Defense - Armament

Articles

• Morocco Expands Air Force, Poised to Become Major African Military Power
  14 April, by Sylvanus

  Morocco is gradually but surely establishing itself in the African skies. This is evidenced by the number of military aircraft at its disposal.
  Morocco is intensifying its arms race. While it has a total of about 284 military aircraft in service, including fighter jets, attack and transport helicopters, training, surveillance and in-flight refueling aircraft, as well as aircraft dedicated to the Royal Navy, the kingdom will have to receive pending orders to reach 320 units in the coming (…)

• Spanish Army Deploys Tactical Unit to Melilla for Border Surveillance Near Morocco
  13 April, by Prince

  The Spanish army has deployed a tactical sub-group of the regular army group to carry out a reconnaissance and surveillance mission in sensitive areas of Melilla, not far from Morocco.
  This mission, conducted by GREG 52 and part of early warning plans, aims to ensure the security of Spanish citizens in these areas and preserve the integrity of Spanish territory against potential threats, according to the Spanish General Staff cited by El Debate. The Spanish army has been carrying out (…)

• Morocco Eyes South Korean Military Tech in Deepening Defense Ties
  12 April, by Prince

  On the sidelines of an official visit to Seoul, Riyad Mezzour, the Moroccan Minister of Industry and Trade, showed interest in cutting-edge military equipment, including the K2 tank, the KSS-III submarine, and the Cheongung anti-aircraft system.
  Towards military cooperation between Morocco and South Korea? In recent months, the two countries have strengthened their ties. After awarding a contract worth 2,200 billion won (about 1.5 billion euros) to Hyundai Rotem for the supply of (…)

• Morocco Secures $211 Million Loan to Boost Military Arsenal with French Missiles
  26 May 2020, by Sylvanus

  This announcement follows a $211 million loan granted to Morocco by the French banking group BNP Paribas. The acquisition of missiles and missile defense systems from the missile manufacturer MBDA France is one of the priorities included in Morocco’s five-year plan, implemented since 2017.
  The objective is to establish the regional military supremacy of the kingdom through the modernization of its military forces. Morocco has planned a budget of $20 billion to achieve this goal.
  Since (…)

• US Approves $12 Billion F-16 Fighter Jet Sale to Morocco in Historic Defense Deal
  26 March 2019, by Bladi.net

  The United States has officially authorized the sale of certain weapons to Morocco. This sale, which has been given the green light by the US State Department, would strengthen the military capability of the kingdom.
  According to a press release published on the website of the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Morocco has been able to obtain all the necessary certifications to procure new military equipment. We are talking about 25 F-16C/D Block 72 fighter jets, the associated (…)

• Algeria Flexes Military Muscle Near Moroccan Border Amid Rising Tensions
  1 September 2020, by Sylvanus

  The demonstrations of the Algerian army near the border with Morocco continue. These follow the announcement by the Kingdom of building a military base near Jerada on the border between Algeria and the Kingdom.
  Under the supervision of the Chief of Staff of the People’s National Army (ANP), Saïd Chanegriha, the elements of the ANP organized, on August 26 and 27, new exercises at the Mers-El-Kebir base in Oran. This third operation consisted of various exercises firing missiles against a (…)

• Morocco Orders Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel from Spain’s Navantia
  9 January 2021, by Espagnol

  The Royal Moroccan Navy has just placed an order for a state-of-the-art patrol vessel with the Spanish company Navantia. It is a combat, defense, reconnaissance, coastal surveillance and high seas patrol ship.
  The call for tenders for the construction of the patrol vessel was launched last April by Morocco. Several naval companies have submitted bids. According to the information relayed by Defensa.es. Navantia also presented its offer in August and a team from the company even went to (…)

• Spain Deploys Military Drones to Bolster Border Security in Ceuta and Melilla
  15 February 2022, by Prince

  The Spanish Ministry of the Interior launched an emergency order in January for four military-use drones to strengthen security at the borders in Ceuta and Melilla to prevent any "violent" attempt by migrants to invade.
  The company Stock RC FPV Aeromodelismo SL is responsible for providing the four drones for an amount of 199,872.8 euros. The agreement was signed on January 19 by the Director General of the Civil Guard, María Gámez. "The assaults on the borders of Ceuta and Melilla are (…)

• Israel to Sell Advanced Spyder Air Defense System to UAE, Morocco May Follow
  25 September 2022, by Sylvanus

  Israel has agreed to sell Spyder, an advanced air defense system, to the United Arab Emirates. Morocco could be the next customer.
  Israel has approved the request from the United Arab Emirates in mid-summer and will provide them with the Spyder system manufactured by the Israeli defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, reports Reuters. Morocco, which is also one of the Arab countries with which it has normalized relations, could be the next customer. Since the rapprochement (…)

• Spain Deploys AI-Powered Drones to Boost Border Security with Morocco
  23 April 2024, by Prince

  The Civil Guard has deployed in Melilla drones equipped with advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology to strengthen surveillance and security at the land and maritime border with Morocco.
  These Matrice 300RTK unmanned aerial vehicles have a large capacity and are equipped with artificial intelligence technology, the Melilla Civil Guard Command said in a statement. These drones are managed by the Halcón unit, responsible for the management, control and operation of the Civil (…)