Royal Moroccan Armed Forces
1. Order of battle
2. Overview
3. Defence economics
4. State of military forces
5. Country threat reports
6. Major external deployments
1. Order of Battle
| Total force strength |
Army: 175 000 (150 000 Reserve) Air Force: 13 500 Navy: 10 000 (includes 2 000 Marines and Coast Guards) Auxiliary Force: 25 000 Royal Gendarmerie: 20 000 Mobile Intervention Corps: 5 000 |
| Army | |
| Main Battle Tanks |
222: M-1A1SA Abrams (second hand; modernized) 164: M-1A1SA Abrams (for delivery) 225: M48A5 (stored as reserve) 167: M60A3 260: M60A3TTS 136: T-72B (second hand; modernized) 12: T-72BK 150: VT-1A Al Khalid |
| Light tank | 109: SK-105 Kuerassier (stored as reserve) |
| Reconnaissance/LAV |
140: AML-90 20: AML-90 Lynx 16: EBR-75 60: Eland 20/90 |
| APC |
420: M113A1 13: M113A1-B 330: M113A2 419: M113A3 54: M-3 VTT 55: UR-416 75: VAB VCI 320: VAB VTT 36: Sherpa (Light Scout and APC) |
| IFV |
19: AIFV-B-.50 1: AIFV-B-CP 90: AIFV-B-C25 10: AMX-10P 30: Mk III Ratel-20 30: Mk III Ratel-90 |
| Tank destroyer |
108: AMX-10RC 23: M901A1 8: SU-100 |
| MRAP | ?: Cougar HE |
| ARV |
55: M-88 20: M-88A1 60: M-578 10: SB Greif 20: VAB-ECH |
| Utility vehicles |
2000+: HMMWV (comprised of: TOW Armored ATGM, M998 cargo/troop carrier, M1025 Armored, Armament Carrier, M1037 S-250 Shelter Carrier, M1038 Cargo/Troop Carrier W/W, M1046 TOW Up-Armored Armor W/W, M1097 Heavy Van, M1113 Expanded Capacity, M1151 Enhanced Armament Carrier, M1152 Enhanced Troop/Cargo/Shelter Carrier) 1200: URO VAMTAC 800: URO VAM-TL 21: Toyota Land Cruiser |
|
Military Logistics |
250: IVECO M3-21.14 TT 100: IVECO Tractor +/- 3500: M35 Series 387: M54 Series +/- 1000: M800 Series 195: M816 Wrecker +/- 160: M900 Series +/- 1000: TRM10000 600: ACMAT VLRA ?: Pegaso 3055 ?: Mercedes-Benz Actros ?: M746 6: M747 2: M1075 Palletized load systems 2: M1076 Palletized load systems 23: M1070 133: M911 HETS |
|
Self-propelled artillery |
70: M109A1 155 mm 36: M109A1B 155 mm 46: M109A2 155 mm 12: M109A3 (converted M109A1) 155 mm 40: M-109L47 155 mm 5: M109A4 155 mm 130: M109A5 155 mm 92: AMX Mk F3 155 mm 60: M110 203 mm ?: 2S19M1 MSTA-S |
| Towed artillery |
36: L118 Light Gun 105 mm 30: M101A1 105 mm 18: M46 130mm 30: FH70 155 mm 20: M114 155 mm 35: M198 155 mm 18: M1950 155 mm |
| Multiple Rocket Launcher |
35: BM-21 122 mm +/-12: AR-2/PHL-03 300 mm +/-36: WS-2D 400 mm |
| Mortar carrier |
36: M106A2 107 mm M30 mortar 20: M125A1 81mm M29 mortar 12: VAB-VTM 120 mm Thomson-Brandt mortar 91: M1064 120mm M120 mortar (unconfirmed) 35: AML-60 60 mm breach loading mortar |
|
Anti-tank missile |
Red Arrow-8 MILAN HOT (For SA-342L helicopters) HOT-2 (For with light vehicle-mounted HOT Commando launchers) 9M113 Konkurs/AT-5 Kornet/AT-14 BGM-71C ITOW (70 launchers in service) BGM-71 TOW-2A BGM-71 TOW-2A-RF (another 800 on order) FGM-77 Dragon (450 launchers) 9M14 Malyutka |
| Unguided anti-tank weapon |
RPG-7V Type-69 APILAS M72 LAW HJ-8L |
| Recoilless rifle |
350: M40A1 106 mm 200: M20 89 mm ?: SPG-9 73 mm |
| Anti-air missile |
25: ASTER-15 SAAM 40: Aspide 37: M48 Chaparral 108: MIM-23 Hawk 9K32 Strela-2 (SA-7 Grail) Crotale |
| Anti-air system and gun |
+/- 110: M163 Vulcan Air Defense System 12: 2K22 Tunguska 72: MIM-72C/E Chaparral 36: MIM-23 HAWK XXI 6: Sky Shield AD ?: Type 390 (DK-9) SHORAD +/- 90: ZSU-23-4 +/- 90: ZU-23-2 100: Type 90 VL MICA air defence systems (truck-mounted elements, tactical operations centre, Sagem SIGMA 30 radar and launcher vehicles) |
| Army aviation |
4: Alouette II 3: Gazelle 6: A109 |
| Structure |
2 regional commands (Northern and Southern HQ) 10 independent armoured battalions 3 mechanised infantry brigades 8 independent mechanised infantry brigades 6 light infantry brigades 3 independent camel corps battalions 13 independent artillery battalions 2 independent cavalry battalions 2 paratroop brigades 1 independent mountain battalion 4 Commando battalions |
