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Preparations for African Lion 2027 have begun in Agadir, Morocco, with military planners focusing on multinational readiness, emerging technologies and closer cooperation with industry. Participation from more than 45 nations is expected.
U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) and the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces hosted the initial planning event for African Lion 2027, described by organisers as the largest multinational military exercise on the African continent.
Scheduled to begin on 19 April 2027, the exercise is designed to strengthen interoperability and improve the ability of participating forces to conduct combined and joint operations. Its planned scope spans land, maritime, air, space, cyber and intelligence activities in support of regional stability.
During five days of discussions at Morocco’s Southern Zone headquarters, U.S. and Moroccan planners outlined training objectives, established timelines and identified potential exercise locations. Working groups also addressed command arrangements, organisation and logistical requirements.
U.S. Army Col. Benjamin Roark, SETAF-AF’s director of training and exercises, said the initial event provided an opportunity to bring partners together, incorporate lessons from previous editions and establish shared objectives for 2027. Preparations will continue with a main planning event in December 2026 and a final planning event in February 2027.
EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND INDUSTRY PARTICIPATION
A central theme of the discussions was the integration of emerging equipment and industry expertise into realistic military training. Planners explored opportunities for experimental activities and capability demonstrations alongside participating units.
A command field exercise (CFX) is envisaged as the centrepiece of the programme, providing a framework for incorporating industry partners and testing new technologies in operationally relevant scenarios. The arrangements remain subject to further planning.
Other proposed activities include combined-arms manoeuvres, live-fire training, maritime and air operations. Teams also discussed potential weapons of mass destruction training in Agadir, special operations training at Cap Draa and humanitarian civic assistance projects at several locations.
These proposals will be refined through further development of operational concepts, logistical assessments and site surveys.
BUILDING MULTINATIONAL READINESS
“African Lion remains focused on building combined joint force readiness,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Corbett Baxter, the exercise’s lead planner at SETAF-AF. He emphasised its role in preparing partner forces to deploy and operate together as a multinational formation.
An accompanying academic programme is also under development. Courses being considered cover joint operations planning, intelligence, cybersecurity, electronic warfare and noncommissioned officer development, supporting the staff skills and doctrinal knowledge required for the field activities.
The 2027 exercise will coincide with the 250th anniversary of Morocco’s recognition of the United States. Against this historical backdrop, planners aim to combine longstanding military partnerships with new approaches to technology integration and multinational training.
Source: U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa; original reporting by Capt. Jordan Beagle, 1 October 2026.
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