Since the normalization of their relations, Israel and Morocco have multiplied military and security agreements. Israel remains Morocco’s main supplier of kamikaze drones and missiles, used for long-range strikes. In a context of crisis with Algeria, Morocco has embarked on the acquisition of these latest generation weapons to face any possible Algerian attack.
Morocco has entered into arms purchase agreements with the Israeli company Rafael to purchase a variety of Spike missiles, including the Spike LR II and the Spike NLOS (Non Line Of Sigh or Out of Line of Sight). He did the same with the Israeli company IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries) for the acquisition of Harop suicide drones. The first deliveries will take place between 2021 and 2024, informs Defensa.
But the current crisis with Algeria, which severed diplomatic relations and closed its air borders with Morocco, has led to an acceleration in the arms race. Morocco has embarked on the acquisition of the most sophisticated Israeli weapons to deal with any possible Algerian attack. The kingdom has already placed an order for 13 Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones, a batch of which was delivered last month.
Morocco’s interest in purchasing these Israeli and Turkish devices is justified by the fact that these are the same weapons that are used by the Algerian army and its armed groups. Whether it is the Harop kamikaze drone (weighing 16 kg and can fly at a speed of 417 km / h), used for deep strikes and to hit targets of great importance, or the fifth generation Spike missiles, with GPS and two-way data link.
