Royal Moroccan Air Force

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Royal Moroccan Air Force
  • القوات الجوية الملكية (
    Arabic)
  • Adwas ujenna ageldan (Berber languages)
  • Forces Royales Air (French)
Badge of the Royal Moroccan Air Force
Founded19 November 1956; 67 years ago (1956-11-19)
Country Morocco
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Size13,000 personnel[1]
Part ofRoyal Moroccan Armed Forces
Equipmentmore than 400 aircraft
Engagements
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief
KC-130
H

The Royal Moroccan Air Force (

Moroccan Armed Forces
.

History

The Moroccan air force was formed on 14 May 1956 as the Sherifian Royal Aviation (Aviation Royale Chérifienne).[4]

Its modern installations and bases were inherited from

Marrakech, Kenitra, Ben Guerir, Boulhault, Nouasseur, and Sidi Slimane),[4] and later Spain (Laayoune).[5] In the 1950s and 1960s, American aircraft were deployed in several of these bases, including nuclear bombers from the Strategic Air Command.[4]

The first aircraft of this newly formed air force were 16

Max Holste MH.1521 Broussard transport aircraft, one Aérospatiale Alouette II, and one Bell H-13 Sioux.[4]

In 1961, it obtained 12

Fouga Magister training aircraft were also received from France.[6]

On 1 February 1964, the Sherifian Royal Aviation changed its name to Royal Air Force (Force Aérienne Royale).[7] Since the 1990s, it has been known as the Forces Royales Air.[8]

The political rift with the Soviet Union pushed Morocco to seek a new ally in the United States, acquiring from the latter six

Aerospatiale Alouette IIs and four Bell 47s. 12 North American T-6 Texans were used for pilot training;[9] no less than eight T-6Gs and 56 SNJ-4s had been delivered by France, but most of them were in a very poor condition, and written off soon after their delivery. 15 Harvard Mk 4s were also delivered in 1962.[10]

Starting in 1968, Morocco acquired 60 AB205, 25 AB206, two AB212, and nine CH-47C helicopters from Italy. Deliveries lasted until 1977.[11]

The next modernization of the Moroccan Air Force took place just before the

Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter with improved technology and the purchase of 24 Alpha Jet E would later be undertaken by the RMAF; another modernization of the fleet of Dassault Mirage F1
was achieved in 1996 and 1997.

During the 90s there were plans for purchasing

F-16 fighter aircraft, however due to unavailable funding they were not realized. By 2011 the Royal Moroccan Air Force started to modernize its ageing fleet by buying F-16s.[13]

Operations

Sand War

The RMAF participated in the Moroccan-Algerian border conflict in 1963 known as

MiG-17s were only used sporadically, mostly due to their short range.[14]

Yom Kippur War

During the

MiG-21MFs.[15]

Western Sahara War

At the beginning of the

Fouga Magisters (based at Laayoune) and North American T-6 Texans (based at Dakhla) were used for ground support.[16] Later on, the F-5s went into action, to strike POLISARIO targets.[17]

In 1980, construction of the

SLARs were also used for the detection of enemy units.[20] However, the first portion of the wall, completed in 1982, protected only the area considered as “useful” for Morocco's political and economic interests, that is, the capital Laayoune, the religious center Smara, and the phosphate fields of Bou Craa.[21]

After the loss of nine

KC-130Hs were also delivered, and all of the F-5Es were modified with aerial refueling probes.[23]

In December 1977, the Royal Moroccan Air Force started receiving its first Mirage F1CHs.[12] Even though the Mirage F1CH was designed as an interceptor, it was used almost exclusively for ground attack in the war against the POLISARIO.[24] The last of a total of 30 Mirage F1CHs were received in December 1979. Additionally, 20 Mirage F1EHs (including six equipped with in-flight refuelling probes) were delivered between December 1979 and July 1982.[25]

