Morocco has requested the sale of 36 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from the United States. The defense deal is worth approximately $4.25 billion and was approved by the US State Department last week. Morocco is the largest buyer of US weapons in Africa, with recent sales worth billions of dollars.
The Moroccan request covers 24 new AH-64E Apaches with another 12 optional, with Boeing and Lockheed Martin being the prime contractors. The request also includes 79 T700-GE-701D engines (including 6 spares), 18 AN/APG-78 Fire Control Radars, Link-16 terminals, weapons, spares, and training.
According to the deal, the helicopters will be equipped with AGM hellfire missiles, Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System munitions, AIM stinger missiles, rocket launchers as well as 93 000 rounds of 30 mm cannon ammunition.
The helicopters will be a new fleet of attack choppers that are geared at facilitating an improved capability for the homeland defense for Morocco especially in a volatile region. Morocco’s military has no dedicated attack helicopter, instead relying on two dozen Gazelles, which are flown by both Army Aviation and the Royal Moroccan Air Force.
