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Rabat — The United States has approved the sale of nearly $90 million worth of advanced air-to-air missiles to Morocco. The deal details that the Royal Army Forces (FAR) will receive 30 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM missiles, support equipment, and training.
“This proposed sale will improve Morocco’s ability to meet current and future threats,” the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), said in a statement on the news.
The new missiles are well-suited to be equipped on the new F-16 72 fighter jet fleet, helping Morocco secure its borders, counter-terrorism, and crack down on trafficking.
The package includes telemetry kits, spare parts, and classified software, with technical and logistics support provided. Morocco “will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces,” the DSCA added.
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In the statement, the US described Morocco as “an important force for political stability and economic progress in North Africa” and a key non-NATO ally.
Washington additionally noted the sale would not upset the region’s military balance.
The new AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM is an advanced air-to-air missile used by fighter jets. It’s designed to hit enemy aircraft from a long distance with high accuracy.
The missile has its own radar system to find and follow targets, even in bad weather or when they are far away. Modern air forces often use this weapon to protect their airspace and respond to threats quickly.
Morocco is the largest buyer of US military equipment in Africa with sales exceeding $8.5 billion.
In recent years, Morocco has ordered 25 F-16 Block 72 aircraft, 18 HIMARS rocket systems, and 36 Apache attack helicopters.
Boeing, the contractor behind the missile sale, is also supplying 500 GBU-39B Small Diameter Bombs to Morocco in a separate $86 million agreement.
The GBU-39B is a small, smart bomb used by fighter jets. It’s designed to hit targets on the ground with great accuracy. Even though it’s small, it’s very powerful and can be carried in large numbers. The bomb uses GPS to guide itself to the target, making it useful for missions where precision is important and to avoid causing damage nearby.
Morocco’s defense spending is set to rise to $13 billion in 2025 in a push to bring up-to-date military capabilities of the country, since it plays a key role in maintaining security in the region along with the UN peacekeeping missions.
