In Morocco, the latest finance bill plans to allocate a little more than 13 billion euros to national defense, or around 10% of GDP. The budget has increased every year since 2004, and is up 7% from the previous year. Morocco is equipping itself with military equipment, particularly for air control. The country received Bayraktar armed drones this summer, and could acquire 30 Mirage 2000-9Es from 2027.
With our correspondent in Casablanca, François Hume-Ferkatadji
Like its Algerian neighbor, Morocco has increased purchases of military equipment in recent years, in a context of diplomatic tensions between the two countries and the arms race. The Royal Armed Forces are seeking both to modernize the equipment already available and to diversify.
Thus, the Moroccan media The Desk confirms the delivery of Turkish Bayraktar TB-2 drones last August, without mentioning precisely the number of devices delivered, nor the amount of the transaction. In 2021, Morocco ordered 12 devices of this type from the Turkish firm as well as four ground pilot stations, and six more the following year. The kingdom has also shown interest in Baykar’s Akinci model, the latest generation of combat drones.
In 2019, Morocco had already concluded the purchase of 25 F16s with the UNITED STATES for 3.5 billion euros. These fighter jets will not be delivered before 2027.
Read more on RFI
Morocco
