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Doha – Morocco is set to purchase 612 Javelin missiles and 200 launch units from the United States in a deal worth approximately $260 million, according to an official notice published in the US Federal Register on May 30.
The sale, which still requires final approval from the US Congress, has already received the green light from the US State Department. The country’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency initially announced the proposed sale on March 19, 2024, in a letter to the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson.
The official document details that the Moroccan government has requested to buy “six hundred twelve (612) Javelin FGM–148F missiles (includes twelve (12) fly-to-buy missiles) and two hundred (200) Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units (LWCLUs).”
According to the policy justification section of the Federal Register notice, “this proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in North Africa.”
The Javelin is a powerful anti-tank missile system, and this deal is expected to boost Morocco’s long-term defense capabilities.
US defense officials state clearly in the document that “the proposed sale will improve Morocco’s long-term defense capacity to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity and to meet its national defense requirements. Morocco will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.”
The sale includes not just the missiles and launch units but also missile simulation rounds, Javelin support equipment, hand and measuring tools, books and publications, and power and distribution equipment.
It also covers component parts and support equipment, life cycle support and technical assistance, gunner and ammunition officer training, System Integration and Check Out (SICO), maintenance training, Tactical Aviation and Ground Munitions (TAGM), and other related logistics and program support elements.
The prime contractors will be the Javelin Joint Venture between Lockheed Martin in Orlando, Florida, and RTX Corporation in Tucson, Arizona. The notice specifically states that “there are no known offset agreements in connection with this potential sale.”
This purchase represents the first arms deal with Morocco to be announced since Donald Trump returned to the White House on January 20. It follows another recent proposal on April 15, when the US offered to sell Morocco 600 FIM-92K Stinger missiles, another advanced system, in a deal estimated at $825 million.
These acquisitions continue a pattern established during Trump’s first term, when Morocco secured important deals with American defense companies. In 2019, Morocco purchased 24 Apache helicopters for $1.5 billion and 25 F-16 fighter jets for nearly $3.8 billion, along with upgrades to 23 older F-16s costing around $985.2 million.
What is the Javelin missile?
The Javelin missile system, in production since 1996, is considered one of the most prestigious anti-tank weapons in the military industry. The highly explosive anti-tank cannon can destroy modern tanks by attacking from above where armor is thinner and is effective in direct attacks against fortifications.
According to the sensitivity of technology annex in the Federal Register notice, “the Javelin Weapon System is a medium-range, man portable, shoulder-launched, fire and forget, anti-tank system for infantry, scouts, and combat engineers.”
The document further notes that “it may also be mounted on a variety of platforms including vehicles, aircraft, and watercraft. The system weighs 49.5 pounds and has a maximum range in excess of 2,500 meters.”
The document further explains that “Javelin’s key technical feature is the use of fire-and-forget technology which allows the gunner to fire and immediately relocate or take cover.”
The system includes “top attack and direct fire modes, an advanced tandem warhead and imaging infrared seeker, target lock-on before launch, and soft launch from enclosures or covered fighting positions.”
Military cooperation between Morocco and the United States has strengthened over time, establishing Morocco as a key defense partner for Washington in Africa. The two countries regularly participate in joint military exercises, including African Lion, the largest annual US-led military drill on the continent, which enhances coordination between their forces.
With these new acquisitions, Morocco continues to develop one of the most modern military forces in North Africa. According to the official notification, the US government has determined that “Morocco can provide substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive technology being released as the U.S. Government” and that the sale “will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”
The total military spending package, valued at $260 million, consists of $180 million for major defense equipment and $80 million for other related items and services, according to the Federal Register publication. The funding source is listed as “National Funds” from Morocco.
