The Royal Moroccan Navy (Arabic: القوات البحرية الملكية المغربية) is a branch of the military of Morocco responsible for conducting naval operations. The Royal Moroccan Navy is part of the Moroccan Armed Forces. Its mission includes the protection of Moroccan territory and sovereignty, as well as the control of Morocco's 81,000-square-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone.
The history of the modern Royal Moroccan Navy began in 1960 with its foundation by King Mohammed V. The first admiral of the modern Moroccan Navy was Vice Admiral Mohammed Triki, who held the position as the Commander in Chief of the Royal Moroccan Navy for 14 years from 1991 to 2005, and devoted 46 years of services to the Moroccan Navy. Although the modern Royal Navy was structured following independence, the Moroccan naval military traces its roots back to the 11th century, with the rise of the Almoravid dynasty, and its ambition for naval hegemony in the Mediterranean Sea.
The 16th century had the starting decline of the Moroccan state and consequently the navy that served it. No boats of this class have been built yet. Russia has offered the sub for sale to India, but in 2005, India ordered Scorpène-class submarines instead. Two more were delivered in 2020.
Morocco’s Royal Navy is embarking on an ambitious journey to modernise its fleet, focusing on the integration of advanced missile systems from Israel to enhance its defence capabilities. This effort reflects a strategic push to strengthen the country’s naval forces amid evolving security challenges in the Mediterranean and North Africa. These moves are not only a testament to Morocco’s military modernisation but also a reflection of its deepening defence ties with Israel, spurred by the diplomatic thaw following the 2020 Abraham Accords.
Morocco’s strategic location, straddling the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, amplifies the importance of its naval capabilities. The Royal Navy’s modernisation efforts, including the potential integration of Israeli missile systems, position Morocco as a key player in regional security dynamics. Another particular reason is that the Boeing AGM-84L Harpoon Block II missiles, which Morocco acquired from the United States for its F-16s fighter jets, will have reduced coastal targeting capabilities, says the US. The Harpoon missiles to be supplied to Morocco are the “non-coastal target suppression” version, which will not be able to attack land targets, this is according to an April 27 US Federal Register arms sale notification.
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The 2020 Abraham Accords paved the way for diplomatic rapprochement, opening doors to substantial military contracts between the two nations. In 2021, Israel signed a defence pact with Morocco as part of a public display of readiness to advance national security interests in tandem with Arab countries that have drawn closer to it amid shared concern over Iran and Islamist militancy. The Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR) have since acquired a range of Israeli equipment, with the delivery of Spike missiles in 2025 marking a tangible outcome of this partnership. This collaboration has enabled Morocco to access advanced technologies like the Spike and Barak 8 systems, which offer both precision and versatility-key attributes for addressing the complex security environment in which the country operates.
Modernization Efforts and Equipment
Central to this initiative is the consideration of equipping two key vessel types-the Floréal-class surveillance frigates, Mohammed V and Hassan II, and the newly acquired Avante 1800 offshore patrol vessels-with cutting-edge Israeli technology, namely the Spike NLOS and Barak 8 missile systems.
Floréal-Class Frigates
The Floréal-class frigates, Mohammed V and Hassan II, are at the heart of this modernisation effort. Built in France, these ships have long served as vital assets for Morocco’s naval operations, primarily tasked with surveillance and patrol duties in both coastal and open-water environments. Currently armed with Exocet anti-ship missiles and Mistral missiles for close-in defence, these frigates are designed to monitor and protect Morocco’s territorial waters. However, the Royal Navy is now evaluating the addition of Israeli-made Spike NLOS (Non-Line-of-Sight) missiles to its arsenal.
Developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the Spike NLOS is a versatile, fire-and-forget missile with a range of 32 kilometres, capable of striking targets at sea or on land with precision. This potential upgrade would markedly enhance the frigates’ offensive capabilities, enabling them to address a broader spectrum of threats, including those posed by terrorist groups and criminal organisations operating in the region. The Spike missile family, now in its sixth generation as of 2024, is renowned for its adaptability across various platforms-man-portable, vehicle-launched, helicopter-launched, and maritime variants.
Morocco has acquired both the Spike LR II and NLOS versions as part of a larger arms deal with Israel, with deliveries to the Royal Navy completed in June 2025. While the Spike missiles were initially purchased for the Avante 1800 patrol vessels, their potential integration onto the Floréal-class frigates represents a strategic expansion of their use. This move aligns with Morocco’s broader goal of bolstering its naval defences, leveraging the missile’s precision and range to provide a more robust response to emerging challenges.
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Floréal-class frigate
Avante 1800 Offshore Patrol Vessels
Parallel to this, Morocco is exploring the integration of the Barak 8 missile system onto its new Avante 1800 offshore patrol vessels. Designed by Spanish shipbuilder Navantia, the Avante 1800 is an 89-meter modern warship tailored for coastal and open-water missions. Equipped with advanced systems such as a 3D radar, electronic warfare capabilities, and missile launchers, this vessel features a stealthy hull design and operates with a reduced crew, making it a flexible and efficient platform.
