Two main options are available to Morocco: the Russian Amur 1650, a multi-purpose submarine with diesel-electric propulsion, and the French Scorpène, designed by Naval Group, renowned for its stealth and cutting-edge technologies, reports Young Africa. The French Scorpène stands out for its high-performance sonars and its silent propulsion system. Some of its versions use lithium-ion batteries, which gives them a prolonged ability to remain submerged underwater.
According to the Pan-African magazine, this strategic acquisition aims to rebalance the balance of power in the Mediterranean against Algeria, which already has submarines. Morocco should acquire at least three submersibles to ensure a permanent presence at sea, regardless of maintenance or transit operations, estimates Nizar Derdabi, defense and security expert.
Read: Naval Group could build a submarine for Morocco
25th in the world rankings, the Royal Moroccan Navy has 121 ships, including a multi-mission frigate (FREMM) bearing the name “Mohammed VI”, delivered in 2017 by the French company DCNS (today known as Naval Group), for an amount of 470 million euros. This warship is capable of providing anti-aircraft defense, underwater warfare and surface combat. The Moroccan fleet also includes three Dutch SIGMA-type multi-mission frigates, two Floréal-class surveillance frigates, a Spanish Descubierta-class corvette and around twenty patrol boats.
In addition to these ships, the kingdom has more than 20 patrol boats that can be armed. It expects the delivery of an “Avante 1800” class offshore patrol boat by 2026.
Morocco
