Morocco Set to Acquire Advanced F-35 Fighters, Boosting Regional Air Power

The normalization in December 2020 of relations between Morocco and Israel, within the framework of the Abraham Accords under the aegis of the United States, facilitated the acquisition of these fighters by the kingdom. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had opposed the sale of the F-35 to any country that did not recognize the State of Israel. With the purchase of these fighters from Lockheed Martin, Morocco will become the first Arab and African country to have a fleet of American fifth-generation stealth aircraft.

The purchase of the F-35s is part of the dynamic of modernization of the Moroccan air force, engaged for a few years, reports El Español, indicating that it also aims to put pressure on Algeria, ally of the Polisario Front in the conflict in the Sahara. Furthermore, the integration of the F-35s into the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) will change the balance of power in the Mediterranean and confirm Morocco’s position as a strategic player in the field of air defense.

Meanwhile, the Spanish Air Force plans to replace its F-18s with Eurofighters and deploy them to the Rota base, not far from the Moroccan coast, in order to counter any possible attack by Morocco, which claims the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, as well as the Spanish islands and rocks.

The F-35 is one of the best and most expensive fighters in the world. It stands out for its air superiority and the precision of its strikes. It can be dedicated to intelligence and surveillance missions. One hour of flight of this fighter costs more than 40,000 euros compared to 20,000 euros for the F-18. Only about half a thousand F-35s are available worldwide and nearly 1,000 pilots are trained to handle them.