The Barak 8, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), is a long-range surface-to-air missile system engineered to intercept a variety of aerial threats, including aircraft, drones, and missiles. By incorporating this system, Morocco aims to fortify the Avante 1800’s air defence capabilities, ensuring its naval assets are well-protected against sophisticated airborne threats. The acquisition of the Avante 1800 vessels and their potential armament with Barak 8 missiles are part of Morocco’s ongoing military modernisation efforts.
In recent years, the country has invested heavily in strengthening its defence industry, procuring Israeli-made drones, artillery systems, and now advanced missile technology. This push is driven in part by perceived threats from neighbouring Algeria and increased military activities in the Mediterranean. Morocco has responded proactively, redeploying warships off its northern coast to safeguard its territorial integrity and maritime interests. The integration of Israeli missiles onto the Avante 1800 vessels underscores this commitment, enhancing the Royal Navy’s ability to assert its presence in the region.
Avante 1800 Offshore Patrol Vessels
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Strategic Overview
The Royal Moroccan Navy is willing to establish itself as a capable green-water maritime force, focused on securing the country's extensive Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines. Its maritime strategy is driven by the need to protect its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), counter illicit trafficking, and maintain a credible regional posture, particularly in light of geopolitical tensions. The surface fleet is centered on a modern flagship, the French-built FREMM frigate *Mohammed VI*, and three Dutch-designed SIGMA-class corvettes. These primary assets provide robust anti-surface and anti-air capabilities and are complemented by a larger number of offshore and coastal patrol vessels.
To enhance its operational capacity, the navy actively participates in joint exercises with international partners, including NATO, which improves interoperability and tactical knowledge. A major ongoing project is the construction of an Avante 1800 offshore patrol vessel by Spanish shipbuilder Navantia, with delivery expected in mid-2026. This vessel will significantly upgrade surveillance and response capabilities, featuring a helicopter deck, a 4,000-nautical-mile range, and modern combat systems. The Royal Moroccan Navy's operational reach is tailored to its strategic environment.
How Morocco Is Becoming a Military Powerhouse in Africa
Equipment Summary
The Royal Moroccan Army employs various individual weapons to provide light firepower at short ranges. The main weapons used by the army are the M16A2 and AK-47 variants (Chinese Type 56, Romanian AIM/AIMS, Egyptian Misr, Yugoslav Zastava M70AB2) in the Southern Sector, and the G3A3 and M16A1/A2/A4 in the Northern Sector. Many units are supplemented with a variety of specialized weapons, those are the M249, HK11A1, FN Minimi, FALO-50-41, Ultimax 100, PK/PKM, RPD and RPK-74 to provide suppressive fire at the fire-team level. The M14NM and EBR are used by long-range marksmen, and the M82A1, the FR-F2, and the PGM Ultima Ratio are used by snipers. The army uses different types of mortars for indirect fire support when heavier artillery may not be appropriate or available. The smallest of these are the 60mm M2 and MO 60.
At the next higher echelon, the support can come from the 107mm M30 mortar, the 120mm M120 and MO-120-RT,120MM ECIA MORTAR AND 120MM NORINCO W86 MORTAR, or the 160mm Mortar M1943. Portable anti-tank rockets are employed by the infantry. Recoilless rifles are still in use, often mounted on trucks or other military vehicles, but they are being replaced by more effective anti-tank guided missiles. Tank destroyers represent the most mobile and best protected anti-tank weapons in service. Older gun-armed vehicles are being replaced by missile-equipped vehicles. The RMA's high-mobility multipurpose vehicles serves as cargo/troop carrier, weapons platform, and ambulance, among many other roles. 378 GM Defense CUCVs (138 M1008, 188 M1009 and 52 M1028) and 278 M151s were received, and an unknown number of Santana Motor's Land Rover Model 88/106, Toyota FJ40, Jeep Auverland and Nissan Patrol ML-6 are also in service.
Military logistics' missions are the storage, distribution, maintenance, evacuation, and disposition of materiel, the transport of personnel, the acquisition or construction, maintenance, operation, and disposition of facilities, the acquisition or furnishing of services and Medical and health service support. It is the most important part and considered the base for the main mission of the RMA. Because of its topography and extensive range of action, the transport and resupply of troops posted in the Wall and East Frontier, where aerial transport is impossible or counterproductive, the use of land transport is primordial.
