The Moroccan army has begun field exercises on operating the advanced HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) using live ammunition. The drills are part of the ongoing African Lion military exercises launched in Morocco this past Monday, in partnership with the U.S. Army and military units from several other countries.
According to field sources, a designated training area near Tan-Tan hosted a joint Moroccan-American training session on Thursday. The session included both theoretical instruction and practical application of the HIMARS rocket launchers, with live-fire exercises conducted by both forces.
This year's drills are considered a final phase before officially integrating the HIMARS system into the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces. In last year’s African Lion 2024 edition, Moroccan troops had already participated in initial training sessions with the U.S. Army, which deployed HIMARS during those maneuvers.
Commenting on these developments, military expert Mohamed Shoqair stated that Morocco’s acquisition of the HIMARS system is part of maintaining a "deterrence balance," especially considering Algeria’s possession of Russian-made S-400 missiles. However, according to Chakir, the American system is "one of the most advanced defense systems in the world and is not available to any other country in the region, including Spain."
In a statement to Assahifa, Shoqair added, "The ongoing African Lion exercises have provided a key opportunity for Moroccan forces to train on the operation of these rockets, which feature sophisticated offensive and defensive technologies. Thanks to training from American experts, Moroccan troops will gain full operational control over the system."
Shoqair further noted that these HIMARS exercises by Moroccan forces "will undoubtedly raise concerns not only within the Algerian military but also among Spanish forces, which to date do not possess such an advanced American defense system."
HIMARS is known for its exceptional precision and flexibility in modern military operations. Technical specifications indicate the system weighs approximately 16,200 kilograms and is operated by a three-person crew. It is capable of launching rockets with a range of up to 80 km for conventional missiles and up to 350 km for tactical missiles like ATACMS.
The system can travel at speeds of up to 85 km/h, making it highly effective in combat operations. The United States, along with countries such as Singapore, Jordan, Romania, Poland, Ukraine, and the UAE, already operate HIMARS. More recently, nations including Morocco, Australia, Italy, Latvia, and Lithuania have acquired the system.
HIMARS is considered one of the most accurate artillery systems in the world, offering guided, destructive firepower with the capability to launch six guided missiles simultaneously. Its high maneuverability also makes it difficult to target after an attack.
Military experts emphasize that HIMARS has played a crucial role in modern conflicts, significantly shifting the balance of power in certain wars due to its ability to deliver precision strikes on strategic targets.
