Rabat has received these two pieces of French equipment, which will enable the Kingdom to continue modernising its armed forces and to match Algeria's capabilities

Morocco reinforces its army with the VL MICA anti-aircraft system and Sherpa all-terrain vehicles

photo_camera PHOTO/MBDA - The VL MICA system design ensures ease of deployment, facilitates integration within a global air defence network, minimizes the need for personnel and reduces the logistic footprint and Life Cycle Cost

The Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Morocco (FAR) have received the VL MICA anti-aircraft system and several Sherpa armoured vehicles from France, two years after the two countries agreed to send these systems. With these acquisitions, the FAR continues to reinforce its defence capabilities by modernising its armed forces at an accelerated pace. 

The VL MICA is a short-range, vertical-launch air defence system with 360-degree detection coverage that allows the interception of aircraft, helicopters, drones and missiles with a range of 20 kilometres and a flight ceiling of 9,000 metres. The system can operate in all weather conditions and, according to the manufacturer, MDBA, can be equipped with both a heat-seeking head and an active radar head, which, the company promises, "guarantees an exceptional probability of destruction". 

The system consists of a command centre, a radar and three to six vertical launchers mounted on trucks, and also requires a logistical support vehicle. With this acquisition, Rabat joins countries such as India, France, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which already have the VL MICA

sistema vlmica

This system, of which Rabat has obtained two batteries for a total of 192 million, with access to four more depending on the contract, will join the Chinese Sky Dragon and FD-2000B systems to complete Morocco's air defences. Rabat also expects delivery of the powerful US MIM-104F (PAC-3) Patriot system, as well as the Israeli Barak 8, establishing a powerful shield to secure the Kingdom's skies.

Under the same contract, the Kingdom will also receive the Sherpa Light from the French company Arquus, which is reportedly already being deployed in the country. This vehicle, a standard part of NATO operations, is an armoured all-terrain vehicle, which can serve a variety of roles, from patrolling to casualty transfer. Armed with a remote-controlled turret, Rabat is said to have obtained mainly troop transport variants. 

This is not the only French equipment received by the Arab country. Along with the United States, France is one of the Kingdom's main arms suppliers. Rabat is now also awaiting the arrival of 36 CEASAR 155mm guns, a powerful artillery system with a range of 40 kilometres, which has become famous for its effective use by the Ukrainian armed forces.

misiles francia

With a military budget of more than 4% of GDP, and growing, Morocco has become one of the continent's largest arms buyers, accompanying its modernisation efforts. In the face of instability in the neighbouring Sahel region, the conflict in Western Sahara and the growing rivalry with Algeria, the Kingdom is betting on increasing its capabilities, making it a military power. Indeed, catching up with its Algerian neighbour, traditionally considered the most powerful army in the Maghreb, would be one of Morocco's main objectives.

Relations between the two North African neighbours have deteriorated rapidly in recent months, after Algeria cut off gas supplies to the Alawi kingdom and broke off diplomatic relations, in the context of the breakdown of the ceasefire with the Polisario Front in Western Sahara and the reception of support from several countries, such as the United States, Spain, the UAE and Israel, for Rabat's autonomy proposal.

Algiers has a long-standing and deep defence relationship with Russia, its main arms supplier, which has allowed it to establish a powerful army. Algeria is also rapidly rearming, keeping its armaments pulse on the Kingdom, with powerful acquisitions from the Russian defence industry, such as the S-400 Triumf anti-aircraft system, Sukhoi Su-30 aircraft and T-90S tanks.

Meanwhile, Rabat continues to move closer to Western standards, taking advantage of its renewed closeness to genuine arms powers such as the United States and Israel, opening the door to increasingly modern systems to help the Kingdom deter a potential Algerian attack and defend itself in case the 'cold war' between the two Arab countries escalates into a 'hot war'.
 

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