In February 2022, the defense system agreement was signed along with an arms agreement worth $500 million

Israel's Barak MX arrive in Morocco for the first time

FOTO/AFP / Jaafar ASHTIYEH - Un helicóptero de ataque AH-64 Apache de la Fuerza Aérea Israelí libera una carga útil durante una incursión del ejército israelí en Jenin, en la Cisjordania ocupada, el 19 de junio de 2023. Violentos enfrentamientos estallaron en Jenin el 19 de junio durante una redada israelí en la ciudad de Cisjordania en la que el ejército disparó misiles desde un helicóptero, según un fotógrafo de la AFP en el lugar — PHOTO/AFP/ Jaafar ASHTIYEH - An Israeli Air Force AH-64 Apache attack helicopter releases a payload during an Israeli army raid in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank, on June 19, 2023. Violent clashes erupted in Jenin on June 19 during an Israeli raid on the West Bank city in which the army fired missiles from a helicopter, according to an AFP photographer at the scene

12/08/23

According to Pentagon documents leaked earlier this year, Morocco acquired its first shipment of the Israeli Barak MX defense system.

The delivery of the Israeli system to Morocco began in mid-2023, which means that the first shipments have already been received, according to FAR Maroc, a forum that focuses on reporting on the Moroccan army. The manufacturers of the defense system, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and IAI signed an arms agreement worth $500 million in February 2022 that includes the delivery.

PHOTO/AMIR COHEN - El Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Marruecos, Nasser Bourita, espera fuera del Hotel Kedma, la ubicación de la Cumbre de Negev, a la que asistieron el Secretario de Estado de EE. UU., Antony Blinken, y los Ministros de Relaciones Exteriores de Israel, los Emiratos Árabes Unidos, Bahrein, Marruecos y Egipto en Sde Boker, Israel, 28 de marzo de 2022 — **PHOTO/AMIR COHEN -** Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita waits outside the Kedma Hotel, the location of the Negev Summit, which was attended by the U.S. Secretary of State. USA., Antony Blinken, and the Foreign Ministers of Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Egypt in Sde Boker, Israel, March 28, 2022

The Barak MX is a modular and adaptable missile defense system that can defend against many different aerial threats, including drones and missiles. A single-pulse rocket engine called the Barak-MRAD, the first of three different types of Barak interceptors, can intercept missiles at a distance of up to 35 kilometers.

The second type, the Barak-LRAD dual-pulse rocket engine, can intercept missiles up to a range of 70 kilometers, while the Barak-ER dual-pulse rocket engine, with its additional boost, can aim at a range of 150 kilometers. The system also has radar and a number of launchers to defend against threats from drones, helicopters, airplanes and different types of missiles.

AFP/BIROL BEBEK - Dron turco del modelo Bayraktar TB2 — **AFP/BIROL BEBEK -** Drone of the Bayraktar TB2 model

The Royal Air Forces (FAR) has had Israeli support on multiple occasions. It is not only the defense systems that the Kingdom is asking for. Months ago the FAR ordered the PULS rocket launchers after buying the French CAESAR patent, according to the official Facebook page of the FAR-Maroc. The ability to fire a variety of rockets, including guided missiles, stands out as one of the features of this system. It offers proven elite defensive capabilities and is comparable to the American HIMARS system. Whether surface-to-surface or surface-to-air artillery, Morocco has developed its arsenal significantly and rapidly in recent years. The addition of Chinese, French and Israeli systems has also resulted in significant improvements in air defense.

The cooperation of Morocco and Israel on various fronts, including the military, continues to grow at the time of the handover. Israel's Skylock Dome anti-drone system, which specializes in identifying and thwarting unmanned vehicle threats, was purchased by North Africa in 2021. The nation has also purchased IAI Bluebird and Heron drones.

With 76% of the Moroccan market in 2022, the United States remained the main supplier of weapons to Morocco. France took the second place with 15 percent and China the third with 6.8%. World News in Morocco.

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