Morocco must replace its aircraft: this C-130J is the big favorite (and it’s no coincidence)

The Royal Air Force (RAF) urgently needs to renew its fleet of logistics transport aircraft, and the two giants of the aeronautics industry are engaged in a fierce competition to win the bid. But "there are more chances that the choice will be American than Brazilian," analyzes for Médias24 the consultant Abdelhamid Harifi, who explains that, unlike Embraer which is limited to statements of intent, Lockheed Martin is showing concrete commitment in Morocco.

"Instead of signing a simple letter of intent, they have launched a real investment to support the industrial emergence plan at the aeronautics level," specifies the consultant, adding that the partnership includes a "real transfer of technology" to allow the Moroccans to take charge of the aircraft locally. An investment all the more crucial as it includes the modernization of the old C-130H which have been flying for more than 45 years. "Faced with the delay in decision-making for the purchase of new aircraft and the need to ensure a transition, we opted for a modernization of which a large part will be carried out locally," says the consultant.

Technically, the American C-130J has a clear advantage over the Embraer. Lockheed Martin’s aircraft shares many similarities with the current RAF aircraft. "The C-130J has a maintenance and maintenance program that represents nearly 65% of what is currently being done for the C-130H," details Abdelhamid Harifi. Thus, Moroccan mechanics and pilots, who have "long experience" in the maintenance and servicing of the legendary Hercules, will be able to easily adapt. Conversely, the option of the Brazilian C-390 "would be a very heavy investment in logistics and infrastructure." It would be necessary to "build premises dedicated to this aircraft and invest heavily in advanced training for the teams of mechanics and pilots," warns the expert.

Furthermore, while the Embraer C-390 is described as a "more or less high-end, luxurious" aircraft, it is not designed for combat in extreme conditions. "It is not made to land in difficult climatic conditions for example," emphasizes Abdelhamid Harifi. This is a serious handicap for the Royal Armed Forces, which need an aircraft capable of operating on various terrains and in difficult environments. The C-130J Hercules, on the other hand, has proven itself on different theaters around the world for decades and remains renowned for its robustness.

Lockheed Martin has confirmed its willingness to make Morocco a regional platform, not only for the maintenance of American aircraft used in North Africa and the Middle East, but also for other sectors. "Today, when we talk about Moroccan-American cooperation, we are talking about concrete things, things that are happening now on the ground and that favor the American choice," develops the expert, who notes that other political aspects such as the American recognition of the Moroccanness of the Sahara and support for Resolution 2797 militate in favor of Lockheed Martin. "These are things that reinforce the quality of the cooperation between the American company and the Moroccan state," concludes the expert.