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The Royal Moroccan Air Force, االقوات الجوية الملكية المغربية Alkowat al malakiyaal jawiya, was founded in 1956 when it still was called Sherifan Royal Aviation. The Air Force's backbone is formed by French built aircraft.
The backbone of the Moroccan Air Force is formed by four fighter squadrons, two with F-5's and two with Mirage F1's. The F-5 is rather old but funding for upgrading the type is not available. Also the plans for purchasing Mirage 2000's have not been realised yet. In 2001, the Moroccan AF bought an number of K8 trainers, After years of unfruitful efforts by Dassault and the French government to sell the Rafale to Morocco, the government of the latter has decided to go with the F-16.
In a formal request to the US Department of Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) the Moroccans plan to buy twenty-four F-16C/D Block 52 aircraft. The F-16s would replace the F-5 and some of the Mirage F1s, which are currently undergoing updates. Following this request another formal request was done to the DSCA for the purchase of twenty-four T-6B to replace the ageing T-37Bs.
Commander of the Air Force: Major Gen. Ahmed Bou-Taleb
Air Force Personnel Strength: 13,500
Inventory Summary:
- Combat: 76 (total), 62 (in service)
- Transport: 45 (total), 43 (in service)
- Helicopters: 130 (total), 120 (in service)
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| Aircraft |
Type |
Versions |
Quantity |
Notes |
| Fixed-wing Aircraft |
| General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon |
Fighter Aircraft |
F-16C Block 52+
F-16D Block 52+ |
2 (16)
2 (8) |
On delivery. |
| Dassault Mirage F1 |
Fighter Aircraft |
Mirage F1
Mirage MF2000
|
13
27 |
Used as spare parts for MF2000
upgraded or on upgrade |
| Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter |
Fighter Aircraft |
F-5A/B
F-5E/F TIII |
15
24 |
Used as spare parts |
| Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet |
Light Attack |
Alpha Jet E |
22 |
Used as advanced trainer and Ground-attack aircraft. On upgrade |
| Cessna T-37 Dragonfly |
advanced trainer |
T-37B |
14 |
| T-6 Texan II |
Trainer |
T-6C |
12 (24) |
On delivery. The T-6C s replacing the T-37 and T-34 |
| Beechcraft T-34 Turbo Mentor |
Trainer |
T-34C |
12 |
| FFA AS-202/18 Bravo |
Trainer |
AS-202/18 Bravo |
10 |
| CASA CN-235 |
Transport aircraft |
CN-235M |
7 |
| Alenia C-27J Spartan |
Transport aircraft |
C-27J |
4 |
| Lockheed KC-130 |
Tanker |
KC-130H |
3 |
| Lockheed RC-130 |
Surveillance aircraft for reconnaissance |
RC-130H |
1 |
| Lockheed C-130 Hercules |
Transport aircraft |
C-130H |
12 |
| Dassault Falcon 20 |
Electronic warfare |
Falcon 20 |
2 |
ECM/ELINT platforms |
| ULM Tornado |
ultra light aircraft |
Tornado II |
20 |
In service with the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie |
| BN-2T Defender |
Maritime patrol and reconnaissance |
BN-2T Defender |
14 |
| Bombardier 415 |
Amphibious aircraft |
CL-415 |
4 (6) |
| Helicopters |
| Aérospatiale SA 342 Gazelle |
Attack helicopter |
SA 342M |
24 |
While 7 of which are in service with the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie |
| Bell OH-58 Kiowa |
Utility helicopter |
Bell 206 |
26 |
| Eurocopter SA 330 Puma |
Transport Helicopter |
SA 330C |
37 |
25 Upgrade at EC Romania version. While 5 of which are in service with the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie |
| Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma |
Transport Helicopter |
AS332 |
2 |
In service with Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie |
| Eurocopter EC135 |
Utility helicopter |
EC135 |
3 |
In service with the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie |
| Eurocopter EC145 |
Utility helicopter |
EC145 |
2 |
In service with the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie |
| Eurocopter AS350 |
Utility helicopter |
AS350 |
4 |
In service with the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie |
| Bell UH-1N Twin Huey |
Utility helicopter |
Bell 212 |
3 |
| Bell UH-1 Iroquois |
multi-role helicopter |
UH-1H |
31 |
| Boeing CH-47 Chinook |
Transport Helicopter |
CH-47C
CH-47D |
9
3 |
| Sikorsky S-70 Blackhawk |
Transport Helicopter |
S-70-25 |
2 |
In service with the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie |
| McDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender |
multi-role helicopter |
500MD Defender
MD/TOW Defenders |
14
10 |
| Unmanned aerial vehicle |
| RQ-1 Predator |
UAV |
RQ-1 Predator XP |
| BAE SkyEye |
UAV |
Skyeye R4E-50 |
| GNAT |
UAV |
I-GNAT ER |
| VIP Transport |
| Beechcraft Super King Air |
VIP transport |
Super King Air |
16 |
6 Beech A100 +4 Beech B200 +3 Beech B300 +3 Beech 350 |
| Cessna 414 |
VIP transport |
Cessna 414 |
1 |
| Cessna 421 |
VIP transport |
Cessna 421 |
1 |
| Cessna Citation V |
VIP transport |
Cessna 560 |
1 |
| Boeing 737-BBJ2 |
VIP transport |
Boeing 737 |
2 |
| Dassault Falcon 50 |
VIP transport |
Falcon 50 |
1 |
| Dassault Falcon 100 |
VIP transport |
Falcon 100 |
1 |
| Gulfstream II |
VIP transport |
Gulfstream II |
2 |
| Gulfstream III |
VIP transport |
Gulfstream III |
1 |
| Gulfstream V |
VIP transport |
Gulfstream V |
1 |
| Gulfstream G550 |
VIP transport |
Gulfstream G550 |
1 |
| Cessna Citation X |
VIP transport |
Citation XLS |
1 |
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The Escadron Aerien Gendarmerie Royal (Royal Police Squadron)
Utilize a variety of helicopters based in several airfields. Most aircraft are operated by Royal Moroccan Air Force and in civil registers.
Royal Moroccan Navy (Marine Royale)
In 2004, the Royal Moroccan Navy (Marine Royal) commenced operations with four Eurocopter AS565MB Panthers. The helicopters, equipped to the same standard as French Navy Panthers, also have radar and a forward-looking infra-red pod system for surface surveillance.