By Sarah Cope | 2026-04-20

Space-based technology will take center stage at African Lion 2026 (AL26), a multinational military exercise that is kicking off April 20 at locations across Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal, and will run until May 8.

The annual US-led maneuver is the largest joint exercise on the African continent, with this year's iteration involving more than 30 nations and 5,600 personnel from across Africa, North America, Europe and NATO.

AL26 expands the role of space capabilities beyond earlier exercises, embedding them into operational planning, the integration of intelligence assets and battlefield decision-making.

The focus on "all-domain" drills reflects the evolution of modern warfare.

Building on the growing involvement of US Space Forces Europe and Africa in recent years, the exercise treats space not as a supporting domain but as a key link between land, air, maritime and cyber forces.

It reflects lessons learned from earlier iterations that first integrated space technology, with these capabilities now embedded into the architecture of AL26 and participants leveraging space-derived data to make decisions.

"The primary purpose of AL26 is to build joint warfighting readiness, multinational interoperability and reinforce strategic partnerships in a critical region," said US Army Lt. Col. Corbett Baxter, lead planner for AL26.

"Strong, enduring partnerships are critical to countering terrorist groups and malign actors while advancing shared international security interests."

Space-enabled systems

Space-based technologies comprise the backbone of communications and navigation systems.

During the drill, AL26 participants will employ space-enabled systems such as NIGHT OWL LITE, a mobile geolocation and signals intelligence platform used for electronic warfare and space operations.

They will use satellite analysis and signals intelligence to identify, track and interpret signals across contested environments, thus improving situational awareness.

The exercise also aims to test interoperability across operational environments in the four host countries through joint all-domain operations.

Space-enabled intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance tools, paired with artificial intelligence, are expected to speed up decision-making by enabling faster targeting and coordinated responses.

This "shortening of the kill chain" underscores the degree to which space-based assets both enable environmental awareness and empower quick responses.

Electronic warfare (EW) training is slated to be a part of the exercise, further reinforcing the trend towards space-based technologies.

EW training focuses on both protecting and exploiting the electromagnetic spectrum, a domain essential to satellite communications and navigation systems, ensuring resilient information flows even in crisis scenarios.

Morocco's central role

Morocco is serving as the primary theater of operations for AL26, with drills taking place at military bases, field locations and training ranges in Agadir, Tan Tan, Taroudant, Kenitra and Ben Guerir.

In recent years, US Space Force personnel and Royal Moroccan Armed Forces have intensified their cooperation during African Lion, training together to strengthen their satellite analysis and intelligence-sharing capabilities.

Technologies such as NITE OWL LITE, also used during AL25, have become central to joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance efforts, reinforcing interoperability between the two militaries.

AL26 is introducing a major technological shift, according to Moroccan media outlet Hesspress, with a multi vendor experimentation and innovation hub that will test mission command systems that lean on space-based infrastructure.

The platform, a first for African Lion, will allow the testing of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies inside a multinational command environment, linking soldiers in the field to strategic decision makers, the outlet said.

Private sector partners were even a part of the planning of the exercise, helping to align technical capabilities to training scenarios.

The initiative is indicative of ongoing efforts to leverage the innovation and flexibility of private sector actors in public-interest projects.

The partnership reflects Washington’s broader view of Morocco as a critical security partner in North Africa, as long-standing military and developmental ties expand into the space domain.

Collaboration is seen as essential to maintaining a competitive edge. As strategic competition intensifies across Africa, the United States is prioritizing partnerships that enhance regional space security.

"AL26 is a strategic investment in the security and stability of the region," Baxter said. "The training we execute alongside partners and allies ensures that we are collectively prepared to respond to crises across the full spectrum of conflict."