Moroccan-US Defense Partnership Strengthens with Acquisition of Long-Range ATACMS Missiles.

Morocco has finalized an agreement with the United States for the purchase of ATACMS missiles, as announced by the U.S. Department of Defense. The contract, valued at $227 million, involves the production of these missiles by Lockheed Martin, a major American defense and aerospace manufacturer. This deal is part of the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program for the fiscal year 2024 and is expected to be completed by 2028. Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

The ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) manufactured by Lockheed Martin is a short-range tactical ballistic missile known for its impressive precision, with an error margin of less than 10 meters (Picture source: Lockheed Martin)

According to U.S. Defense officials, the agreement involves not only Morocco but also other countries, highlighting the significance of this transaction in the context of international military relations.

The ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) manufactured by Lockheed Martin is a short-range tactical ballistic missile known for its impressive precision, with an error margin of less than 10 meters. Capable of being launched from MLRS family systems, including M142 HIMARS and M270, the missile weighs between 1,600 and 2,300 kg depending on the variant and can reach speeds of about Mach 3 (3,700 km/h).

Measuring 5.75 meters in length, 2.49 meters in width, and 2.4 meters in height, the ATACMS is equipped with a 230 kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead and utilizes an advanced guidance system combining GPS and inertial navigation (INS), enabling it to hit targets at distances ranging from 160 to 300 km. Its appearance, similar to standard MLRS payloads, helps to conceal its capabilities from adversaries.

The military collaboration between Washington and Rabat has grown stronger over the years through numerous agreements and memorandums of understanding. In addition, both countries have regularly participated in the African Lion military exercises with other international forces.

On the occasion of U.S. Independence Day, King Mohammed VI of Morocco sent a message to President Joe Biden, expressing the kingdom's desire to continue working together to advance the consolidation of bilateral relations and elevate the strategic partnership to higher levels.

Besides ATACMS, the United States has supplied various other military equipment to Morocco. In 2019, Morocco ordered 25 new F-16V fighters, the most advanced version of the F-16, in a deal valued at $3.8 billion. This contract also included the modernization of the 23 F-16s already in service with the Royal Moroccan Air Force to the F-16V standard.

Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Defense authorized Lockheed Martin to begin production of the "Fiber Shield" electronic warfare system for the modern F-16 Block 70/72 fighters of the Royal Air Force, to provide advanced support against evolving threats.

In 2015, Morocco began receiving M1A1 Abrams tanks under an agreement with the United States valued at over $1 billion. Morocco acquired 222 upgraded Abrams tanks. In 2019, Morocco acquired Patriot air defense systems, aimed at enhancing its aerial defense capabilities against advanced threats, including aircraft and missiles.

That same year, Morocco signed an agreement to purchase 24 Apache AH-64E helicopters, valued at $1.2 billion. The Apache helicopters are among the most advanced in terms of ground attack and close air support capabilities.

In 2020, Morocco also finalized the purchase of MQ-9 Reaper drones, long-endurance combat and surveillance drones. While negotiations had been stalled for several years, particularly around the issue of Western Sahara, the normalization with Israel and the arrival of Trump's administration facilitated the finalization of the deal. Valued at approximately $123 million, the contract is part of a Foreign Military Sales agreement between Morocco and the United States.