Morocco Bolsters Military with $120 Million Israeli Drone Deal, Expanding 1,000km Strike Range

Morocco is interested in the Harpy and Harop suicide drones, produced by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). It is negotiating the purchase of 200 to 300 units of Harpy and Harop loitering munitions for an estimated amount of 120 million dollars, reports the Israeli press. These Israeli drones have an operational range varying between 500 and 1,000 km.

The Harop can be used against advanced air defense systems. It is capable of carrying out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions before attacking its target with an explosive charge of around 20 kg. With a length of 2.5 m for a wingspan of 3 m, it can remain in flight for up to 7 hours. As for the Harpy, it is capable of automatically detecting and neutralizing enemy radars, according to the "fire and forget" principle. As for the Harpy, it can reach strategic targets, day and night.

These devices have already proven themselves in Israel, India and Azerbaijan. Their acquisition will contribute to the modernization of the offensive capabilities of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR): long-range strike, suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD/DEAD) with Harpy, armed ISR and terminal precision with Harop.

Following the normalization of relations between Rabat and Tel Aviv, and the signing, in November 2021 in Rabat, of a military and security cooperation agreement between Morocco and Israel, the FAR had already ordered, in 2022, 150 WanderB and ThunderB drones, manufactured by the company Blue Bird (of which 50% of the shares are held by IAI.) In parallel, the kingdom aims to become a drone manufacturer. In this sense, it has signed a partnership with the Israeli company BlueBird Aero Systems, a subsidiary of IAI, for the construction of a factory to produce various drone models (SpyX, ThunderB, WanderB).