Nothing official yet. According to British website aerospaceglobalnews.com, Morocco could consider acquiring China’s Hongdu L-15 Falcon, also known as the Hongdu JL-10, as a potential replacement for its aging fleet of Dassault Alpha jets, reports
Information that leaked on social networks a few weeks ago already.
In fact, the Moroccan military had “indicated its preference for the L-15 Falcon,” supposedly due to “the aircraft’s stellar performance.” The aircraft is available in three distinct forms – the L-15A being a subsonic advanced jet trainer and is powered by the Ivchenko-Progress AI-222-25 engine, the same source said.
The L-15B is a supersonic light attack variant powered by the AI-222K-25F afterburner, while the L-15 Advanced Fighter Trainer is a supersonic trainer variant that is also powered by the AI-222K-25F afterburner. 222K-25F. However, it is not easily clear which variant Morocco is interested in.
+ An order for 48 aircraft from the Emirates Air Force +
Morocco has tended to look to the West for its defense equipment, although it has acquired the Chinese Norinco Sky Dragon 50 (FD-2000B) and HQ-9 long-range air defense missile systems, as well as Wing Loong 2 drones, as well as certain land forces equipment. Such acquisitions have tended to be made when Western equivalents have not been available.
Interest in the L-15 may partly reflect the absence of a French advanced trainer offering, and the likely long queue and very high price for the American Boeing T-7A. The credibility of the L-15 (so far exported only to the Zambian Air Force) has received a significant boost in the form of a projected order for up to 48 aircraft from the Zambian Air Force. UAE Air Force – a “reference customer” air force in the MENA region.
Whether Morocco, with a frontline combat air element from the West, would want a Chinese advanced trainer is open to doubt. This frontline force includes 23 F-16C/D Block 52s (upgraded to F-16V standards), 25 Block 72 F-16C/Ds on order, 27 Dassault Mirage F1s (upgraded to MF2000 standards, with a new cockpit and Thales RC400 (RDY-3) radar) and approximately 22 Northrop F-5E/Fs.
Article19.ma
