Morocco has received the first two batteries of the VL Mica short-range air defense missile system, reports Defense.com.
Morocco signed two arms acquisition contracts with France in 2019 worth 400 million euros, for the Caesar artillery systems worth 200 million, and the VL Mica short-range air defense system worth 200 million.
The Kingdom secured a €192 million loan from French bank BNP Paribas to finance the deal with French manufacturer MBDA.
The French VL Mica system will reinforce the air defense of the Moroccan army, which already has Chinese air defense systems.
The VL Mica is installed on a 5-ton truck, it provides 360° coverage and an interception range of up to 20 km against fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles, and air-launched missiles.
This defense equipment is composed of a tactical operations center with a radar unit and up to four missile launchers with two types of missiles, including the Mica RF with active radar seeker and the Mica IR with infrared guidance.
Additionally, the VL Mica will not be the last acquisition of the Kingdom that has been modernizing its army for several years, as Morocco reached agreements with Israel in this sector.
Last month, Morocco was in the midst of negotiations with Israeli manufacturer Elbit Systems for the purchase of cruise missiles for its F-5s.
The Israeli “Delilah” cruise missiles are expected to be the first of their kind to be fitted to Morocco’s military arsenal and would serve the F-5s the Kingdom already has.
If the contract is finalized, Morocco will be able to add to its arsenal of missiles with the capacity to hit land and sea targets at a 250 km distance.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.