Morocco has received a new batch of six AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, bringing to 19 the total number of these U.S. lethal helicopters delivered to the North African Kingdom.
Morocco had signed the agreement to purchase 24 Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters (with an option for 12 more) in June 2020 through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, following U.S. government approval in late 2019.
The Moroccan and American forces will conduct joint training using these helicopters during the upcoming editions of African Lion exercise, strengthening security partnership between Morocco and the United States marking nearly 250 years of friendship and cooperation.
The AH-64E Apache Guardian is the most lethal and “battle-tested” variant of the Boeing Apache attack helicopter, serving as the U.S. Army’s primary attack helicopter.
The Apache helicopter, especially this model, brings advanced weaponry in reconnaissance and attack to the Royal Moroccan Air Force. This aircraft is armed with a 30mm M230 chain gun mounted beneath its nose, capable of engaging ground targets with high-explosive ammunition at short-to-medium ranges with high precision. Its primary anti-armor weapon is the AGM-114 Hellfire laser-guided missile, with a range of approximately eight km, enabling standoff engagements against tanks and fortified positions from beyond the reach of most ground-based air defense systems.
AH-64E Apache Guardian is equipped with the AN/APG-78 Longbow fire control radar, capable of tracking 128 targets simultaneously and prioritizing the top 16. Its advanced radar is a millimetre-wave system capable of detecting, classifying, and tracking ground and aerial targets at extended ranges in adverse weather conditions and complex terrain.
