Morocco, US unite for Majestic Eagle 2013

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 510th Fighter Squadron at Aviano Air Base, Italy, taxis at Ben Guerir Air Base, Morocco. (U.S. Air Force/Stephen Linch)

BEIRUT: In an attempt to become a military aircraft maintenance center for neighboring African nations, Morocco has signed a strategic partnership with Belgian firms Sabca and Sabena Aerospace, alongside American giant Lockheed Martin, for the maintenance and support of F-16 and C-130 Hercules aircraft.

The agreement, signed April 14, will lead to the creation of Maintenance Aero Maroc (MAM), an aircraft maintenance facility at Benslimane military airport for “the sustainment requirements of the Royal Moroccan Air Force and bring high-tech jobs and technical abilities within the country,” according to a press release by Sabca. The release notes that “first maintenance activities” on C-130s could begin at the roughly 15,000 square foot facility before the end of the year.

The partnership “will ensure the Kingdom of Morocco receives the best possible industrial facility, equipment, training, and certification to support the sustainment requirements of the Royal Moroccan Air Force and other international customers,” Danya Trent, vice president of F-16 programs at Lockheed, was quoted as saying in the press release.

The Royal Moroccan Air Force is “expecting the delivery of new aircraft including F-16 Block 72, entering service between late 2025 and 2027. Here lies the significance of the facility, since it will enable Morocco to develop locally its current fleet of F-16 planes to the level of most advanced F-16 Viper Block 72,” Abdel Hamid Harfi, a Moroccan military expert, told Breaking Defense.

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The Moroccan Air Force already operates 23 F-16 fighter jets, which Harfi expects to be upgraded to Block 72 within the facility; those are complimented by a fleet of locally upgraded F5 fighters that are used specifically for fire support operations for the Ground Forces, as well as Mirage F-1 and ALPHA-JET aircraft that are maintained inside the military base of Meknes. Morocco also operates a fleet of 17 C-130H transports, and has sought to grow that fleet through the Excess Defense Articles program.

Morocco “expects to maintain the F-16 and C-130 Hercules not only for its air force but also for neighboring African countries operating these aircraft,” Harfi said.

Neighboring Tunisia operates a fleet six C-130B/H Hercules and two C-130J-30 Super Hercules. Additionally it is due to receive two additional C-130H aircraft from the United States after a 2019 request. Other regional C-130H operators include Libya, Niger, Chad and Egypt, the latter of whom were approved by the Biden administration in January of this year to purchase twelve C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. Egypt also flies the fourth largest fleet of F-16’s worldwide with 220 F-16 fighter jets operating in the country, making it an obvious target of potential business for the new facility.

In 2020, Morocco issued law 10.20, which sets the framework for local military systems production. According to the law, three categories of military production are allowed in the Kingdom: defense weapons and ammunition, including related information system and communication and surveillance equipment; security military equipment; and hunting and sniper systems.

“In alignment with this law, Morocco is boosting its military production localization and the new facility is one of these steps. The Kingdom aspires to achieve self-sufficiency in the field of military industrialization and to be a regional platform for the military industry for the local market as well as for export to neighboring African countries.” Harfi said.

The Kingdom is also working on a broader modernization program that includes 36 AH-64E Apache helicopters, expected to be received by 2025, and 22 Turkish-made T-129 ATAK helicopters with an unclear arrival date.

“The maintenance operations according to the new deal will not be the first MRO activities taking place in the Kingdom. French Mirage F1 interceptor fighters were maintained locally the framework of an earlier partnership between the Moroccan Air Force and Sabena Aerospace. Also the F-5 aircraft was developed locally at the beginning in 2000 in partnership with Israel,” Harfi said.

Morocco has numerous security concerns, including neighboring Algeria with advanced air force fleets, which the Kingdom accuses of arming the Polisario Front rebel group in the Western Sahara. In addition, tensions remain with Spain over Ceuta and Melilla, two Spanish enclaves that Morocco considers to be occupied cities.

Harfi added that Morocco seeking technology transfer is important for the Royal Air Air Force to be independent and able to maintain its fleets in critical situations.

“It is notable that the maintenance of transport and combat aircraft up to the third and fourth level is done locally in Morocco while this ability does not exist in 80-90% In the Arab countries,” he finalized.