The amount of active equipment is unknown, but estimations are possible. The number of medium and heavy trucks, HETs and Palletized Load Systems (PLS) purchased or in service were 250 IVECO M3-21.14 TT, ~3500 M35 and Variants, 387 M54 and variants, ~1,000 M800 series, 195 M816 Wrecker, ~160 M900 series, ~1000 TRM10000/9000 BMH, 600 ACMAT VLRA and 92 Tata LPTA 2445.[18] An unknown number of Pegaso 3055, Mercedes-Benz Actros and Unimog are also in RMA's inventory. The Heavy Equipment Transport Systems (HETS) received were an unknown number of M746, 6 M747, 23 M1070, 133 M911 HETS and 100 IVECO TRACTOR.
Armoured recovery vehicles (ARV) are used to repair damaged as well as broken-down armoured vehicles during combat, or to tow them out of the danger zone for more extensive repairs. Military engineering vehicles are vehicles built for the construction work or for the transportation of combat engineers on the battlefield. Around 1100 tanks are in service: 54 VT-1A, 222 M1A1SA & 162 M1A2 SEPv3, 148 T-72B and 535 M60A1/A1 rise/A3/A3TTS. M48 Pattons were retired from active service and stored as reserve with the 1991 cease-fire, the SK-105 Kürassiers had the same fate. 150 on order. Morocco purchased the Cobra II MRAP vehicles. used by M-SOF.
The equipment includes: 300+ 155mm M109 SPH in different versions, 60 203mm M110A2 SPH, received as EDA from USA, and 100 155mm Mk F3 remain in service. Only 155mm towed howitzers are deployed all along the Moroccan Wall, that includes 140 155mm (M198, FH-70, M-1950, M114), 18 130mm (M1954). [54]. [83]. ^ "ROCA (United Nations Register of Conventional Arms)". www.unroca.org. ^ "Morocco" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 June 2015. ^ "Trade Registers". Archived from the original on 29 December 2017. ^ "Morocco Telegraph | the Moroccan army is changing its uniform to a modern one". ^ "Morocco". ^ "KBP Metis M/ M1 AT Guided Missile". Archived from the original on 27 February 2014. ^ a b c Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2008-09. ^ Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (27 January 2009). ^ Cembrero, Ignacio (5 February 2007). "España vende a Rabat 1.200 blindados como los usados en Afganistán | España | EL PAÍS". ^ "Vlra2 Bastion". Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. ^ "Moroccan Army Receives TATA Trucks | TURDEF". turdef.com. 17 January 2023. Archived from the original on 16 June 2024. ^ Lionel, Ekene (19 December 2022). "Morocco choose sides, supplies T-72B tanks to Ukraine". military.africa. ^ "Non, le Maroc n'offre pas ses chars de conception soviétique à l'Ukraine". Le Desk (in French). ^ "Morocco did not sell tanks to Ukraine, Bourita affirms". Hespress English. 1 March 2023. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al Military Balance 2024. IISS. 2024. ^ "Morocco's armament raises concern in Spain | The North Africa Post". northafricapost.com. ^ "Royal Moroccan Armed Forces". defenceWeb. 30 January 2021. ^ "Reagan Planning to Sell 108 Tanks to Morocco". The New York Times. 28 January 1981. Archived from the original on 20 October 2018. ^ "Trade Registers". SIPRI Arms Transfers Database. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. ^ "Armor: Chinese Tanks In North Africa". www.strategypage.com. ^ "Convention d'investissement entre l'Administration de la Défense Nationale et le groupe indien Tata". MAP Express (in French). ^ "Royal Moroccan Armed Forces". defenceWeb. 30 January 2021. ^ "Morocco acquiring new air defence systems". defenceWeb. 25 May 2020. ^ "Nexter Caesar self propelled guns for Moroccan army". www.globaldefencemart.com. ^ a b Defensa.com (19 December 2021). "Marruecos inaugura su primera base de defensa aérea de largo alcance con una batería china FD-2000B". www.defensa.com (in Spanish). ^ "Morocco Opens First Military Base with Chinese Air Defense". The Defense Post. 21 December 2021. ^ "China's FD-2000B air defense system will guard Moroccan base". bulgarianmilitary.com. ^ "Fearing Trump, Morocco reconsiders US arms instead of Russia's". middleeast monitor. ^ Defensa.com (26 June 2020). "Marruecos a punto de recibir su primer sistema de defensa aérea de largo alcance - Noticias Defensa Africa-Asia-Pacífico". Defensa.com (in Spanish). ^ "In light of what threats is Morocco multiplying its military arsenal?". Atalayar. ^ "Morocco To Acquire New Air Defense Systems". Defense.info. 4 June 2020. ^ "VL MICA | Ground Based Air Defence, MICA Solution". MBDA. ^ GDC (23 June 2021). "Turkish Aselsan Inks $50.7 Million Export Deal With Morocco For Koral-EW". Global Defense Corp. ^ "Morocco signs $50.7 million deal with Turkey to acquire 'Koral Electronic Warfare System'". Assahifa.
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