Together with the F-5E/Fs, the FRA decided to buy a total of 24 OV-10As from the United States Marine Corps. However, only the first six aircraft were delivered. They were mostly used in a maritime patrol role and for reconnaissance due to their inefficiency in combat.[26]

A SA 330 Puma helicopter

Intervention against ISIL

In late 2014 Morocco sent

Syria.[27][28] This was the first deployment for the jets since Morocco purchased them in 2011.[29][13]

Modernization in the 21st century

The Royal Moroccan Air Force started a progressive modernization program of its ageing fleet and their technical and operational capacities.[30]

F-5 upgrades

Improvements to F-5A/B were realised with the installation of "Tiger II" avionics on, probably, 8 F-5A and 2 F-5B.

SOGERMA at Bordeaux (France), all aircraft were received by 1998.[32]
From 2001 to 2004 the RMAF's F-5E/F received a full refurbishment and upgrade from SOGERMA. The upgraded improved the performance of the "Tiger II" to the level of the "Tiger III". The work carried up included:

  • new FIAR Grifo F/X Plus improved radar (similar in performance to the AN/APG-69)
  • Elettronica ELT/555 active Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) pods.
  • HOTAS (Hands On Throttle And Stick)
  • New EWPS/-100 (DM/A-106) RWR
  • Cockpit Layout with new:
    • heads-up display
    • Weapons Delivery and Navigation System MFD/WDNS
    • Multifunction displays

The F-5E/F TIII acquired the capability to use new weapon systems such as Beyond Visual Range missiles and precise-guided weapons. RADA ACE ground debriefing station,

AN/AAQ-28(V) LITENING targeting pods
have also been purchased.

Mirage F1 MF2000 ASTRAC

In 2005, the RMAF started the 350 million euro MF2000

Mirage 2000-5
to improve survivability for the MF2000, that included :

The upgrade enabled the use of more advanced equipment as:

This upgrade was developed by ASTRAC (Association Sagem Thales pour la Rénovation d'Avions de Combat).

T-6C Texan and F-16C/D Block 52+

In 2007, Morocco formally requested 24

T-6C Texan
trainer aircraft, with very secondary light attack capability.

In 2008, a $2.4 billion order was placed for 24 F-16C/D Block 52+ aircraft as well as associated equipment and services,[36] with:

General Ahmed Boutaleb (left) during a meeting with Brigadier General Robert Ferrell, March 2010

F-16 fleet improvements

Later, from 2008 to 2012 the RMAF purchased advanced equipment for its F-16 fleet:

Advanced armament was also acquired:

A Moroccan C-130

Possible F-35 acquisition

Morocco is reported to be interested of purchase F-35s to counter its arch-rival Algeria which is reported to have placed order for 14 Su-57s.[37] Israeli defence intelligence firm, JaFaj announced in January that Israeli Minister of Defence, Benny Gantz said that his Moroccan counterpart Abdellatif Loudiyi, the Moroccan Minister of Defence, is asking for Israel's help to convince the Biden administration to authorize the sale of F-35 to Morocco.[38]

Other purchases and upgrades

In 2008, 4

MALE UAVs decommissioned by France, but these would not have been delivered until 2020.[40][41]

In 2015, 3 refurbished CH-47D were received from the US, to be added to the 9 CH-47C delivered in 1979 and 1982 (originally 12 were acquired).[42]

In 2019, Government of Morocco requested purchase of 25 F-16 block 72 and was approved by The U.S. Department of State.[43] A $2.8 billion contract was signed in 2020.[44] First shipment of 12 new Vipers will be received in 2021.[45]

It has been proposed to upgrade the existing F-16's to the Block 72 standard.[46]

24 Apache helicopters were also ordered in 2020.[44]

Accidents

In January 2011, a Royal Moroccan Air Force F-5 crashed while trying to land at the airport of the military base near Meknes and a pilot was killed in the crash.[47]

In July 2011, a Royal Moroccan Air Force

C-130H crash killed 78 people after the aircraft, en route from Dakhla, a city in Morocco to Kenitra Air Base in Kenitra, crashed 9.7 km (6 mi) from a planned stop-over at Guelmim Air Base
. The 6 crew, 60 members of the army and 12 civilians, mainly partners travelling with their partners, perished in the accident.

