Morocco to Acquire Israeli Merkava Tanks, Boosting Military Capabilities

Israel plans to sell Morocco used but refurbished Merkava tanks, reports El Español. In recent years, the kingdom has purchased various weapons and defense systems from the United States, France and Israel to compete with Algeria, considered the leading military power in the Maghreb.

The Merkava is an armored vehicle manufactured in Israel. The first model, the Merkava I, was produced from 1974 and its improved version, the Merkava II, appeared in 1979, before the Merkava III in 1989. The latest version, the Merkava IV, was delivered in 2004. It includes sensors capable of detecting and destroying missiles or grenades using explosive devices. It can reach targets up to 8 kilometers away.