Morocco to Acquire 22 Turkish Attack Helicopters in $1.3 Billion Deal

Morocco is negotiating the purchase of 22 Turkish T129 ATAK attack helicopters and the acquisition of missiles and electronic equipment produced by Aerospace Industries (TAI) and the Italian AgustaWestland for an amount of $1.3 billion, reports the Spanish newspaper La Razon. Rabat and Ankara had started the negotiations in 2018 but they had been interrupted due to the deterioration of relations between Rabat and Ankara, and then the sanctions imposed on Turkey, a NATO member, by the United States at the end of 2020.

The T-129 is a high-performance helicopter capable of carrying 8 long-range anti-tank missiles of the "Al Romh" type, 12 "jeret" guided missiles, four (Stinger air-to-air) missiles as well as 76 shells. The aircraft is about 4 meters high. Longer than the A.129, the T-129 can fly and maneuver efficiently at high altitudes and in the most difficult climates and geographical areas. This helicopter can fly continuously for 3 hours with standard fuel and cover a distance of 519 km, reports the TRT Arabic television channel.