Morocco to arm F-16s with Harpoon anti-shipping missiles

Morocco is to arm its Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft with Boeing AGM-84L Harpoon Block 2 anti-shipping missiles, it was announced on 14 April.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said that the State Department had approved the sale of 10 Harpoon missiles to the North African country for use on its F-16s for an estimated USD62 million.

“The proposed sale of the missiles and support will increase the [Royal] Moroccan Air Force’s maritime partnership potential and align its capabilities with existing regional baselines. Morocco intends to use the missiles on its F-16 multirole fighter aircraft to enhance its capabilities in effective defense of critical sea-lanes,” the DSCA notification said.

The proposed deal will see Boeing as the prime contractor, and will includes spares, support, training, and other equipment and services. No timeline for a contract award or delivery was given.

The Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) currently fields 23 F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft that it received from 2011 to 2012 (24 were received, with one being lost over Yemen during operations as part of the Saudi-led coalition). The DSCA recently approved the upgrade of these aircraft to the latest F-16V Block 70/72 standard, as well as the procurement of a further 25 new-build F-16Vs.

As noted by Jane’s Air Launched Weapons