Morocco’s Military Modernization: Israel Emerges as Key Supplier of Advanced Defense Systems

Morocco has strengthened its military cooperation with Israel since the normalization of their relations in 2020, multiplying the acquisitions of drones and state-of-the-art defense systems.
In order to diversify its arms suppliers, Morocco has abandoned its European and American partners in favor of Israel. In recent years, the kingdom has acquired the Barak MX air defense system, as well as reconnaissance satellites. It has also placed an order for ATMOS 2000 artillery systems from the Israeli company Elbit Systems, for an amount of around 200 million euros (nearly 2.1 billion dirhams). Composed of 155 mm self-propelled howitzers mounted on trucks, an automatic loading system and an integrated electronic device, this equipment can reach a target at more than 40 km.
Morocco has also placed an order for loitering munitions of the Harop and Harpy type, produced by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), for 120 million dollars (about 1.2 billion dirhams), intended for autonomous strikes against armored or hidden targets. Rabat and Tel Aviv have strengthened their military cooperation since the restoration of their diplomatic relations in 2020, under the aegis of the United States. Israeli military equipment exports have seen a sharp increase, from $11.4 billion in 2021 to $14.8 billion in 2024 (about 144 billion dirhams), an increase of 37% in four years. Last year, Morocco bought missiles, rockets and air defense systems (48%), armored vehicles (9%) and radars, satellites, electronic warfare systems and drones (43%) from Israel for more than 100 million dollars.
Israel has strengthened its defense industry to meet growing foreign demand. The Arrow-3 systems, the ATMOS 2000, the PULS system, the Merkava Mk4 tanks, the Trophy active armor, the Hermes 900 drones and the Harop and Harpy loitering munitions, not to mention the Barak MX and David’s Sling systems, are sold to countries such as Germany, Greece, Finland, the Netherlands, Colombia, Croatia, India, Serbia and South Korea.
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