The United States has initiated the legal procedures for a new major arms deal with Morocco, involving the supply of advanced air defense systems, according to an official document issued by the US Department of Defense and published in recent hours in the Federal Register, the official journal of the US government.
According to the document, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which operates under the Pentagon, published an unclassified version of a formal notification related to a proposed arms sale to Morocco, in line with the legal requirements set out in US legislation governing foreign military sales.
The proposed deal concerns the potential acquisition by Morocco of up to 600 FIM-92K Stinger Block I missiles. These short-range air defense missiles are designed to counter low-altitude aerial threats. The total estimated value of the deal stands at approximately $825 million, including $552 million allocated for major defense equipment and $273 million for support services and components, such as technical, logistical, and engineering assistance.
The US document notes that the deal will be fully financed through Morocco’s national resources, without recourse to any US funding programs or military aid. The notification is based on Section 36(b) of the US Arms Export Control Act, which obliges the US administration to inform Congress before finalizing any major arms sale to a foreign country.
According to the Federal Register, the report on the proposed sale was formally delivered to the US Congress on April 15, 2025. No objections have been publicly recorded so far, clearing the way for the completion of the procedural process and the eventual delivery of the agreed weapons to Morocco.
In outlining the political justification for the deal, the US Department of Defense described Morocco as a “major non-NATO ally” that plays a key role in supporting political and security stability in North Africa. The Pentagon stated that the sale would contribute to strengthening the Moroccan Armed Forces’ ability to address current and future threats, particularly in the field of short-range air defense, while modernizing its military systems in line with Western standards.
The document also noted that Morocco seeks through this acquisition to enhance interoperability with US forces and those of allied countries, within the framework of joint military cooperation and multinational exercises. It stressed that the deal “will not alter the basic military balance in the region,” a formulation commonly used in US notifications to reassure Congress about the geopolitical implications of arms sales.
This deal adds to a series of arms acquisitions concluded by Morocco in recent years as part of a comprehensive strategy to modernize its military arsenal, launched nearly a decade ago. The strategy focuses on diversifying sources of weaponry and enhancing the operational readiness of all branches of the Royal Armed Forces.
This military modernization drive is accompanied by clear official efforts to establish a domestic defense industry, by attracting major international companies in military manufacturing, technology transfer, maintenance, and assembly. Rabat considers this approach a cornerstone for strengthening defense sovereignty and reducing reliance on external suppliers over the medium and long term.
