Casablanca – Morocco’s order for 10 H225M Caracal helicopters is among the major French defense contracts that entered into force in 2025, according to France’s 2026 report on arms exports. The helicopters, built by Airbus Helicopters, are intended for the Royal Moroccan Air Force.
Airbus confirmed the 10-aircraft contract in November 2025, saying the helicopters will be equipped for combat search and rescue missions and will replace Morocco’s Puma helicopters, which have been in service for more than 40 years.
The French report lists the Caracal order alongside major contracts with India, Indonesia, Greece, and other countries.
Morocco’s military aviation activity continued in 2026. In May, the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) received a second batch of seven AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, bringing the number delivered to 13 out of 24 ordered from Boeing.
The first six were received in March 2025. The second batch was formally received at Cap Draa in the Tan-Tan region during the closing of the African Lion 26 exercise.
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In July, Morocco also signed an agreement with the US Africa Command to establish the Africa Multidomain Training and Experimentation Center in Tan-Tan. The planned center will include a multidomain training area, a drone academy, and an innovation and experimentation center.
According to the report, French defense companies recorded €532.1 million in orders from Morocco in 2025, bringing the total for 2016 to 2025 to €1.3251 billion. Morocco accounted for almost all of North Africa’s €533 million in French defense orders in 2025.
The report also records €83.3 million worth of French military equipment delivered to Morocco in 2025, compared with €904.7 million over the 2016 to 2025 period.
France accepted 42 individual export licenses for Morocco in 2025, bringing the total since 2016 to 559. The value of licenses issued to Morocco in 2025 reached €1.27 billion. One ML5 license alone was valued at €969 million.
The report also records the delivery of eight missile launchers and two 20 mm cannons to Morocco in 2025, while one ML5 re-export authorization was granted for the North African country.
