U.S. approves $88.37 million sale of Advanced Air-to-Air Missiles to Morocco

The U.S. State Department has approved a possible foreign military sale to Morocco of Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $88.37 million (around 883,7 million dirhams), according to a press release on Friday, December 20, by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The latter delivered the required certification on the same day, notifying Congress of the military sale. 

The sale consists of thirty AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and one AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM guidance section, requested by the Kingdom.

The order also includes AMRAAM telemetry kits, control section spares, and containers; Common Munitions Built-in-Test Reprogramming Equipment (CMBRE); ADU-891 Computer Test Set Adapter Groups; munitions support and support equipment; classified software delivery and support; spare parts, consumables, and accessories.

The sale also covers repair and return support; transportation support; classified publications and technical documentation; studies and surveys; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support.

«This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a major non-NATO ally that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in North Africa», stated the U.S. agency.

The order is expected to improve Morocco’s capability to meet current and future threats by ensuring it has modern, capable air-to-air munitions to meet its mission in securing its borders and territorial waters, countering terrorism and illicit trafficking, and using its newly acquired F-16 Block 72 fleet, it added.

The prime contractor of this sale will be RTX Corporation, located in Tucson, Arizona.

This sale was announced on the same day as another $86 million deal with Morocco, consisting of GBU-39B Small Diameter Bombs (SDB-I) and related equipment.