U.S. to sell M88A2 HERCULES, Support, and Equipment to Morocco.

The U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Morocco of 25 M88A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System (HERCULES) vehicles and/or M88A1 long supply HERCULES refurbished vehicles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $239.35 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

M88A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System (HERCULES) (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The Government of Morocco has requested to buy 25 M88A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System (HERCULES) vehicles and/or M88A1 long supply HERCULES refurbished vehicles; and 25 M2 .50 caliber machine guns. Also included are 25 export Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS); 25 AN/PSN-13A Defense Advanced Global Positioning System (GPS) Receiver (DAGR) with Selective-Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM); 30 AN/VAS-5B Driver Vision Enhancer (DVE) kits; 25 M239 or M250 smoke grenade launchers; 1,800 M76 (G826) or L8A1/L8A3 (G815) smoke grenade rounds; spare parts; support equipment; depot level support; Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE); repair parts; communication support equipment; communication equipment integration; tools and test equipment; training; training simulators; repair and return program; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; Technical Assistance Field Team (TAFT); and other related elements of logistics and program support.

Additionally, the following recommended basic load ammunition may be included upon request from customer: 25,000 A576 cartridges, .50 caliber linked 4 API/API-T F/M2; 300 G815 - grenade, smoke screening L8A1/A3; 2,500 A541 - 50 armor-piercing incendiary, tracer M20 F/M2; 91,800 A557 - cartridge, .50 caliber 4 ball/1 tracer linked M33 F/M2; 54,000 A598 - cartridge, .50 caliber blank F/M2; other technical assistance and support equipment; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The total estimated cost is $239.35 million.

The principal contractor will be BAE, York, Pennsylvania. The purchaser typically requests offsets. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor(s).

Implementation of this sale will require the assignment of approximately 30 U.S. Government or contractor representatives to travel to Morocco for equipment de­processing/fielding, system checkout and new equipment training.