Washington is the main supplier of weapons and military equipment to the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces (FAR), and once a year, except in 2020 owing to the pandemic, the US Army’s Africa Corps holds manoeuvres on Moroccan territory that are among the most important in terms of the resources mobilised.
The signing of the treaty, which has been called the ‘Roadmap for Defence Cooperation 2020-2030 between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States of America’, said Defense department.
The State Department has approved Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Morocco for its military modernization requirements for many years. The US has supplied the Moroccan Navy of ten (10) AGM-84L Harpoon Block II Air Launched missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $62 million.
The US supplied Morocco of twenty five (25) M88A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System (HERCULES) vehicles and/or M88A1 long supply HERCULES refurbished vehicles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $239.35 million. The US also sold Morocco thirty-six (36) AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and related equipment for an estimated cost of $4.25 billion.
The State Department approved Foreign Military Sale to Morocco of additional F-16 ammunition for an estimated cost of $209 million, upgrade its existing twenty-three F‑16 aircraft to the F‑16V configuration and related equipment for an estimated cost of $985.2 million and sustainment support to its current F-16 fleet for an estimated cost of $250.4 million.
The State Department has approved Foreign Military Sale to Morocco of F-16C/D Block 72 aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of $3.787 billion.
The Government of Morocco has requested to buy twenty-five (25) F-16C/D Block 72 aircraft; twenty-nine (29) engines (Pratt & Whitney F100-229) (includes 4 spares); twenty-six (26) APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars (includes 1 spare); twenty-six (26) Modular Mission Computers (includes 1 spare); twenty-six (26) Link-16 Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems – JTRS (MIDS-JTRS) with TACAN and ESHI Terminals (includes 1 spare); twenty-six (26) LN260 Embedded Global Navigation Systems (EGI) (includes 1 spare); forty (40) Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS) (includes 5 spares); twenty-six (26) Improved Programmable Display Generators (iPDG) (includes 1 spare); thirty (30) M61 Al Vulcan 20mm Guns (includes 5 spares); fifty (50) LAU-129 Multi-Purpose Launchers; forty (40) AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM); forty (40) AIM-120C-7 Guidance Sections; three (3) GBU-38/54 JDAM Tail Kits; fifty (50) MXU-650 Air Foil Group, GBU-49; fifty (50) MAU-210 Enhanced Computer Control Group (CCG), GBU-49,-50; thirty-six (36) FMU-139 D/B Fuzes; six (6) FMU-139 D/B (D-l) Inert Fuzes; two (2) GBU-39 (T-l) GTVs; sixty (60) GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs (SDB I); ten (10) MAU-169L/B Computer Control Group, GBU-10,-12,-16; ten (10) MXU-650C/B Air Foil Group, GBU-12; twelve (12) MK82 Bombs, Filled Inert; four (4) BLU-109 Practice Bombs; ten (10) MAU-169 CCG (D-2); and twenty-six (26) AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Pods. Also included are twenty-six (26) AN/ALQ-213 EW Management Systems; twenty-six (26) Advanced Identification Friend/Foe; Secure Communications, Cryptographic Precision Navigation Equipment; one (1) Joint Mission Planning System; twenty-six (26) AN/ALQ-211 AIDEWS; six (6) DB-110 Advanced Reconnaissance Systems; communications equipment; spares and repair parts; support equipment; personnel training and training equipment; publications and technical documentation; support and test equipment, simulators; integration and test; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistical support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support.
The Morocco Army has received TOW-2A missiles for an estimated cost of $776 million and one hundred sixty-two latest generation Abrams tanks for an estimated cost of $1.259 billion.
The Government of Morocco has requested a possible sale of two thousand four hundred and one (2,401) TOW 2A, Radio Frequency (RF) Missiles (BGM-71-4B-RF); and twenty eight (28) TOW 2A, Radio Frequency (RF) Missiles (BGM-71-4B-RF), Fly-to-Buy missiles for lot acceptance testing; and Four hundred (400) M220A2 TOW Launchers and/or four hundred (400) M41 Improved Target Acquisition System (ITAS) Launchers. Also included are missile support equipment; Government furnished equipment; technical manuals/publications; spare parts; tool and test equipment; training; U.S. Government technical and logistical support, contractor technical support, and other associated equipment and services. The estimated cost is $776 million.
The military deal is expected to further bolster cooperation between the two countries. Washington is Morocco’s largest supplier of arms. Morocco hosts the annual U.S. military exercise called “African Lion” — canceled this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The US-Morocco agreement centers on “consolidating common security objectives, especially improving the degree of military readiness,” a statement from the General Command of the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces said.
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