Morocco’s F-35 deal stirs tensions in the Maghreb

Tensions in the Maghreb are simmering as Morocco allegedly nears a deal to acquire state-of-the-art F-35 fighter jets from the US. If the rumors are to be believed, this could add fresh fuel to the kingdom’s rivalry with its larger neighbor, Algeria.

According to the Moroccan-friendly outlet Hespress on June 20, Morocco could soon become the first Arab and African nation to acquire the cutting-edge Lockheed Martin F-35. To date, US policy restricts the sale of the fifth-generation stealth jet in the Middle East to Israel.

Sources at IDEX in February indicated that US President Donald Trump’s second term could see through the unfinished F-35 business that he started during his first four years in office. Soon after, Lockheed Martin representatives at IDEX allegedly provided an “in-depth briefing” to a Moroccan military delegation on the fifth-generation jet’s capabilities.

While no official announcements have been made, Times Aerospace recently reported that the deal was given the green light by Israel, which has a big say on the sale of the fighter in the Arab world.

For Rabat, the deal would signal a huge leap in capability. Estimated to cost the kingdom around $17 billion over 45 years, the fighter is considered one of the most advanced aircraft in the world in terms of stealth, strike precision, and electronic warfare capabilities.

Its acquisition would therefore be “historic” for the Royal Moroccan Air Force, which has been beefing up its capabilities for years.

In August 2020, the US sold the Kingdom 24 new F-16C/D Block 72 fighter jets–the most advanced version of the F-16 currently available– with deliveries scheduled to begin this year. At the same time, Morocco is upgrading its existing fleet of 23 F-16s to the more sophisticated F-16V standard.

Two of its Gulfstream 550 aircraft are also being outfitted in Texas with advanced Israeli Elta surveillance technology, which should give Morocco a much sharper eye on the region, particularly on its longtime rival, Algeria.

The combative edge threatens to eclipse Algiers’ capabilities, which might explain the latter’s push to become the first export customer of Russia’s fifth-gen Sukhoi Su-57.

Observers note that if Morocco officially acquires the F-35A, it would place the kingdom on a new level within the global air power hierarchy. According to Aviation Week, Rabat’s planned fleet would rival those of several NATO and non-NATO allies, including Spain, Portugal, Greece, Denmark, Romania, and Singapore.

Hesspress/ Maghrebi