Israel Surpasses France as Morocco's Second-Largest Arms Supplier
Israel has become Morocco's second-largest arms supplier, accounting for 24% of the kingdom's military imports, according to Spanish publication Escudo Digital. The United States remains the top supplier with 60%, while France has fallen to third place with 10%. This significant shift in military cooperation began after the normalization of relations between Israel and Morocco in December 2020 under the Abraham Accords. A key milestone was the signing of a defense memorandum of understanding during Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz's official visit to Rabat in November 2021.
Morocco's most substantial acquisition from Israel was the Barak MX multi-layered air defense system, purchased in 2022 from Israel Aerospace Industries for $500 million. This system, capable of intercepting various aerial threats including aircraft, drones, and ballistic missiles, has a range of 35 to 150 km and its command center is located at the new Sidi Yahya El Gharb military base. Further bolstering its arsenal, Morocco acquired 36 ATMOS 2000 self-propelled howitzers from Elbit Systems in 2025, with a firing range exceeding 40 km. The kingdom has also reportedly purchased 8 to 12 PULS multiple rocket launcher systems from Elbit Systems for approximately $150 million, with deliveries ongoing this year.
Israeli drones are also a significant component of the Moroccan military, including BlueBird's WanderB and ThunderB tactical drones, along with Elbit's Hermes 450 and Hermes 900, and Israel Aerospace Industries' Heron 1. These are stationed at bases in Ben Guerir, Dakhla in Western Sahara, and Mahbes near the Algerian border. In July 2024, Morocco agreed to purchase two Ofek 13 reconnaissance satellites from Israel Aerospace Industries for about $1 billion, with delivery expected by the end of the decade.
Through its partnerships with Israeli firms, Morocco has reportedly developed advanced cybersecurity capabilities, including the NSO Group's Pegasus spyware, Cellebrite's NightHawk system, and UFED data extraction tools. A joint military committee convenes annually since 2020 to coordinate cooperation between the Israel Defense Forces and the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces. The most recent meeting in Tel Aviv in early January 2026 focused on four areas: technological and industrial innovation, operational readiness, intelligence and cyber defense, and long-term military development.
