Morocco aims to establish its presence in the Atlantic. The Kingdom plans to equip its navy with modern submarines for its new operational base located in Ksar Sghir. This ambition, reported by the Spanish media El Confidencial Digital, is part of a context of significant rearmament of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) over the last decade.
The FAR has undertaken an impressive qualitative leap, integrating modernized F-16 fighters, improved Abrams tanks, Predator drones, as well as the “Mohamed VI-A” observation satellite. This development, closely followed by the Spanish armed forces, marks a notable technological advance, particularly for the Royal Moroccan Navy.
Among the major achievements is the acquisition of three corvettes, a French FREMM frigate and the commissioning of the Ksar Sghir naval base, a strategic infrastructure on the Atlantic. However, this increase in power remains incomplete, because the Moroccan fleet still does not have submarines, a key tool to strengthen its deterrence capacity and maritime sovereignty.
The Royal Navy has long had ambitions to integrate submarines into its ranks, but past attempts have been unsuccessful. Today, Rabat seems determined to make this project a reality in the near future. According to sources consulted by El Confidencial Digital, steps have been taken to acquire a submarine which would be deployed in Ksar Sghir.
Several options were considered. Among them, the purchase of a Russian Amur-class submarine, a fifth-generation unit equipped with anaerobic propulsion (AIP), offering prolonged underwater autonomy thanks to reduced dependence on oxygen. Another alternative, studied in 2017, was to acquire second-hand submarines from the Greek Navy. Although these would have mainly been used to train crews, this avenue did not come to fruition either.
Control of the Atlantic seabed is crucial for Morocco, both to protect its resources and to guarantee the security of its strategic maritime routes.
By strengthening its navy, Morocco confirms its ambition to become a key maritime player, aligning its defense strategy with the challenges and issues of the region. The realization of this project would not only consolidate its naval capabilities, but also send a strong signal to its partners and adversaries.
