DefenseKC-390 sale to Morocco expected to be finalized by the end of the year - reports
Morocco is expected to sign by the end of 2025 a contract to purchase the Embraer KC-390 Millennium, in a deal valued at around $600 million, according to Moroccan outlets.
The agreement foresees the delivery of four to five aircraft to replace the Royal Moroccan Air Force’s aging C-130H Hercules and KC-130H tankers.
The development confirms earlier reports, which revealed that negotiations between Rabat and Embraer were in their final stages. Last year, a Memorandum of Understanding had been signed with the Moroccan government to explore aerospace cooperation projects, paving the way for a formal acquisition.
In addition to the aircraft, the proposed package is expected to include crew training, logistics support, and potential industrial cooperation projects, aligned with Morocco’s goal of establishing itself as a regional defense and maintenance hub.
Talks gained momentum following KC-390 demonstration flights in March 2024, when Embraer’s prototype PT-ZNG, painted in Brazilian Air Force colors, flew from Rabat and Kenitra with Moroccan personnel onboard to evaluate its performance under local conditions.
If concluded, Morocco will become the first African operator of the KC-390, joining a growing list of European and NATO customers, including Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, and Sweden.
The acquisition comes as Morocco continues to increase defense spending, which reached $12.88 billion in 2024, up nearly $485 million from the previous year.
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