Morocco to receive the Gulfstream G-550 spy plane

In its Monday issue, Arabic-language newspaper Al Ahdath Al Maghribia announced that the Royal Armed Forces will be receiving, in early 2021, a Gulfstream G-550 aircraft equipped with spy technologies that are capable of blinding enemy defenses. The Kingdom concluded, on January 31, 2019, an agreement with manufacturer Raytheon for the acquisition of four devices of this type.

The Gulfstream G-550 business jet is equipped with an Israeli-American made intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) system.  

For the record, Morocco ordered for the first time this modified plane from the United States on May 18, 2009 as reported by the «Defense Security Cooperation Agency» in a press release announcing the Congress’ approval of the sale. The acquisition cost was estimated at $ 142 million, according to the same source.

Regarding the financing of this contract, the Intelligence Online site had mentioned, in January 2018, the possible assistance of Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, almost three years ago, relations between Rabat and Riyadh went through a zone of turbulence. In February 2019, the Moroccan ambassador to Saudi Arabia was summoned for consultation.

Algeria also ordered, in 2016, from American company Raytheon the conversion of three Gulfstream G-550 business jets to transform them into spy planes.