Morocco Bolsters Air Defense with Chinese Missile Systems Near Rabat

After the Sky Dragon 50 acquired in 2017 from China, Morocco, still in the dynamic of strengthening its army, acquired a second air defense system, the FD-2000B, which it has installed on its new military base in Sidi Yahya El Gharb, located about 60 kilometers northwest of Rabat.

The FD-2000B system is a long-range missile capable of eliminating any kind of threat over the entire Moroccan territory, including the area near the strait, and even beyond the border with Spain. Considered one of the best air missiles in the world, the FD-2000B has an operational range of 200 kilometers, largely sufficient to reach Tarifa, in southern Spain, from the military base.

To read: Morocco Bolsters Air Defense with Chinese Missiles and US Apache Helicopters

This missile is equipped with active radar location, which "increases its ability to hit its targets", as well as a 180-kilogram explosive warhead capable of downing stealth aircraft, cruise missiles, air-to-ground missiles and ballistic missiles. The FD-2000B, an improved version of the HQ-9B, can fly at a maximum altitude of 50 kilometers and at a speed of over 6,000 kilometers per hour. It also has a 360-degree radar coverage and the ability to monitor up to 100 different air threats simultaneously.

In addition to these Chinese missiles, Morocco also plans to acquire the French VL-MICA missile and the American Patriot PAC-3 missile. Last November, the Pentagon authorized the kingdom to purchase this air defense system, which will likely be ready by late 2022 or early 2023.