According to information published by the Bladi.net website on December 18, 2021, Morocco has taken delivery of the first batteries of Chinese-made FD-2000B surface-to-air defense missile systems at a military base near the city Sidi Yahya El Gharb. The systems were produced by CASIC.
The Moroccan defense budget was increased by 4% for the purchase of defense equipment in 2021. The Moroccan military’s modernization focus can be seen through its 2030 Modernization plan, established in 2017 and launched in 2020, which outlines the country’s stated goal of being interoperable with the United States and NATO, by modernizing the equipment of its army, air force, and navy.
The Moroccan military is both large and committed to modernization efforts. It consists of 235,000 active personnel and an additional 250,000 reserves, divided between the army, which accounts for 88% of the armed forces, the navy, and the air force.
The FD-2000 is an export version of the Chinese-made HQ-9 advanced long-range air defense missile weapon system designed and manufactured by the Chinese Defense Company CPMIEC (China Precision Machinery Import & Export Corporation).