Rabat is looking for the best formula to modernize its anti-submarine capabilities. Specifically, it intends to acquire maritime patrol aircraft ( MPA) equipped with anti-submarine capabilities.
The Lebanon-based specialized defense and security portal Tactical Report collects these days the Moroccan plans to equip themselves with the aforementioned MPA, of which some data already emerged a few months ago. For example, that the European firms Airbus (with French, German and Spanish capital) and Leonardo (Italian) have considerable possibilities of being chosen for this assignment, which is encrypted in two aircraft.
Airbus is the manufacturer of the C-295 MPA Persuader , which has been purchased by Portugal, Chile , Oman and, this year, by Ireland. Spain also plans to acquire four units of the C-295 MPA/ASW version to replace its outdated P.3 Orion .
The C-295 MPA is an aircraft derived from the CN235 model , developed by Spain and Indonesia, and of which there is also a maritime patrol version. The C-295 MPA is capable of lifting with a maximum weight of 23.2 tons spread over its almost 26-meter wingspan and nearly 24.5 meters in length. It so happens that the main potential enemy of Morocco, Algeria, came to select this model in 2001 to be equipped with four units, but finally did not confirm the order.
For its part, Leonardo has in its catalog the ATR 72 MP , a version of the Italian Armed Forces P-72A aircraft equipped with Leonardo’s modular mission system ATOS ( Airborne Tactical Observation and Surveillance ). Its wingspan is just over 27 meters, it has a length of almost the same size and is capable of lifting with a maximum weight of 22.8 tons. Malaysia recently announced that this model has been selected in its open tender for two MPAs. The contract is expected to be signed shortly.