Morocco might be testing US-made Patriot air defense missile system in response to Algeria's purchase of Russian Su-57 jets.

As reported by Semper Supra on March 25, 2025, Morocco is continuing its efforts to expand its air and missile defense capabilities by evaluating the U.S.-made MIM-104 Patriot air defense missile system, a step that could lead to the country’s first confirmed acquisition of the widely deployed platform. Recent imagery circulating online showed three vehicles associated with the system (specifically Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) units) being transported on civilian trucks, reportedly en route to an air defense command and control (C2) base rather than to Ben Guerir Air Base, as previously believed.
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The launchers were covered with camouflage tarps and did not include missile canisters, suggesting the transit may be connected to evaluation procedures, technical familiarization, or testing, rather than operational deployment. (Picture source: Twitter/Defense Atlas)

While no official statement has been issued by Moroccan authorities regarding this transit, the movement is viewed by Moroccan defense observers as a concrete sign of a potential procurement by the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces. Defense sources suggest that the equipment will undergo testing to verify its compatibility with Moroccan operational requirements. An earlier hint came in January 2021, when the U.S. International Trade Administration noted that Patriot systems and G550 reconnaissance aircraft had been cleared for sale to Morocco, although quantities and values were not disclosed. These developments indicate sustained momentum toward equipping the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces with advanced U.S.-built surface-to-air capabilities.

Available information now suggests that Morocco has opted for the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) variant, which offers improved range and accuracy. The PAC-3 MSE interceptors can engage aircraft at distances exceeding 160 kilometers and tactical ballistic missiles at ranges over 35 kilometers. They are supported by the AN/MPQ-65 radar, which enables 360-degree coverage and simultaneous tracking of over 100 targets. The system uses hit-to-kill technology, relying on kinetic impact to neutralize incoming threats. A single launcher can carry four PAC-2 GEM-T missiles or up to 16 PAC-3 MSE missiles. This acquisition would substantially increase Morocco’s defensive capacity against aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic threats, such as the Russian Iskander-E short-range ballistic missile system that Algeria purchased.

The appearance of Patriot system components in Morocco is part of a series of U.S.-approved defense sales reflecting expanding military relations between the two countries. In January 2021, the U.S. International Trade Administration confirmed the planned sale of Patriot air defense systems and G550 reconnaissance aircraft to Morocco, although the number of units and contract value were not disclosed. In November 2021, the U.S. Department of Defense approved a $4.25 billion foreign military sale to Morocco, which included 36 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. These transactions form part of an ongoing defense cooperation framework between Morocco and the United States.

Over the past several years, Morocco has signed multiple arms agreements with the United States, totaling over $9 billion. These include the acquisition of 25 F-16 fighter aircraft for $2.8 billion and 24 AH-64 Apache helicopters for $1.6 billion. Morocco aims to have 48 F-16s and 36 Apaches in operational service by 2028, while rumors speak about a potential purchase of F-35s. To expand its surveillance and airspace monitoring capabilities, Morocco has procured seven radar systems from Lockheed Martin and Ground Master 400 radar systems from Thales Group in France. These systems are intended to enhance early warning and detection functions within Moroccan airspace.

The Patriot surface-to-air missile system (Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target) was developed by Raytheon during the Cold War to provide a high- and medium-altitude air defense capability against aircraft and later against ballistic missiles. (Picture source: US DoD)

In addition to air and surveillance assets, Morocco has also invested in upgrades to its armored ground forces. In 2012, the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces acquired 222 M1A1 SA Abrams tanks from the United States. In 2018, Morocco launched a program to upgrade 162 of these tanks to the M1A2 SEPv3 configuration. This variant includes updates to electronic systems, communications, and protection features. Deliveries of the upgraded M1A2 SEPv3 tanks began in late 2023, with sightings confirmed in December 2023. These upgrades are intended to improve the operational performance and integration of Morocco’s armored units within its broader modernization plan.

Morocco’s defense buildup comes at a time of heightened military competition with neighboring Algeria. In 2025, Algeria increased its defense budget to $25.1 billion, up from $21 billion in 2024. In the same period, Morocco raised its defense spending to $13.32 billion, compared to $12.4 billion the previous year. Algeria purchased Russian-made S-300 air defense systems, Rezonans-NE over-the-horizon radars, and a range of Sukhoi fighter aircraft, including the Su-35 and the Su-57. The country also tested the Chinese VT-4 main battle tank. The two countries remain in a prolonged dispute over Western Sahara. Algeria supports the Polisario Front, which seeks independence for the region, while Morocco controls approximately 80 percent of the territory and supports autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty. Diplomatic ties between the two countries were severed in 2021. Negotiations under UN auspices have remained stalled since 2019.

Beyond American equipment, Morocco is also diversifying its procurement sources to build a layered air defense network. In 2023, the country received the first batch of the Barak MX air and missile defense system from Israel Aerospace Industries under a $500 million contract signed in 2022. This broader security context reinforces the strategic value Morocco sees in the acquisition of a field-proven system like the Patriot to form a multi-layered protection against a wide spectrum of aerial threats and create redundancy across platforms from different suppliers.

The Patriot missile system was originally developed by Raytheon during the Cold War. It was introduced in the early 1980s to replace legacy U.S. air defense platforms and gained operational prominence during the 1991 Gulf War. Its design features a phased-array radar and track-via-missile guidance technology. Since its initial deployment, it has undergone multiple upgrades to address evolving air and missile threats. As of 2025, over 18 countries operate the Patriot system, including the United States, Germany, Japan, Israel, South Korea, and more recently Poland and Sweden. The system has been used in multiple conflict zones, including to intercept ballistic missile threats in the Middle East and reportedly against Russian Kinzhal missiles during the conflict in Ukraine, although Russian sources have disputed those claims.