Morocco Has 185 Rocket Launchers; Spain Has None as Its Rearmament Program Stalls
Morocco has a military capability Spain has lacked for fifteen years: multiple rocket launchers. According to the Global Firepower 2026 ranking, the kingdom has 185, while its neighbor has none. Madrid is trying to close the gap, but its weapons program is facing new difficulties.
185 versus zero. It is one of the most striking gaps in a comparison of the Moroccan and Spanish armed forces published on Tuesday, October 20, by Euronews. According to estimates by Global Firepower, Morocco has 185 mobile multiple rocket launcher systems, a category of weaponry absent from Spain’s inventory since the Teruel rocket launchers were retired in 2011.
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The Royal Armed Forces have Chinese systems and the Israeli PULS, which is already in service. These systems can fire rocket salvos at ground targets at different ranges, depending on the ammunition used.
Morocco also plans to strengthen this capability with American HIMARS rocket launchers. In April 2023, Washington authorized the potential sale of 18 launchers, along with ATACMS missiles and guided rockets, among other equipment, for an estimated $524.2 million. These systems would complement those already used by the Moroccan army.
In Spain, a military program still stalled
Across the Strait, Madrid has been seeking for several years to rebuild its rocket artillery. Its SILAM program was initially intended to enable the acquisition of twelve launchers based on Israeli PULS technology, along with more than 600 rockets and a stated maximum range of 300 kilometers for some munitions.
The contract was canceled in September 2025 after the Spanish government decided to suspend its purchases of Israeli arms. Rheinmetall Expal and EM&E subsequently proposed a domestic solution involving the development of launchers and guided rockets manufactured in Spain.
But the project is accumulating delays. In an investigation published on October 7 by Infodefensa, General Antonio Mongío Bergua, head of the Spanish field artillery command, describes the situation as “uncertain.” One of the main difficulties is finding a partner willing to transfer the technological expertise for the future system to Spanish industry.
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The original schedule called for an initial demonstration as early as December 2024 and for the Astorga rocket artillery regiment to be fully equipped by 2027-2028. According to Infodefensa, those deadlines are now at risk, although some command and reconnaissance vehicles have reportedly already been delivered.
The overall comparison remains in Spain’s favor in several areas. According to 2026 military data cited by Euronews, Madrid has, among other things, a larger navy, submarines and a larger combat air force. Morocco nevertheless retains this particular advantage in rocket artillery, a capability the Spanish army is still seeking to regain.
