Morocco boosts military defense with new Israeli Merkava tank order.
Morocco will soon receive Israeli Merkava tanks, after the Israeli Ministry of Defense offered to sell a portion of its stock of second- and third-generation Merkava tanks.
The third generation Merkava tank has effective armor, a 120 mm cannon that satisfies the requirements of the Royal Army Forces, and can aim at targets from 8 kilometers distant, according to Spanish outlet El Espanol.
The third generation Merkava tank provides soldiers with improved protection thanks to its sophisticated electromagnetic danger identification and warning system.
The Merkava tanks will improve the Moroccan military’s defense capabilities, following the most recent acquisition of kamikaze SpyX drones.
The information was provided by Israeli defense officer Yair Koles, who stated last month that Israel was negotiating the sale of armored vehicles with two nations.
The purchase is a part of the ongoing military trade between Morocco and Israel, with a focus on the defense sector, where Israeli firms are global leaders. Additionally, it would improve the two nations’ military and diplomatic connections.
The agreement, which is anticipated to be finalized within the coming months, will make Morocco the first foreign country to purchase Merkava tanks.
Morocco has recently shown signs of stronger ties with Israel by making several military technology purchases.
Morocco accounted for 24% of armaments exports from Israel in 2022, an increase from 7% in 2021, according to data from the Defense Ministry cited by Israeli media.
Increased defense spending in Morocco is thought to be an effort to stay up with Algeria, particularly after Algiers severed diplomatic ties with Morocco in August 2011.
Merkava 2 and Merkava 3, produced in the 1980s and 1990s, have been superseded by the more sophisticated Merkava 4, unveiled in 2003, by the Israel Defense Forces.
The Moroccan government received approval earlier this year for the potential sale of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) built in the US for $524.2 million.