Morocco Receives First Shipments of Israeli Barak MX Missile Defense System

In a tweet, the FAR-Maroc forum announced the delivery to Morocco of the first batches of the Israeli-made air and missile defense system "Barak MX". According to the platform specialized in military and strategic issues of the kingdom, the first arrivals of the "Barak MX" in Morocco would have begun in the middle of 2023. Information confirmed by the classified documents of the Pentagon, released in April. It had been announced that Morocco would "receive the Israeli system in June 2023". The cost of its acquisition is estimated at more than $500 million, reported in February the media specialized in the field of defense Globes. This order follows the visit to Morocco of the Israeli Minister of Defense last November, during which the kingdom had officially requested defense systems from Israel. A memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation between the two countries had also been signed.

Manufactured by the Israeli defense industry giant, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the Barak MX is an Israeli defense system capable of protecting against all types of air threats (missiles and drones) and in all combat conditions, thanks to its radar and drone launchers. The system combines three IAI Barak interceptor models: Barak-MRAD, a single-pulse rocket motor that blocks missiles up to 35 kilometers away; Barak-LRAD, a dual-pulse rocket motor that intercepts missiles up to 70 kilometers away, and the dual-pulse rocket motor Barak-ER with a range of 150 kilometers. Equipped with a radar and various equipment, Barak-MX ensures better coverage of fighter jets, helicopters, drones, cruise missiles, surface-to-air missiles and surface-to-surface missiles.