Washington okays sale of guided bombs & advanced air-to-air missiles to Morocco

U.S. State Department has approved new weapons sales to Morocco worth over $174 million, showing U.S. strong support to a major ally and strategic partner, described as an important force for political stability and economic progress in North Africa.

The announcement was made Friday by U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency in a press release. The State Department approved military sales to Morocco of Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles for $88.37 million and GBU-39B Small Diameter Bombs (SDB-I) for $86 million.

According to DSCA, the North African Kingdom requested to buy up to 30 AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and 500 GBU-39B Small Diameter Bombs I (SDBI); and two (2) GBU-39 (T-1)/B inert practice bombs with fuze.

The U.S. authorities say these military deals will help 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 U.S. weapons will also improve Morocco’s capability to meet current and future threats by ensuring it has modern, capable air-to-air munitions to meet its mission in securing its borders and territorial waters, countering terrorism and illicit trafficking, and using its newly acquired F-16 Block 72 fleet.

Developed by U.S. manufacturer Boeing Corporation, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, the GBU-39 is a 110 kg guided bomb is designed to equip combat aircraft with a larger number of precision-guided bombs.