Israel to supply Morocco with air defense system worth $500 mln

Israel has agreed to sell Morocco the Barak MX air and missile defense system in a deal worth more than $500 million, Israeli media reported.

The deal was approved by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) after Morocco and Israel sealed a defense cooperation pact last November.

The Israeli air defense system protects against a range of missile threats and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), Israeli news portal Globes reported.

The system provides management of three types of interceptors from IAI’s Barak family: Barak-MRAD is a single pulse rocket motor, which intercepts missiles up to ranges of 35 kilometers; Barak-LRAD is a dual pulse rocket motor, which intercepts missiles up to ranges of 70 kilometers; and Barak-ER dual pulse rocket motor and an additional booster for a range of 150 kilometers.

The website reported that IAI’s new appointed chairman Amir Peretz, who is of Moroccan origins, has been deeply involved in the deal, adding that the order was raised during Israeli defense minister Gantz visit to Rabat.

Morocco has already indirectly purchased Heron UAVs from IAI and other UAVs from IAI unit Bluebird as well as robot patrol vehicle systems from Elbit Systems and drone interceptors from Skylock.

But the signing of the defense pact with Israel will enable transactions to be carried out directly.