Israeli state-run company, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will provide the Moroccan army with the Barak MX air and missile defense system in an agreement worth over $500 million, according to reports from Israeli media on February 13.
The Barak MX missile defense system is designed to protect against various missile threats and drones.
According to the reports, Barak MX offers an integrated solution for multiple simultaneous aerial threats from a variety of sources and ranges in various mission types and battle conditions.
The system provides three-interception ranges of 35, 70, and 150 kilometers and can intercept fighters, sea-skimming and cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, drones, helicopters, and gliding bombs.
Last November, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz visited Morocco and expressed interest in the procurement of the defense system. As part of the visit, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the two countries regarding defense collaboration.
According to defense sources, Morocco and Israel discussed several alternatives for the North African country’s defense needs, of which the Barak system was chosen due to its flexibility and capabilities in various areas, Israeli news outlet, Globes reports.
The CEO of IAI, Boaz Levy, made a secret visit to Morocco to present the Barak-MX fully to a Moroccan delegation, according to reports from international news outlets.
The North African country is bolstering its defense system amid rising tensions in the region by upgrading its military equipment.
Previously, Morocco already purchased several air defense systems from Israeli companies through third parties.
However, in accordance with the Abraham Accords signed in December 2020, including the MoU signed during Gantz’s visit, future defense procurements between the two countries will be carried out directly.
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