In November 2012, nine soldiers were killed and two seriously injured in a SA330 Puma crash in the same region of Guelmim during a combined forces exercise.[48]

On May 11, 2015, a Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16 which was taking part in air campaign in Yemen crashed due to technical faults.[49]

On 16 August 2015, a Mirage F1 was lost after a bird strike.[50]

On 21 January 2019, a Mirage F1 has crashed in Taounat area due to a technical problem. The pilot ejected before the crash.[51]

Ranks

Main article: Military ranks of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces
Officers
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
Royal Moroccan Air Force[52]
Général d'armée aerienne
Général de corps aerienne
 		Général de division aerienne Général de brigade aerienne Colonel major Colonel Lieutenant-colonel
Commandant
 		Capitaine Lieutenant Sous-lieutenant
  • Général Suprême des Armées et Commandant en Chef: His Majesty the King of Morocco.
Enlisted
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
Royal Moroccan Air Force[52]
 No insignia
Adjudant-chef Adjudant Sergent-major Sergent-chef Sergent Caporal-chef
Caporal
 		Soldat de première classe Soldat de deuxième classe

Airbases

BEFRA
AeroNaval
Anex
class=notpageimage|
RMAF Air Bases in Morocco

Aircraft

Current inventory

A F-16 flies above Morocco during Exercise African Lion
A Moroccan CASA CN-235
A Royal Moroccan refurbished CH-47 helicopter
the advanced trainer T-6 Texan II
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
Mirage F1 France multirole F-1C / F-1E 15 / 11[1]
Northrop F-5 United States fighter F-5E/F-5F 25 3 F-5F's provided training[1]
F-16 Fighting Falcon United States multirole F-16C/D 23 8 D variants used for training - 25 F-16V's on order[53]
Special Mission
Gulfstream G550 United States AEW&C CAEW 4 on order[54]
Dassault Falcon 20 France ELINT 2[55]
Bombardier CL-415
 Canada water bomber 8[56]
Transport
Boeing 707 United States VIP transport 1[57]
C-27J Spartan Italy transport 4[55]
C-130 Hercules United States transport C-130H 16 2 KC-130H's provided aerial refueling, 1 EC-130H's provided ELINT[1]
CASA CN-235 Spain / Indonesia utility / transport 6[55]
Super King Air United States utility 200/300/350 7[55]
Helicopters
Bell 205 United States utility 5[55]
Bell 212 United States utility 3[55]
SA330 Puma France utility / transport 26[55]
CH-47 Chinook
 United States cargo / transport
CH-47D
 3[55] former
US Army aircraft[58]
Aérospatiale Gazelle France scout / anti-armor SA342 23[55]
AH-64 Apache United States attack AH-64E 24 on order[55]
Trainer Aircraft
Alpha Jet
 Germany / France jet trainer / light attack 22[55]
Super King Air United States multi engine trainer 100 4[55]
T-6 Texan II United States advanced trainer T-6C 24[55]
Bell 206 United States rotor-craft trainer 5[55]
UAV
BAE SkyEye
 United States reconnaissance 6[59]
IAI Heron Israel reconnaissance 3[60]
EADS Harfang France / Israel
MALE UAV
 3[61]
CAIG Wing Loong China MALE UAV 3[62] donated by the
UAE[62]
MQ-9 Reaper United States UCAV Sea Guardian 4[63]
Bayraktar TB2 Turkey MALE 13 6 on order[64]

