Morocco is continuing its efforts to expand its air and missile defense capabilities by evaluating the U.S.-made MIM-104 Patriot air defense missile system, a step that could lead to the country’s first confirmed acquisition of the widely deployed platform. Recent imagery circulating online showed three vehicles associated with the system (specifically Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) units) transported on civilian trucks and reportedly en route to Ben Guerir Air Base.
The launchers were covered with camouflage tarps and did not include missile canisters, suggesting the transit may be connected to evaluation procedures, technical familiarization, or testing, rather than operational deployment.
While no official statement has been issued by Moroccan authorities regarding this transit, the movement is viewed by Moroccan defense observers as a concrete sign of a potential procurement by the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces. Defense sources suggest that the equipment will undergo testing to verify its compatibility with Moroccan operational requirements. An earlier hint came in January 2021, when the U.S. International Trade Administration noted that Patriot systems and G550 reconnaissance aircraft had been cleared for sale to Morocco, although quantities and values were not disclosed. These developments indicate sustained momentum toward equipping the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces with advanced U.S.-built surface-to-air capabilities.
Available information now suggests that Morocco has opted for the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) variant, which offers improved range and accuracy. The PAC-3 MSE interceptors can engage aircraft at distances exceeding 160 kilometers and tactical ballistic missiles at ranges over 35 kilometers. They are supported by the AN/MPQ-65 radar, which enables 360-degree coverage and simultaneous tracking of over 100 targets. The system uses hit-to-kill technology, relying on kinetic impact to neutralize incoming threats. A single launcher can carry four PAC-2 GEM-T missiles or up to 16 PAC-3 MSE missiles. This acquisition would substantially increase Morocco’s defensive capacity against aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic threats, such as the Russian Iskander-E short-range ballistic missile system that Algeria purchased.