Morocco Eyes Russian and French Submarines for Naval Expansion

Two main options are available to Morocco: the Russian Amur 1650, a versatile diesel-electric submarine, and the French Scorpène, designed by Naval Group, known for its stealth and cutting-edge technologies, reports Jeune Afrique. The French Scorpène stands out for its powerful sonars and its silent propulsion system. Some of its versions use lithium-ion batteries, which gives them an extended capacity to remain submerged underwater.

According to the pan-African magazine, this strategic acquisition aims to rebalance the power relationship in the Mediterranean vis-à-vis Algeria, already equipped with submarines. Morocco should acquire at least three submersibles to ensure a permanent presence at sea, regardless of maintenance or transit operations, estimates Nizar Derdabi, defense and security expert.

Ranked 25th in the world, the Royal Moroccan Navy has 121 ships, including a multi-mission frigate (FREMM) bearing the name "Mohammed VI", delivered in 2017 by the French company DCNS (now known as Naval Group), for an amount of 470 million euros. This warship is capable of providing air defense, anti-submarine warfare and surface combat. The Moroccan fleet also includes three Dutch multi-mission SIGMA frigates, two Floréal-class surveillance frigates, a Spanish Descubierta-class corvette and about twenty patrol boats.

In addition to these ships, the kingdom has more than 20 patrol boats that can be armed. It is awaiting the delivery of an "Avante 1800" class offshore patrol vessel by 2026.