Morocco is on the cusp of securing a deal for 32 U.S. advanced fighter jets, becoming the first Arab and African nation to operate the fifth-generation stealth combat aircraft, says Military Africa news platform.
The $17 billion deal, spanning over 45 years, covers maintenance and technical support and spare parts, says the report, noting that the F-35, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is at the top of modern aviation engineering, blending stealth, versatility, and cutting-edge avionics into a family of multirole fighters suited for air dominance, ground attacks, and reconnaissance.
During the latest International Defence Exhibition held in Abu Dhab,
Lockheed Martin officials delivered a detailed presentation on the F-35 capabilities to Moroccan military representatives.
The United States remains the main supplier of Morocco’s weapons. In 2020, Rabat purchased 24 F-16C/D Block 72 Vipers in addition to
upgrading its fleet of 23 F-16s, bringing them to the F-16V standard equipped with APG-83 active electronically scanned array radar and
AN/AAQ-33 Sniper radar for precise strikes.
Morocco is also strengthening its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets with two Gulfstream G550 aircraft being modified by L3 Systems in Texas using Elta systems, alongside new spy satellites to maintain vigilant oversight of borders and potential adversaries.
