The Moroccan Armed Forces have recently inaugurated the first military base dedicated to air defense based on the Chinese defense battery system known as "FD-2000B", according to media reports.
The same sources confirmed that Morocco had received this Chinese defense system in the middle of this year, and the Moroccan forces were able to install and activate it recently, making it the first defense system owned by Morocco directed to addressing long-range air threats.
The same sources added that this Chinese air defense system, with a reach capacity of 250 km, was installed in the Sidi Yahya al-Gharb area, 60 km from the capital, Rabat, and is one of four defense systems that Morocco has requested from China since 2017.
In addition to these defense systems from China, Morocco is moving to acquire other defense systems, including the American Patriot defense system and the Israeli Barak 8 defense system, noting that Morocco was relying only on its air forces to deal with threats.
In this context, Morocco had previously requested a medium-range air defense system from China, and it is related to the FD-2000 (HQ-9) SAM missile defense system, which is trucks equipped with four missiles in each truck, and is equipped with radars and spotters.
Morocco is also continuing to implement its modernization plan for its military arsenal that it started in recent years. The Finance Bill of 2022 confirmed Morocco’s continuation of this approach, by allocating a huge financial budget to the Royal Armed Forces, which is the country’s military army.
According to the Moroccan Finance Bill of 2022, $12.8 billion has been allocated to “purchasing and repairing equipment of the Royal Armed Forces,” and it is related to the acquisition of new weapons, which means signing new arms deals, in addition to maintaining the military arsenal currently owned by the Royal Armed Forces.
