly boosts its battlefield role. These calibres are commonly found on main battle tanks or advanced mobile gun systems, not on wheeled armoured vehicles. With this upgrade, the WhAP can take on threats like enemy armoured vehicles and fortified positions while maintaining the speed, flexibility, and lower operating costs of a wheeled platform.

To handle the increased firepower, several modifications will likely be made to the WhAP’s original design. These could include strengthening the suspension, integrating a recoil absorption system, and installing advanced fire control technology. Fortunately, the WhAP was built with a modular architecture, allowing for such upgrades without compromising its agility or amphibious capabilities.

During performance trials, the WhAP already proved superior to China’s Type-08 vehicle, demonstrating its reliability and rugged design. Now, with this latest enhancement, Morocco is pushing the WhAP’s combat role even further—creating a new class of combat vehicle that blends the firepower of a tank with the speed and adaptability of an armoured carrier.

This step reflects Morocco’s broader vision of building a more capable, self-reliant military using a combination of international partnerships and local production. The upgraded WhAP fleet is expected to become a critical asset in Morocco’s ground forces, offering powerful support for infantry, fast response capability in rugged terrains, and a strong deterrent against armoured threats.