The US State Department has approved the potential sale of Joint Stand-Off Weapons (JSOW) missiles and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) launchers to Morocco.
Should definitive contracts be signed, they could have a combined value of up to $774.2 million, according to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).
Morocco requested to purchase 40 AGM-154C JSOWs, along with training missiles, CFVs, FFVs, containers, mission planning, and testing equipment. The request also includes software development, transportation, spare parts, personnel training, and engineering and logistics support services.
The JSOW missile buy could cost up to $250million, with Raytheon Missiles & Defense performing the work.
The sale would enhance Morocco’s defense capabilities and help protect critical sea lanes by enabling its F-16 fighter aircraft to deploy these advanced weapons.
“It will contribute to the security of a major non-NATO ally, which remains a crucial factor for political stability and economic growth in North Africa,” DSCA added.
Photo : US Navy
In addition to the JSOW missiles, Morocco has also requested to buy 18 M142 HIMARS systems for an estimated 524.2 million.
Also included in the sale would be 40 long-range M57 ATACMS rockets, 36 M31A2 GMLRS Unitary rockets, and 36 M30A2 GMLRS Alternative Warhead rockets.
The contractors involved in the HIMARS launcher project are Lockheed Martin, L3 Harris, Raytheon, COBHAM Aerospace Connectivity, Oshkosh Defense, AAR Corporation, and AM General LLC.
HIMARS “will enhance the interoperability of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), which routinely exercises with US forces, focusing on countering terrorism and violent extremist organizations in the Maghreb and Sahel region,” DSCA said.
