Morocco’s $17 Billion F-35 Deal Reshapes North African Military Balance

The kingdom will receive its F-35 fighters ordered from Lockheed Martin for an amount of around $17 billion. Morocco is on the verge of becoming the first Arab and African nation to acquire these American stealth aircraft, especially after Israel gave the green light to this transaction, reveals Times Aerospace. Previously, Tel Aviv always exerted pressure on US administrations to prevent the sale of this advanced aircraft to Arab countries, in order to preserve its "qualitative military superiority" in the Middle East region.

These fifth-generation fighters are capable of detecting ground and air targets using high-precision laser technology. These aircraft will allow the Moroccan air force to outclass its rivals in the region, Algeria in particular. The latter has ordered a Russian fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 fighter. The delivery of the Moroccan F-35s is expected by 2035.

Morocco has intensified its arms race in recent years. Among the main transactions concluded, the purchase of 25 "F-16 Block 72" fighter jets to strengthen the capabilities of the Moroccan air force, the acquisition of "M1A2 Abrams" tanks, considered among the most advanced in the world for the modernization of its tank fleet, the purchase of sophisticated air defense systems, notably the "Patriot" system and anti-drone systems. The kingdom has also concluded agreements with Israel to strengthen reconnaissance and espionage capabilities through drones, in addition to agreements to develop the local military industry in cooperation with American and Israeli companies.