Morocco armed forces to get US hi-tech communication equipment.

According to Safaa Kasraoui of Morocco World News, reports suggested earlier this month that Morocco is set to benefit from increased US military cooperation as part of the 2023 U.S. budget: Morocco is set to purchase more military-related equipment from its largest arms supplier, the US. According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the US State Department has approved a possible foreign military equipment sale of Ground Command and Control-related equipment to Morocco at an estimated cost of $141.1 million.
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MIDS is the NATO name for the communication component of Link-16. It is an advanced command, control, communications, computing and intelligence (C4I) system incorporating high-capacity, jam-resistant, digital communication links for the exchange of near real-time tactical information, including both data and voice, among air, ground, and sea elements.  (Picture source: Collins Aerospace)

In the framework of such a deal, Morocco requested to purchase 6 Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio Systems (MIDS). MIDS is the NATO name for the communication component of Link-16. It is an advanced command, control, communications, computing and intelligence (C4I) system incorporating high-capacity, jam-resistant, digital communication links for the exchange of near real-time tactical information, including both data and voice, among air, ground, and sea elements. MIDS is intended to support key theater functions such as surveillance, identification, air control, weapons engagement coordination and direction for all Services.

The MIDS program includes two different families of receiver synthesizer line cards:
* MIDS-LVT (Low volume terminal): LVT(1), LVT(2), or LVT.
* MIDS-JTRS (Joint Tactical Radio System Terminals). MIDS-JTRS is a Software Defined Radio (SDR) that is compliant with the JTRS Software Communication Architecture (SCA). MIDS JTRS maintains the Link-16, J-Voice, and TACAN functionality of the older MIDS-LVT standard, and adds link-16 enhanced throughput (ET), link-16 frequency remapping (FR), and programmable crypto.

The MIDS terminal is based on the TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) data-link technology with 128-time slots per second; during each time slot, only one terminal is allowed to transmit while all the other terminals on the same network are set to receive. To improve the anti-jamming capability signals are spread over 51 frequencies in the 960-1215 MHz frequency band; transmission is inhibited around the two IFF bands (1030 and 1090 MHz.). The maximum output power of a MIDS terminal is 200 Watts which allows an operational range of 300 miles; the range can be extended by relaying information between intermediate terminals.

The Moroccan purchase requests also include different equipment, including secure communications, cryptographic devices, prevision navigation equipment, as well as unclassified and classified software, among other equipment.

In three years between 2017 and 2019, Morocco imported $1 billion worth of armaments. Morocco’s arms supplies come primarily from the US, with 90% followed by France (9.2%), and the UK (0.3%).