Morocco has been chosen as the only African country to benefit from a new U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract worth $303.6 million, covering long-term maintenance, repair, and radar-support services for F-16 fighter jets, according to Business Insider Africa. The contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., one of the United States’ leading defense manufacturers.
Business Insider Africa reports that Northrop Grumman secured the firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) agreement as part of the F-16 System Program Office’s FMS Support Program. The deal includes Morocco among eight key international partners—Bahrain, Bulgaria, Greece, South Korea, Slovakia, Taiwan, and Jordan—who will receive support for F-16 radar components through November 2030. A wider group of additional radar-support beneficiaries includes Pakistan, Iraq, Oman, Singapore, Indonesia, Chile, and Argentina.
The radar-support contract falls under the Pentagon’s Cyber Resiliency Program, designed to reinforce the protection of military aircraft and digital systems against cyber threats and to ensure uninterrupted operational readiness.
According to Business Insider Africa, Morocco’s inclusion reflects its growing importance within the global F-16 ecosystem. The Royal Moroccan Air Force has ordered 24 new F-16V “Viper” aircraft—the most advanced variant—while upgrading its current fleet to the same configuration. These fighter jets use the AN/APG-83 AESA radar as well as next-generation electronic-warfare and mission-avionics systems.
The deal also follows Washington’s approval earlier this year of more than $50 million in F-16 technology transfers to Morocco, enabling the local production of key components for the Viper platform. The North African country has also been expanding its defense-industrial capabilities amid regional tensions, particularly with Algeria and Egypt pursuing major arms deals with Russia and China.
In October, Maintenance Aero Maroc (MAM) began building an 8,000-square-meter heavy-maintenance hangar at Benslimane Airport, in partnership with Moroccan, Belgian, and U.S. companies. The facility is expected to become operational by late 2026.
Business Insider Africa further highlights Morocco’s interest in acquiring 32 F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters, a multi-billion-dollar deal currently under discussion. If concluded, Morocco would become the first Arab and African nation to operate the fifth-generation F-35. The potential deal—dependent on Israeli approval due to the sensitive technology involved—could reach $17 billion over 45 years, covering aircraft, maintenance, operations, and training.
Integration of the F-35 with Morocco’s upgraded F-16 fleet, based on NATO-standard joint training, could enable full operational readiness by 2035.
Business Insider Africa concludes that the new F-16 radar-support contract, combined with Morocco’s potential acquisition of the F-35, further strengthens the Kingdom’s position as a key U.S. defense partner in North Africa, reinforcing nearly 250 years of bilateral relations and expanding military cooperation.
