Morocco and Israel will collaborate on military intelligence systems

The relationship between the two countries has only grown in terms of investment and cooperation in the military field. For the past two years, Morocco has been increasing its drone imports in a context of tension with Algeria and Western Sahara, which it considers an integral part of its territory.  The signing of this contract, to be executed over a maximum period of two and a half years, 'is Morocco's response to the acquisition by its Algerian rival of the Chinese CEW-03A Mobile 6×6 system for EW (electronic warfare) trucks, received in September for incorporation into its Russian Krashuka-4 and Avtobaza EW systems'. 

Morocco has been fighting terror on several fronts for years, and is a country that fights al-Qaeda and global jihadist groups, which attracted the attention of the United Nations, which established the headquarters of the United Nations Office for Combating Terrorism and Training in Africa, inaugurated in Rabat in June 2021, the first of its kind on the continent. The work of this office is based on the collaboration and expertise of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Counter-Terrorism Office to provide quality training to African States, reflecting a spirit of collective responsibility.  From the moment the UN commission was installed in the country, the government itself praised its own work on the continent and considered it "further proof of the confidence and esteem for the National Strategy to Combat Terrorism and Violent Extremism under the wise leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI". 

Cooperation between Morocco and Israel has taken a new step, the document signed by the two countries in the summer of 2021, was the first agreement signed in terms of cybersecurity between Tel Aviv and Rabat, since December 2020 when they turned their diplomatic relations around with the signing of the Abraham Accords. With growing demand in recent years from many military powers, countries are looking to expand their borders and capacity and dialogue with their most prominent customers, including Morocco, which is the preferred destination for two of the most advanced countries in the field such as Turkey and Israel itself.  Israel's Elbit Systems was awarded a contract worth approximately $70 million in June to supply 'Alinet' electronic warfare (EW) and signals intelligence (SIGINT) solutions to Morocco in a contract that will run for a period of two and a half years. 

Under the contract, Elbit Systems will supply ground-based EW and Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) units equipped with electronic support measures, electronic countermeasures and command and control systems. These devices will create a comprehensive passive air and ground picture and provide an electronic order of battle, enabling effective responses to both air and ground threats. "As part of the contract, Elbit Systems will provide EW and SIGINT ground units equipped with electronic support assets, electronic countermeasures and command and control systems. These units will create a comprehensive passive air and ground picture and provide an electronic order of battle, enabling effective response to both air and ground threats," the statement said. 

The "Alinet" system is used to suppress enemy air defences by searching for radar signals and radio signals that can pinpoint locations such as command posts. Alinet systems are considered classified intelligence systems as they enable the collection of signals intelligence and electromagnetic (radar) information. The field of spectrum collection is considered a strategic capability. The system is designed to collect radar signals and perform tasks to decode the frequencies emitted by air defence system radars, and can also collect electromagnetic radar and radio signals. This information can be combined with Bayraktar TB2 and HAROP drones without the need for real-time monitoring. 

The history of military and defence cooperation between Morocco and Israel is quite extensive and, in recent years, is reflected in numerous cooperation agreements such as the purchase of WanderB and ThunderB drones or the establishment of the first drone factories that will make the Kingdom the first drone manufacturing and exporting country in North Africa.