Agadir – Morocco launched its first Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) qualification course under the African Lion 26 exercise. The operation involved two US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bombers and four Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons flying over Cap Draa on April 23.
The coordinated flyover is part of African Lion 26, the largest annual joint exercise led by the US Africa Command and executed by the US Army Southern European Task Force Africa from April 20 to May 8.
The mission brought together US strategic bombers and Moroccan fighter aircraft in a coordinated flight intended to demonstrate combined operational readiness and deterrence capability.
“Their visible presence over Morocco, operating alongside Royal Moroccan Air Force fighters, signals credible deterrence and reinforces the US commitment to regional security,” said US Air Force Gen, Dagvin Anderson, commanding general of US Africa Command.
The flyover also coincided with the launch of Morocco’s first nationally accredited JTAC qualification course, a milestone in the development of the country’s joint fires capabilities.
“The inaugural JTAC qualification course trains Moroccan students to direct combat aircraft, artillery and naval gunfire from forward positions,” said US Air Force Master Sgt. Therron Bundick, chief of weapons and tactics for the 165th Air Support Operations Squadron.
“These controllers hold the authority to clear airstrikes, ensuring accuracy while avoiding friendly fire and minimizing collateral damage,” he added.
The training brought together US JTAC units, including elements from the 165th ASOS and Detachment 1 of the 2nd ASOS, alongside US Marine Corps personnel and military personnel from Canada, Hungary, and Morocco.
“Morocco’s first JTAC qualification course marks a historic milestone in advancing allied interoperability,” Bundick said. “US involvement ensures a rigorous training environment to establish a lasting foundation for the program’s future.”
The integration of strategic US bombers with Moroccan fighter aircraft, alongside the launch of the JTAC course, reflects an expanding framework of defense cooperation.
The combined activities under African Lion 26 aim to enhance readiness, strengthen partner capacity, and improve coordination across complex, multi-domain operations in the region.
