The U.S. Department of Defense announced on Tuesday that Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract to produce and supply Morocco with ATACMS tactical missiles, which are used with the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).
The contract, according to a statement, “is valued at approximately $227 million and includes Morocco, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, and Lithuania.”
The statement further detailed that this deal is part of the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program for the fiscal year 2024, with work expected to continue until December 2028.
The U.S. Department of Defense also mentioned that the contract includes, in addition to the foreign military sales, the purchase of one ATACMS missile for the U.S. Army.
The guided ATACMS missiles operate on a surface-to-surface system and are primarily launched from rocket systems like the HIMARS, which the United States approved for sale to Morocco last year.
Security expert Abdelrahman Mekkaoui noted that the “deal strengthens the Royal Armed Forces’ arsenal of surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, enhancing their capability to launch missiles from both land and sea.”
In a statement to Hespress Ar, Mekkaoui mentioned that “these missiles have a proven track record in the Gulf, Bosnia, and Serbia wars, and currently in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, known for their effectiveness in targeting ground objectives.”
He also highlighted that the radar systems integrated into these missiles are extremely precise, ensuring the Royal Armed Forces are well-prepared for any challenges with the HIMARS launchers.
Lockheed Martin’s official website stated that the ATACMS tactical missile system is a conventional surface-to-surface artillery weapon capable of hitting targets far beyond the range of other artillery and missiles. The ATACMS can only be launched from HIMARS and MLRS M270 platforms.
Security affairs researcher Lahoucine Ouloudi praised the deal, stating that “it enhances the Royal Armed Forces’ readiness to face various threats.”
Ouloudi told Hespress Ar that the ATACMS missiles are renowned for their long-range strike capability and that the Moroccan army is keen on strengthening its defensive response to enemy targets.
He added that the various deals pursued by the kingdom not only boost its defensive capabilities but also reflect ongoing cooperation with military partners, primarily the United States.
In April, the U.S. State Department approved a deal to supply Morocco with HIMARS systems, which included Morocco’s request for 40 units of long-range ATACMS missiles.
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