# Morocco fortifying capital city with air defence systems

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2022/01/morocco-fortifying-capital-city-with-air-defence-systems/
- Published: 2022-01-05T15:52:14+01:00
- Author: Darek Liam

Morocco is strengthening the air defence posture of its capital city, Rabat. Recent
satellite images shows that Morocco has built an air defense base in Sidi Yahya 
El- Gharb, which is located northeast of the capital Rabat.

According to satellite images taken via Google Earth, the base is located at approximately
_34.29753301432181, -6.283922702669312._

![](https://www.military.africa/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/KPKGP3YSGZCMJEA2RZU7EVXGEU_1.
jpg)

A satellite image from Jan. 2, 2022, shows a relatively new Moroccan air defense
base. (Courtesy of Planet Labs and the Middlebury Institute of International Studies
at Monterey).

The construction of the base began in 2017 and was likely completed around August
2020.
Sidi Yahia el-Gharb base area is located in the middle of the major Moroccan
metropolises, an area that contains several sensitive and strategic areas.

The new base will operate air defense systems acquired from several countries, and
also house air defense units, a maintenance center, military housing, and other 
administrative buildings.

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Since the past few years, Morocco has acquired several medium- and long-range air
defense systems of Chinese, French, and American origin, and the government is in
negotiations for more.

In 2017 and 2021, China North Industries Group Corporation Limited (commonly referred
to as NORINCO) delivered 24 [Sky Dragon 50 medium-range surface-to-air missiles](https://www.military.africa/2018/02/royal-moroccan-military-bolstered-by-new-chinese-sky-dragon-50-surface-to-air-missile),
the DK-9 short-range air defense system, and a number of [long range FD-2000B air defence systems to Morocco.](https://www.military.africa/2022/01/morocco-receives-chinese-fd-2000b-air-defense-missile-system)

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Morocco subsequently [procured the French short-range missile defense system, VL Mica](https://www.military.africa/2020/05/morocco-signs-210-6-million-loans-for-vl-mica-ground-based-air-defence-system)
for €200 million (U.S. $226 million) after securing an export loan agreement with
French PNB Paribas.

The VL MICA system in its land-based configuration consists of a series of truck-
mounted elements, including a tactical operations centre, Sagem SIGMA 30 radar, 
and launcher vehicles that can carry between three and six multi-round launchers
with the missiles in clusters of four rounds.

 military.africa/2020/05/morocco-signs-210-6-million-loans-for-vl-mica-ground-based-
air-defence-system

Rabat is also set to receive [American-made MIM-104 Patriot air defence system.](https://www.military.africa/2021/01/patriot-air-defense-systems-and-g550-aircraft-for-morocco)
The US State Department cleared Morocco to buy the Patriot air defence missile systems
in January last year.

It is part of Morocco’s comprehensive military modernization plan.

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 military.africa/2021/01/patriot-air-defense-systems-and-g550-aircraft-for-morocco

It is not yet certain if these new air defence systems will be integrated with [Morocco’s Thales Ground Masters 400 radar ](https://www.military.africa/2021/11/morocco-receives-thales-ground-master-400-radar-in-milestone-deal)
which was recently delivered under a contract signed in 2019.

> [Morocco receives Thales Ground Master 400 radar in milestone deal](https://www.military.africa/2021/11/morocco-receives-thales-ground-master-400-radar-in-milestone-deal)

Although, Morocco remains heavily reliant on U.S. military technology, with American
weapons making up about 62 percent of its inventory, it recently expressed interest
in [Turkey’s T129 Atak helicopters](https://www.military.africa/2018/06/morocco-to-buy-the-turkish-tai-t-129-atak-helicopter)
and has considered buying the Russian S-400 air defense system as well as Chinese
tanks and rocket launchers.

Morocco is also interested in the Israeli Barak 8 system, which may be one of the
new systems that may enter service with the Royal Moroccan Air Force.

Sources in Morocco understand that this air defence posturing is mainly targeted
at European countries like Spain, particularly after Rabat studied the 2011 military
operation against Libya in which aviation forces played a leading role throughout
the campaign.

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