Washington integrates Moroccan F-16s into a $303M strategic contract

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., based in Linthicum Heights, Maryland, has been awarded a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, with a maximum value of $303.6 million, to support foreign military sales of the F-16 program. An award officially announced by the U.S. Department of War (formerly Defense). This major contract covers the repair and return of F-16 radar components destined for the beneficiary countries of these sales. These countries are: Bahrain, Bulgaria, Greece, South Korea, Slovakia, Taiwan, Morocco and Jordan. "The work will be performed at Northrop Grumman’s facilities in Linthicum Heights, Maryland, and is expected to be completed by November 2030," according to the U.S. Department of War website.

The common point among the beneficiary countries of this contract is that they are all engaged in a process of acquiring or modernizing their F-16s to the Block 72/Viper standard, says Abdelhamid Harifi, a military consultant for Médias24. He emphasizes that this contract complements the acquisition of radars dedicated to the F-16 Block 72 and those intended for the modernization of the Block 52 to the Viper standard. He highlights the scope of the strategic procurement policy implemented by Morocco. "For several years now, with any equipment purchase, Morocco has been buying a complete package for maintenance, training, updating and technical support throughout the life of the equipment," explains Harifi.