According to a Spanish report, Spain is concerned about Morocco’s upcoming acquisition of American F-35 stealth fighters. “Although bilateral relations between the two countries are generally good and they share a common ally, the United States, Rabat wants to strengthen its air forces with sophisticated aircraft,” says the document, noting that “at the threat future Algerian Su-57 fighters, adds Morocco’s clear interest in acquiring the American F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter.
The report states that “to date, this sale has neither been authorized nor made official. Morocco’s primary interest in the F-35 lies in its desire to have an aircraft that can compete with the future Algerian Su-57s, in a context of historical rivalry marked by several decades of hostility between the two countries. emphasizing that “these stealth planes could also pose a threat to Spain. » If the kingdom has not yet acquired the F-35, it is because of its high cost, the report reveals. “This device is extremely expensive and its acquisition could weaken the budgetary resources allocated to other weapons systems.”
Read: Army: Morocco surpasses Spain
But in the event that Morocco manages to acquire the F-35, a fifth generation stealth fighter capable of carrying out air superiority, ground attack and reconnaissance missions, it would constitute a threat to Spain which “does not have stealth fighters and does not plan to receive any in the short or medium term. Its air defense currently relies on Eurofighters and EF-18M Hornets, two fourth-generation combat aircraft,” the report said. “The acquisition of this type of fighter by Morocco would represent a significant step forward in the modernization of its air forces in comparison with its current equipment, mainly composed of fourth generation aircraft such as the F-16,” confirms a military expert.
“The acquisition of this American stealth fighter could allow Morocco to strengthen its deterrence capacity against an Algeria which supports the Polisario Front and to assert itself as a major player in security in North Africa,” analyzes the ‘expert, adding that Morocco “will have to negotiate with the United States to obtain approval for this sale, which could take time and be subject to strict political conditions.”
Morocco
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