Morocco Air Force Ranking: F-16s and Mirages Power

The Moroccan military fleet currently has 285 aircraft in service, according to the 2026 ranking of the World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft (WDMMA). Morocco ranks around 65th globally and holds the fourth position in Africa.

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Combat aircraft represent 21% of the fleet, compared to 32% for helicopters and 14% for transport aircraft. The Royal Air Forces rely mainly on American F-16 and F-5 jets as well as French Mirage F1s.

Military transport is based notably on American C-130 Hercules and Spanish CN235s. Morocco also possesses 80 training aircraft, with a majority of aircraft manufactured in the United States.

Numbers are not enough

The presence of 285 aircraft is not sufficient to place the kingdom among the great air powers. The WDMMA ranking does not solely account for fleet size. It also evaluates its technological level, diversity, logistical capabilities and modernization possibilities.

The Moroccan fleet remains composed of many older aircraft, notably F-5s, Mirage F1s, Pumas and Gazelles. Rabat seeks to gradually close this gap with the modernization of its F-16s, the acquisition of new F-16Vs and the entry into service of Apache AH-64E attack helicopters.

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This increase in power improves Morocco’s operational capabilities, but the gap remains significant with the highest-ranked air forces. The United States has several thousand aircraft, while Egypt remains Africa’s leading air power.