Morocco to Acquire 24 Advanced F-16 Viper Fighters for Air Force Upgrade

These new F-16s, known as the F-16V (Viper), will be produced in the Lockheed Martin factories in Greenville, South Carolina and Fort Worth, Texas. These will be the most modern single-engine models. The F16 Viper has a sophisticated computer for its missions, in addition to an active electronically scanned array radar, the US Department of Defense said on its website.

This type of advanced fighter can be used to suppress enemy air defenses, air-to-ground and air-to-air combat, and maritime operations. These combat aircraft are also characterized by their great ability to detect and track difficult-to-find targets at all times and in all weather conditions.

The modernization of the 23 F-16 Viper will be done in two stages. The first is to send Moroccan engineers to the United States to participate in the renovation of an aircraft and master the technological process. After which, the remaining 22 aircraft will be modernized in Morocco at the "Royal Air Force Schools Base and the Royal Air School, Marrakech" by local military teams previously sent to the United States for the mastery of the modernization process and qualification for this purpose. The deliveries of the 25 new F-16s and the 23 renovated F-16 Vipers are expected for 2026, according to Lockheed Martin.