Morocco has requested the sale of ammunition and weapons worth nearly a billion dollars from the United States, including anti-tank missiles and armament for its F-16 fighters.
The Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress on 11 September of the possible sale of F-16 weapons and ammunition worth $209 million.
This includes 5 810 MK82-1 bombs (fitted with Tritonal explosive filling); 300 Mk 84-4 bombs (Tritonal filling); 105 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) KMU-572F/B Tail Kits; 180 MXU-651B/B Air Foil Groups (AFG) for GBU-10 Paveway II guided bombs; 4 125 MXU-650C/B AFGs for GBU-12 Paveway II guided bombs; 4 305 MAU-169L/B Computer Control Groups (CCG) for GBU-10,-12,-16 weapons; and 5 178 FMU-152 fuzes.
Also included in the requested sale are flares and impulse cartridges (to eject the flares), bomb sensors, chaff, bomb components, spares and support equipment.
The principal contractors would be Raytheon, Orbital ATK, General Dynamics, Kilgore Cheming Groupe, Cheming Groupe, and Kaman Precision Products.
Also on 11 September, the DSCA notified Congress of Morocco’s request to acquire 2 401 TOW-2A anti-tank missiles for $776 million. Also included in the request was 28 TOW 2A Fly-to-Buy missiles for lot acceptance testing; and 400 M220A2 TOW launchers and/or 400 M41 Improved Target Acquisition System (ITAS) Launchers.
Raytheon Missile Systems would be the prime contractor to supply the missiles.
The DSCA said the proposed sale “will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a major Non-NATO ally that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in North Africa. The proposed sale of the TOW 2A Missiles and TOW Launchers will advance Morocco’s efforts to develop an integrated ground defence capability. A strong national defence and dedicated military force will assist Morocco to sustain itself in its efforts to maintain stability.”
It added that the proposed sale of F-16 armament would “improve Morocco’s capability to meet current and future threats of terror from violent extremist organizations prevalent throughout the region. Additionally, the additional munitions provided by this sale will improve interoperability with the United States and other regional allies and enhance Morocco’s ability to undertake coalition operations, as it has done in the past in flying sorties against ISIS in Syria and Iraq.”
Morocco has requested a number of sales of new and second hand equipment from the United States. In March the North African country requested an additional batch of 25 F-16C/D Block 72 aircraft and equipment for $3.787 billion and it emerged it has requested 24 new AH-64 Apache attack helicopters.
In July it emerged that Morocco requested the transfer of two ex-US Air Force C-130H Hercules transports whilst 100 second hand trucks (M1078, M1083 and M1084) are being delivered by the United States.