| Air Force | |
| Combat aircraft |
3: F-5B (one in storage) 23: F-5E Tiger II (one in storage) 24: F-16C/D Block 72 (on order) 15: F-16C-52 Fighting Falcon 11: Mirage F1CH 3: Mirage F1CM-VI 11: Mirage F1EH 7: Mirage F1EH-VI |
| Electronic warfare |
1: EC-130H 1: Falcon 20C 1: Falcon 20ECM |
| Tanker/refueling aircraft | 2: KC-130H |
| Trainer aircraft |
5: AB206B 22: Alpha Jet H 4: F-5F Tiger II 8: F-16D Fighting Falcon |
| Firefighting aircraft |
2: Bombardier CL-415 3: Bombardier CL-415MP |
| Transport aircraft |
14: C-130H 4: C-27J Spartan 7: CN235M-100 3: Ce560XLS+ 2: Ce560 |
|
VIP aircraft |
1: AW139 1: Boeing 737-BBJ2 4: Beechcraft King Air A100 2: Beechcraft Super King Air B200 1: Beechcraft Super King Air B200C 2: Beechcraft Super King Air 300 2: Beechcraft Super King Air 350 2: Beechcraft Super King Air 350ER (on order) (maritime surveillance) 2: G-II 1: G-III 1: G-V 2: G550 |
| Transport and utility helicopter |
10: AB205A 3: AB205A-1 1: AB206A 9: AB206B 2: AB212 3: CH-47D 6: SA330L 14: SA330F |
| Attack helicopter |
24: AH-64E (on order, option for another 12) 18: SA342L |
| UAV |
4: Predator-A 3: IAI Heron |
| Royal Gendarmerie |
1: AS332L2 2: AS355F1 13: BN-2T (maritime patrol aircraft) (operated by Royal Moroccan Air Force) 3: EC135T2i 6: EC145 1: EC225 1: S2R-T660 2: SA315B 1: SA316B 6: SA330L 3: SA342K 6: SA342L 2: S-70A-25 8: Titan Tornado II |
| Navy | |
| Frigates:
Aquitaine Class (FREMM):
|
Mohammed VI (2014) (optimized for anti-submarine warfare)
Mohammed V (2002) Hassan II (2003)
Tarik Ben Ziyad (10513 version) (2011) Sultan Moulay Ismail (9813 version/multi-mission) (2012) Allal Ben Abdellah (9813 version/multi-mission) (2012) |
Corvettes:
|
Lieutenant-Colonel Errahmani (updated in 2014) |
|
Offshore Patrol Vessels:
|
El Khattabi (1981) Commandant Boutouba (1981) Commandant El Harty (1982) Commandant Azouggarh (1982)
Raïs Bargach (1995) Raïs Britel (1996) Raïs Charkaoui (1996) Raïs Maaninou (1997) Raïs Al Mounastiri (1997)
Bir Anzaran (2011) (another 3 under construction)
El Lahiq (1987) El Tawfiq (1988) El Hamiss (1990) El Karib (1990)
Lieutenant De Vaisseau Rabhi (1988) Errachiq (1988) El Akid (1989) El Maher (1989) El Majid (1989) El Bachir (1989)
Okba (1976) Triki (1977)
(5 under construction)
On order from Navantia |
Amphibious and auxiliary vessels:
|
Doud Ben Aicha (1977) Ahmed Es Sakali (1977) Abou Abdallah El Ayachi (1977)
Ad-Dakhla (1997)
H-01(used to chart the underwater coastal area)
Unknown (used as submarine trainer ship)
1
Al Mounkid (2015)
Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah (1971)
Dar Al Beida (2018) Ro-ro |
| Inshore patrol vessels: |
10: P-32 10: VCSM/RPB 20 9: Rodman 101 10: Rodman 55 10: Arcor-17 18: Arcor-46 (in service with Moroccan Customs) 15: Arcor-53 (in service with Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie) |
| Helicopters: |
3: AS565MB (Naval Military utility) 2: Bell 412Epi (on order) (Anti-submarine) |
| Structure:
Naval bases:
Ship maintenance and repair facilities:
Naval infantry battalion:
|
Agadir, Casablanca, Dakhla, al-Hoceima, Ksar Sghir, Kenitra, Safi, Tangier, Tantan
156 meter dry-dock at Casablanca, repair ships of up to 10 000 dwt; facility for minor repairs at Agadir 2 |
- Overview
Head of State and Government: Saadeddine Othmani
Defence Minister: Abdellatif Loudiyi
Chief of Staff: Mohammed VI
Inspector General of the Armed Forces: Abdelfattah Lourak
Chief of Staff of Air Defences: General Abdelaziz Bennani
Commander of the Air Force: General El Abed Alaoui Bouhamid
Inspector General of the Navy: Vice-Admiral Mostapha El Alami
Member of: UN, AU, LAS, Arab Maghreb Union, AfDB, G77, Arab League, the Francophonie, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Mediterranean Dialogue group, ICAO, Seabeds Committee and major non-NATO ally of the United States.
