Morocco Among 5 Nations to Acquire US ATACMS Missiles

Marrakech – The United States Department of Defense has approved the sale of long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to Morocco and four other nations in a $226.8 million contract awarded to Lockheed Martin.

Announced on July 2, the deal will bolster Morocco’s military capabilities along with those of the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland.

Under the Foreign Military Sales program, Lockheed Martin will produce the ATACMS missiles and launch systems, with work slated to continue through December 2028.

In April 2023, Morocco requested 18 M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers, the mobile platform used to fire ATACMS, along with 40 M57 ATACMS missiles, 36 M31A2 GMLRS unitary rounds, and 36 M30A2 GMLRS alternative warheads. The total package for Morocco is valued at $524.3 million.

The ATACMS is a short-range tactical ballistic missile capable of striking targets with high precision at ranges from 160 to 300 km. Weighing 1,600-2,300 kg and measuring 5.75 m long, 2.49 m wide, and 2.4 m high, it can reach speeds of Mach 3 (3,700 km/h).

The missile’s accuracy is enabled by GPS and inertial navigation guidance systems, allowing it to hit targets with a margin of error of 10 meters or less.

Morocco currently does not operate the HIMARS or M270 MLRS launch vehicles required for ATACMS. However, the inclusion of these systems in the deal will significantly enhance Morocco’s long-range strike capabilities.

The US had previously been hesitant to export ATACMS due to concerns over conflict escalation, but this stance has recently softened, as demonstrated by the provision of similar long-range missiles to Ukraine by the UK and France.

The acquisition of ATACMS represents a major step forward for Morocco’s military modernization efforts and regional defense posture.