Morocco Bolsters Air Force with F-16 Vipers, Apache Helicopters in $3.78 Billion Deal

To achieve its goals, Morocco is modernizing its fleet of F-16s with the realization of a contract to purchase 25 additional F-16 "Viper" Block 70/72 aircraft, a contract estimated at $3.78 billion, and 36 Boeing AH-64 E Block III "Apache" helicopters, and a MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air system. In addition, Morocco is one of 22 countries that will receive Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles as part of a $768 million contract to be finalized in February 2023, as indicated by the US Department of Defense, reports Hespress.

Furthermore, the Kingdom benefits from Washington’s support to become the most militarily equipped country in Africa. As Morocco’s largest arms supplier, the US administration is opening the door to the export of the Lockheed-Martin F-35A "Lightning II".

However, the potential sale remains subject to the conditions of the new "Secure F-35 Exports Act of 2020" law. According to some sources close to the file, Rabat must be on the right track to take possession of this weapon, as part of a bilateral agreement, aimed at strengthening Morocco’s pioneering role in the fight against terrorist phenomena on the "African continent". Moreover, the much-coveted F-35 has multiple combat capabilities, according to international military reports.

For the professor of political science at Mohammed V University, Dr. Abdelhamid Benkhattab, "the United States will work in the coming years to strengthen and develop military exchanges with Morocco, as well as to provide it with the latest technologies that no other country can benefit from, especially at the Arab level, with the exception of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates," admitting that "this strategic orientation will be further strengthened, subject to the approval of the US Congress, which in principle has no objection, as Morocco is a strategic and historical ally of the United States".