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 2021). The Military Balance 2023. London: Routledge. p. 345.
  2. ^ Judson, Jen (November 20, 2019). "US State Dept. approves $4.25 billion Apache helo sale to Morocco". Defense News.
  3. ^ Cooper, Grandolini & Fontanellaz 2019, p. 4
  4. ^ a b c d Cooper & Grandolini 2018, p. 30
  5. ^ Cooper, Grandolini & Fontanellaz 2019, pp. 24–25
  6. ^ Cooper & Grandolini 2018, pp. 31–32
  7. ^ Cooper & Grandolini 2018, p. 40
  8. ^ Cooper, Grandolini & Fontanellaz 2019, pp. 2, 4
  9. ^ Cooper & Grandolini 2018, p. 32
  10. ^ Cooper & Grandolini 2018, p. 31
  11. ^ Cooper & Grandolini 2018, p. 41
  12. ^ a b Cooper & Grandolini 2018, p. 46
  13. ^ a b "Morocco Takes Delivery of F-16 Jets | Defense News | defensenews.com". archive.ph. 2014-12-23. Archived from the original on 2014-12-23. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  14. ^ Cooper & Grandolini 2018, pp. 36–38
  15. ^ http://group73historians.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Secret-Helpers-1973.pdf [permanent dead link]
  16. ^ Cooper, Grandolini & Fontanellaz 2019, pp. 24, III
  17. ^ Cooper, Grandolini & Fontanellaz 2019, pp. 30, 32, 42
  18. ^ Cooper, Grandolini & Fontanellaz 2019, pp. 2, 49–50
  19. ^ Cooper, Grandolini & Fontanellaz 2019, pp. 41, 70
  20. ^ Cooper, Grandolini & Fontanellaz 2019, pp. 54, 61
  21. ^ Cooper, Grandolini & Fontanellaz 2019, pp. 49–50, 53
  22. ^ Cooper, Grandolini & Fontanellaz 2019, pp. 44, 74
  23. ^ Cooper, Grandolini & Fontanellaz 2019, pp. 60–61
  24. ^ Cooper, Grandolini & Fontanellaz 2019, p. VI
  25. ^ Cooper, Grandolini & Fontanellaz 2019, p. 40
  26. ^ Cooper, Grandolini & Fontanellaz 2019, pp. 71, VII
  27. ^ "Moroccan F-16 Carry Out Airstrikes Against ISIS". 10 December 2014. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
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  29. ^ Schmitt, Eric (26 November 2014). "U.S. Adds Planes to Bolster Drive to Wipe Out ISIS". New York Times. Archived from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
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  37. ^ Dangwal, Ashish (2021-12-17). "Battle Of Stealth Aircraft: Morocco Wants F-35 Fighters To 'Ward Off' Algeria That Plans To Acquire Russian Su-57 Jets". Retrieved 2022-01-24.
  38. ^ Lionel, Ekene. "F-35 Vs Su-57; new stealth aircraft arms race in North Africa". Military Africa.
  39. ^ "Alenia Aeronautica Signs Contract Worth 130 Million Euro to Supply Four C-27Js to Morocco".
  40. ^ "f13.jpg - Click to see more photos". ImageShack. 27 April 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-12-15. Retrieved 2013-04-28.
  41. ^ "Defense World".
  42. ^ "Moroccan CH-47 Chinooks arrive home". 17 August 2015.
  43. ^ "Morocco – F-16 Block 72 New Purchase | The Official Home of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency". www.dsca.mil. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
  44. ^ a b "Marruecos, el mayor comprador de armas estadounidenses en África, más cerca de obtener el sistema de defensa aérea Patriot-noticia defensa.com - Noticias Defensa Africa-Asia-Pacifico". Defensa.com. January 29, 2021.
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  47. ^ Laaboudi, Jalil (2011-01-09). "Crash d'un avion de chasse F5 à Meknès". bladi.net (in French).
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  54. ^ Herk, Hans van (4 December 2020). "First Royal Moroccan Air Force G550 ISR to be delivered next year". www.scramble.nl. Retrieved 2021-06-08.
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  58. AirForces Monthly
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Bibliography

External links