DefenseMorocco Advances F-35 Acquisition Talks With US for 32 Aircraft
Morocco and the United States are advancing negotiations for the sale of 32 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighters, with discussions ongoing since 2020 and no finalized agreement yet announced, according to local media.
The potential purchase is driven by Morocco’s goal to modernize its air force and address regional security dynamics, especially amid heightened tensions with neighboring Algeria.
Negotiations gained momentum as Morocco finds itself at risk from the strengthening of neighboring Algeria, a country that receives Russian weaponry, including the Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet.
The Royal Moroccan Air Force currently operates an aging combat fleet, consisting primarily of 20 Northrop F-5E/Fs, 46 Dassault Mirage F1s, and 23 Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons, according to World Air Forces 2025.
Morocco’s defense budget is set to reach US$13.32 billion in 2025, while Algeria’s will rise to US$25.1 billion, highlighting growing investment in military capabilities on both sides.
If concluded, the agreement would make Morocco the first country in Africa and the Arab world to field fifth-generation fighters, with initial operational capability of the F-35 expected around 2035.
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