Satellite imagery has confirmed Morocco’s deployment of the Israeli-made Barak MX air defense system at the Sidi Yahya el Gharb air defense base, marking the first visual evidence that the system has entered operational service more than two years after Rabat signed a major defense contract with Israel.
Images published by defense-focused platforms show components of the system positioned at the air defense facility northeast of the capital Rabat, indicating that the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces have integrated the system into their active military assets.
According to the same sources, Morocco concluded a deal in February 2022 to acquire the Barak MX systems for approximately $500 million. The system is designed to intercept aircraft and ballistic missiles and includes a combat management center, advanced Elta ELM-2084 radars, and launchers capable of operating missiles with ranges of 35 km, 70 km, and 150 km. The Barak MX underwent combat testing during the confrontation with Iran in June 2025.
The disclosure of the system’s deployment comes amid a rapidly expanding defense partnership between Rabat and Tel Aviv. Just one month ago, Israel’s BlueBird Aero Systems — a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) — inaugurated a production facility in Morocco dedicated to assembling SpyX loitering munitions. The project includes a technology transfer program and training for Moroccan engineers on assembly and maintenance.
In parallel, recent satellite imagery cited by the same specialized sources shows that Morocco has received at least 97 U.S.-made Oshkosh M-ATV armored vehicles, reflecting an ongoing buildup of the country’s ground and air defense capabilities as part of a broader modernization strategy that prioritizes diversified international partnerships.
Spanish newspaper La Razón previously reported that if Morocco were to officially receive the Barak MX, it would become one of the few countries in the world to operate such an advanced air defense system equipped with cutting-edge technology. The newspaper said the delivery falls under a $500 million agreement signed between the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces and Israel Aerospace Industries, headed by Moroccan-born CEO Amir Peretz.
Another Spanish outlet, El Español, wrote following the signing of the deal that the acquisition of the Barak MX would significantly strengthen Morocco’s ability to counter aerial threats at distances of up to 150 kilometers, enabling the kingdom to intercept fighter jets, drones, and airborne threats long before they reach its airspace.
According to El Español, the activation of the Sidi Yahya el Gharb air defense base — located 60 kilometers from Rabat — combined with the operational deployment of the Chinese-made FD-2000B defense system, has further boosted Morocco’s defensive posture. The FD-2000B, considered one of the most advanced air defense systems in recent years, has a range of 200 kilometers, extending its coverage to southern Spain — a development that the newspaper says has raised concerns in Madrid in light of Morocco’s accelerated military modernization.
