Morocco Negotiates Purchase of Chinese Missiles and Drones to Modernize Military

The Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR) are interested in precision-guided Chinese-made missiles and bombs, reports Tactical Report, specifying that Rabat is also negotiating the purchase of Wing Loong 1 and Wing Loong 2 drones. Last year, Morocco acquired the Chinese long-range air defense system FD-2000B as well as the Israeli Iron Dome, a surveillance and control system.

Engaged in a dynamic of modernizing its army for a few years, the kingdom has already purchased several modern defense systems from the United States, France, Turkey and Israel, becoming a major military power in the region, in a context of tensions with Algeria with whom it is engaged in an arms race.

The two countries continue to increase their military budgets. This year, Rabat has allocated $11 billion to military spending, compared to $5.1 billion in 2021. For its part, Algeria plans to devote $23 billion to its military spending in 2023, double its military budget this year. The country is considering negotiating arms purchases from China, Turkey and Iran to no longer depend on Russia.

According to a ranking by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Morocco was among the 40 largest importers of military equipment in the world as of the end of June 2021. The kingdom imports 90% of its weapons from the United States, 9.2% from France and 0.3% from the United Kingdom, according to SIPRI.