Morocco Reportedly Eyeing F-35 Fighter Jet Purchase From US

Rabat – Morocco is making far-reaching efforts to acquire the US’ top military hardware, the F-35 multirole fighter jet, according to Israeli outlet Jafaj. In a December 8 article, the defense-oriented outlet alleges Morocco is in the midst of a clock-and-dagger game to convince the US to sell its most-wanted jet fighter.

If the Israeli news outlet’s sources are correct, a possible Morocco-US arms deal that includes the advanced stealth fighter would constitute a major escalation in the already tremendously costly arms race between Algeria and Morocco. Algeria in January announced it had ordered 14 Russian Su-57 jets which could out-class Morocco’s current fleet of F-16s.

Tensions with Algeria

Jafaj quotes an Israeli source who claims that King Mohammed VI met in secret with Israeli Minister of Defense Benny Gantz during the Israeli official’s recent trip to Morocco. The piece alleges that Gantz’ trip came at the personal request of Morocco’s monarch, and that the two met over lunch in Rabat.

During this lunch, Jafaj writes, the king raised the issue of ongoing tensions with Algeria.

The outlet further claims to know of Moroccan intelligence that “confirm” that Algeria is “planning hostilities on the Moroccan borders.” Jafaj writes that in order to counter these maneuvers, Morocco is seeking to purchase “Israeli drones with very high surveillance and combat powers which Morocco is less likely to be able to secure from the US.”

The piece cites unnamed “sinister details” that would include Algerian plans to infiltrate Morocco with “radical Islamist militias that are connected to Algeria.”

Jafaj quotes an anonymous European source as saying “the Moroccans want the Israelis to spy on the deployment of militiamen or Algerian troops across the border with Morocco as they are very concerned about Algeria-backed Islamists who may target Morocco.”

Crew preparing Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lighting II for flight at at Barksdale Air Force Base, 2019.

The F-35 as a deterrent to war

According to Jafaj’s European source, Morocco’s Defense Minister Abdellatif Loudiyi discussed possible upgrades to the Moroccan air force with Gantz. “Morocco needs more planes with a serious potential for war raising with its Algerian neighbors,” the source stated, adding that the US’ stealthy F-35 multirole fighter is Morocco’s desired solution.

The Israeli outlet claims that the UAE has offered to “cover the cost” of the expensive jets if Morocco was able to gain US approval for an eventual sale of the fifth-generation fighters. Minister Loudiyi asked Gantz for Israeli assistance in convincing Washington to sell its F-35 and other advanced military hardware to Rabat, according to Jafaj’s sources.

Two F-35s in flight. Photo: Robert Sullivan.

The latest generation of the F-35 multirole fighter is estimated to cost, at a minimum, roughly $78 million per unit. Maintaining the jet for operation is another costly affair. US generals have likened the jet to a Ferrari sportscar that should be deployed only in moderation instead of its intended use as a replacement of most Western jet fighters.

Despite the controversy over the F-35’s costs, the multirole fighter would constitute a game-changer in the already costly Algeria-Morocco arms race. If Morocco would acquire the jet, it is likely to push Algeria to buy Russia’s S-400 missile batteries which Russia claims can detect and shoot down the US stealth fighter.

If Algeria would choose to counter a US-Morocco arms deal by purchasing Russia’s S-400, it risks further isolating itself vis-a-vis NATO and the US, or even face crippling US sanctions. It would likely raise already excessive military expenditure in the Maghreb to dizzying heights, which could severely undermine both countries’ development.

Jafaj concludes that the F-35 could serve as a “major deterrent” against a war caused by the “bravado” of Algeria’s pseudo-military leadership.

“Israeli Moroccan military cooperation should be considered a major deterrent,” Jafaj writes, “not because Morocco could not defend itself, but rather because Algeria’s Generals now know that Israeli support for Morocco will make any confrontation with it a very costly one.”