Morocco Chooses Israeli Artillery Over French Systems Amid Growing Defense Ties

Morocco has shifted its defense procurement strategy, opting for Israeli-made ATMOS 2000 artillery systems instead of French Caesar howitzers.

French outlet La Tribune reported that dissatisfaction with the performance of the Caesar systems, delivered by France’s KNDS, drove this decision. Morocco initially ordered 36 Caesar units in 2020 for €200 million.

However, operational issues and delayed responses to complaints from KNDS frustrated Moroccan officials. This opened the door for Israel’s Elbit Systems to secure the contract.

The Royal Moroccan Army will receive 36 ATMOS 2000 units mounted on Czech Tatra trucks. The modular ATMOS system boasts a combat-proven design with a firing range exceeding 40 kilometers using standard NATO-certified ammunition.

It also offers extended range capabilities with rocket-assisted projectiles. These features, combined with rapid deployment capabilities and advanced automation, make it a reliable alternative to the Caesar systems.

This procurement reflects Morocco’s growing military collaboration with Israel following the normalization of relations in 2020 under the Abraham Accords. The agreement, brokered by the United States, included American recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara.

This was a critical issue for Rabat. Since then, Morocco has significantly expanded its defense ties with Israel, acquiring drones, radar systems, and air defense platforms like the Barak MX in a $500 million deal.

Israel’s Growing Defense Ties with Morocco

Israel has quickly become Morocco’s third-largest arms supplier, accounting for 11% of its total arms imports. This shift also highlights Morocco’s strategy to diversify its defense partners and reduce reliance on traditional suppliers like France.

French defense companies have faced setbacks in Morocco recently, including losing contracts for fighter jets to U.S.-made F-16s instead of France’s Rafale aircraft.

Morocco’s pivot toward Israeli technology underscores its focus on reliability and operational effectiveness amid regional tensions with Algeria over Western Sahara. While this partnership strengthens Morocco’s military capabilities, it also sparks domestic opposition.

This is largely due to widespread pro-Palestinian sentiment. Protests against normalization with Israel have occurred across the country, forcing Moroccan leaders to balance public opinion with strategic interests.

This deal signifies a broader realignment in Morocco’s defense policy as it prioritizes pragmatic partnerships over historical alliances. For Israel, it marks another step in expanding its influence in North Africa’s arms market.

More: Morocco news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error