A recent report by Defensa, a platform specializing in defense affairs, said Algeria carried out what it described as “unprecedented” military movements near its border with Morocco less than a week ago, including the deployment of attack helicopters close to the frontier.
According to the report, two Algerian Mi-28NE attack helicopters conducted flights near the border area, in what it called one of the most notable documented provocations in recent years. The move was characterized as part of a broader pattern of military pressure amid stalled diplomatic efforts over the Sahara dispute.
The report said the development comes against the backdrop of long-standing tensions linked to the regional conflict, noting Algeria’s continued political, military and logistical support for the Polisario Front since 1975.
It added that Algeria is among the main operators of the Russian-made Mi-28NE helicopters, with a fleet of 42 units. The aircraft, also used by countries including Iraq, Iran and Uganda, is designed exclusively for combat missions and features a tandem cockpit configuration without secondary transport capabilities.
On the Moroccan side, the report noted ongoing efforts to strengthen air capabilities in response to potential threats. In March 2026, Morocco received a second batch of AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters, bringing the number of delivered units to 12 out of a total order of 24 placed in June 2020.
The Apache Guardian model is considered one of the most advanced in its class, equipped with Longbow fire-control radar capable of detecting and classifying land, air and maritime targets. It also features the MUMT-X system, allowing it to control unmanned aerial vehicles, enhancing its role within integrated combat networks.
The report said the recent helicopter activity follows earlier tensions reported along the border in early February. It described the roughly 1,600-kilometer land border between Morocco and Algeria as one of the most complex and sensitive in Africa.
It concluded that the situation along Morocco’s eastern frontier remains volatile, marked by what it described as Algerian military maneuvers aimed at testing Morocco’s responses, alongside an intensifying arms buildup by Rabat to reinforce deterrence, all occurring in the absence of any meaningful diplomatic breakthrough.
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