- Defence economics
Military expenditure (ME) from 2010 to 2019 in USD billion:
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
| ME | 3.161 | 3.343 | 3.403 | 4.066 | 4.049 | 3.268 | 3.367 | 3.461 | 3.697 | 3.721 |
Military expenditure (ME) as percentage of GDP (2010-2019) in USD billion:
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
| GDP in USD billion | 93.22 | 101.4 | 98.27 | 106.8 | 110.1 | 101.2 | 103.3 | 109.7 | 118.1 | 119.7 |
| ME in USD billion | 3.161 | 3.343 | 3.403 | 4.066 | 4.049 | 3.268 | 3.367 | 3.461 | 3.697 | 3.721 |
| ME% of GDP | 3.39 | 3.3 | 3.46 | 3.81 | 3.68 | 3.23 | 3.22 | 3.19 | 3.13 | 3.09 |
Military expenditure (ME) growth as percentage from 2010-2019:
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
| ME% Growth | 3.47 | 5.76 | 1.78 | 19.49 | -0.42 | -19.29 | 1.81 | 4.03 | 6.82 | 0.65 |
- State of military forces
Morocco’s army is very well equipped and trained and has had intensive experience in desert fighting due to the country’s counter-insurgency operations in the Western Sahara. The military also maintains a strong relationship with both the United States of America and France. Having one of the biggest armies in Africa makes Morocco a military heavyweight on the continent, something it deems necessary to counter its rival and neighbour Algeria, which has an even larger military.
The ongoing conflict in the Western Sahara between Morocco and the Polisario Front (PF) has often brought the Moroccan military into controversy, especially over suspected human rights abuses against Sahrawi civilians. The military also continues to battle problems with corruption and poorly educated soldiers and faces an inefficient bureaucracy. The lack of a Ministry of Defence as such (the armed forces are administered by the Office of the Prime Minister through a Minister Delegate) has also hampered the military.
Although the country’s air force is dated, some modern aircraft have been acquired, such as a shipment of F-16s which arrived in 2012 as part of a larger package. However, the majority of the country’s aircraft were bought in the 1980s and will have to be replaced in the future. Morocco’s navy is also aging and is proving incapable of countering the increase in smuggling across the Mediterranean, although the navy has been boosted by the recent acquisition of corvettes and frigates.
The government has announced an intention to significantly increase defence spending at an annual growth rate of 4.4% between 2014 and 2018. Equipment purchases are expected to focus on fighter aircraft acquisition along with submarines and patrol boats. The majority of this is expected to be done with the USA and other NATO countries as Morocco has no local defence industry of its own.
- Country threat report
| Threat type | Overview |
| External | • Morocco is currently facing no external security threat. |
| Internal | • Morocco is currently facing internal security threats presented he Polisario Front (PF) which controls 25% of the territory in Western Sahara. • Morocco also faces a limited threat from the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and a rise in domestic terrorism. |
| Regional | • Morocco faces no significant regional threats although rivalry continues with neighbouring Algeria. |
| Political | • Morocco has managed to maintain a strong level of political stability despite the spread of the Arab Spring and pro-democracy movements in the region. |
| Economic | • Morocco’s economy is largely driven by agriculture, phosphates and tourism. The country does suffer economically as it has to import fuel. |
- Major external deployments
| Operation | Country | Personnel/Assests |
| MONUSCO | Democratic Republic of Congo |
Troops: 924 Staff Officer: 8 Experts: 3 |
| MINUSCA | Central African Republic |
Troops: 750 Staff Officer: 19 |
| UNMISS | South Sudan | Experts: 2 |
Contact
National Defence Administration
6Bis, Rue Patrice Lumumba
Rabat
Morocco
Tel +212 762 731/60150/60805
