Morocco army to receive M1A2 Abrams MBTs after M1A1 SA.

On January 14, 2022, Issam Toutate of Morocco World News reported that Morocco was fostering military equipment to face regional instability. Hence, Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces (FAR) would soon receive the latest generation of the American M1 Abrams tank: the FAR Maroc forum announced the upcoming receipt of “new batches of US Abrams A2 war machines, “modified to the specifications requested by Morocco.”
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Screenshot of Media 1's TV report about the M1A1 SA Abrams main battle tank during the official induction ceremony on July 26, 2016.

The north African country acquired 222 M1A1 Abrams tanks from the US for more than a billion dollars in 2012, then added 162 M1A2 Abrams tanks for $1.25 billion, Issam Toutate recalls. Morocco is now anticipating the latest purchase of the next generation of the American tank. As published by Army Recognition on July 29, 2016, Morocco already owns M1A1-SA (Situational Awareness) tanks, refurbished basic M1A1 versions that have been modernized to “reach the level equivalent to the most recent models currently available,” according to FAR Maroc forum.

Let us recall the previous announcement made by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency on November 29, 2018: The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Morocco of enhancements to one hundred sixty-two (162) Abrams tanks for an estimated cost of $1.259 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on November 28, 2018.

The Government of Morocco has requested to purchase enhancements to one hundred sixty-two (162) Abrams tanks procured through the Excess Defense Article (EDA) program to one of the following variants: M1A1 Situational Awareness (baseline version), M1A2M (includes Commander’s Independent Thermal Viewer) or M1A1 U.S. Marine Corps version (includes Slew to Cue). Included in the possible sale are one hundred sixty-two (162) M2 Chrysler Mount Machine Guns; three hundred twenty-four (324) M240 Machine Guns; one thousand thirty-five (1,035) M865 Training SABOT Rounds; and one thousand, six hundred ten (1,610) M831Al HEAT Rounds. Also included are one hundred sixty-two (162) Export Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio Systems (SINCGARS); one hundred sixty-two (162) RT-1702 Receiver Transmitters; one hundred sixty-two (162) M250 Smoke Grenade Launchers; M962 .50 caliber rounds; special armor; Hunter/Killer technology, which may include the Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV) or Slew to Cue solution; Commander’s Weapon Station Variant which may include the Commander’s Weapon Station (CWS), Stabilized Commander’s Weapon Station (SCWS), or Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station- Low Profile (CROW-LP); spare parts; support equipment; upgrade/maintenance of engines and transmissions; depot level support; Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE); repair parts; communication support equipment; tool and test equipment; training; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The total estimated program cost is $1.259 billion.

This proposed sale of M1A1 tank enhancements will contribute to the modernization of Morocco's tank fleet, enhancing its ability to meet current and future threats. These tanks will contribute to Morocco's goal of updating its military capability while further enhancing interoperability with the United States and other allies.

The prime contractor will be General Dynamics Land Systems in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Refurbishment work will be performed at Anniston Army Depot in Anniston, Alabama and the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima, Ohio. There are currently no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale, but one is expected due to Moroccan law.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require annual trips to Morocco involving up to 55 U.S. Government and 13 contractor representatives for a period of up to five years to manage the fielding and training for the program.