Morocco has received six combat helicopters out of a batch of 24 aircraft marking the solid partnership with the United States.
The acquisition of these helicopters is a “new stone added to the edifice of our solid and deep-rooted relations,” said the Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR).
Morocco officially received, on Wednesday, a first batch of six Apache AH-64E combat helicopters as part of the modernization of its Royal Armed Forces (FAR). The ceremony was held at the 1st Air Base of the Royal Air Forces, in Sale, in the presence of senior Moroccan officials and an American delegation, announced the General Staff of the FAR.
The ceremony brought together several Moroccan personalities, including the Minister Delegate in charge of the National Defense Administration, Abdeltif Loudyi, the Minister of Industry and Trade,
Ryad Mezzour, as well as the Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget, Fouzi Lekjaa. Also present were Lieutenant General Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of the FAR and Commander of the Southern Zone, Lieutenant General Mohammed Haramou, Commander of the Royal Gendarmerie, and Air Major General Mohammed Gadih, Inspector of the FRA.
On the American side, Army General Michael Langley, Commander of the United States Africa Command (US AFRICOM), and the Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy in Rabat, Aimee Cutrona, attended the event, illustrating the strategic partnership between Washington and Rabat in terms of security and defense.
The acquisition of these latest-generation helicopters is part of the high directives of King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of the General Staff of the FAR, aimed at strengthening the operational capabilities of the Moroccan army. This program also demonstrates the close military cooperation between Morocco and the United States.
During the ceremony, General Langley praised Morocco’s role in regional security, saying that the Kingdom is a reference in terms of defense and stability on the African continent.
“African armies are watching you and taking your example,” he said, stressing that Morocco is an “exporter of security” and a key player in regional peace.
The senior American official also recalled the strength of bilateral relations, recalling that “this ceremony goes beyond the simple acquisition of a weapons system, it celebrates a historic partnership that has lasted for nearly 250 years.” He insisted on continuing to strengthen this cooperation in favor of stability and prosperity in Africa.
Morocco, which has ordered a total of 24 Apache AH-64E helicopters, will continue to receive these aircraft in the coming months, thus consolidating its air capabilities and its strategic position in North
Africa and the Sahel.
MK/te/Sf/fss/as/APA