Morocco orders 300 VLRA light tactical vehicles

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The Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (RMAF) has ordered 300 VLRA-2 4×4 light tactical military vehicles from France to strengthen the firepower and mobility of its special forces units.

The order from French military vehicle manufacturer Arquus was confirmed in a video address broadcast on 10 March by company Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Levacher.

Levacher said the company at the end of 2020 ushered in “a very interesting and promising market of 300 VLRA 4×4 tactical vehicles for the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces.”

He hailed Morocco’s selection of the VLRA as a testimony of its resilience and proven performance record in various military theatres of operations.

The VLRA comes in 4×4 and 6×6 configurations, which share the same gooseneck chassis. Among other features, the vehicle offers high ground clearance and a full time all wheel drive (AWD) system.

The new VLRA-2 version is designed for special forces and has a maximum carrying capacity of 12 troops and offers ballistics protection up to Level 4 NATO standard, landmine protection (Levels 2A and 2B) as well as protection against improvised explosive device strikes.

Its high mobility and low maintenance costs have increased its appeal to African and Middle Eastern customers although the French Army still has the largest fleet.

Morocco also plans to acquire VAB Mk 3 6×6 armoured vehicles from Arquus.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s arms transfers database, Morocco ordered 36 Caesar 155 mm self-propelled guns from France in 2020 under a 200 million euro deal, as well as VL MICA surface-to-air missiles and 36 Sherpa armoured vehicles.