List of equipment of the Royal Moroccan Army

Modern equipment of the Royal Moroccan Army is a list of equipment currently in service with the Moroccan Army. Sources are the United States Excess Defense Articles (EDA) Database [1] INSS Israel's Middle East Military Balance,[2] World Small Arms Inventory,[3] SIPRI Trade registres[4] and the Military Balance in the Middle East by CSIS,[5] and Army-Guide.

Infantry Equipment

Royal Moroccan Army honor platoon
Moroccan jeeps, armed with anti-tank weapons (UNOSOM II)
Moroccan Soldiers with Olive Drab Battle Uniform and SPECTRA helmet.

Weapons

Moroccan soldiers pose for a photograph during African Lion 2007.
M109A5 Howitzer from the Moroccan 15th Royal Artillery Group
M109A5 Howitzer Crews from the Moroccan 15th Royal Artillery Group.
Moroccan M60A3 during a 2006 Army expo
M163 VADS of the Royal Moroccan Army during a 2006 Army Expo

The Royal Moroccan Army employs various individual weapons to provide light firepower at short ranges. The main weapons used by the army are the AK-47 variants (Chinese Type 56, Romanian AIM/AIMS, Egyptian Misr, Finnish Valmet M76, Yugoslav Zastava M70AB2) in the Southern Sector, and the G3A3, FN FAL/FN CAL and M16A1/A2/A4 in the Northern Sector. The AK-74/ AKS-74U, SAR 21, AK-103, Steyr AUG A1/A2/A3 and MP5A3 are used by different units as the Paratroopers, the Royal Guard, Security Forces and others units in the Navy and Air force.

The sidearms in the RMA are the MAB PA-15 for Active service, and Beretta 92 for specialized forces (Paratroopers, SpecForces, Security Forces, etc.)

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 also uses Automatic grenade launchers (AGLs) such as the STK 40 AGL or the Mk 47 Striker[6] both used on VAMTACs LUVs (Light Utility Vehicles) and handled by infantry units.

Other weapons used for training, exercises or parades are :

Crew served weapons

Coaxial Machine Guns and Automatic cannons:

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, or the 160mm Mortar M1943. A hundred of self-propelled mortars are also in RMA's inventory (See Below)

Anti-Tank Weapons

The Royal Moroccan Army employs a variety of anti-tank weapons, ranging from disposable, man-portable rockets to armored tank destroyers equipped with guided missiles.

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. Several of the army's infantry fighting vehicles are likewise equipped with anti-tank missiles, adding to the anti-tank weaponry available in the field.[7][8]

Anti-tank weapons of the Royal Moroccan Army
SystemTypeOriginQtyNotes
M40A1 recoilless rifle  United States 350 [7]
B-10  Soviet Union obsolescent
9M14 Malyutka anti-tank guided missile 50 [7]
9M113 Konkurs  Russia vehicle-mounted
9M133 Kornet [9]
9K115-2 Metis-M [10]
BGM-71 TOW  United States +2000 [7]
M47 Dragon 440 [7]
MILAN  France West Germany 80 [7]
HJ-8L  People's Republic of China
Type 69 anti-tank rocket bipod launcher[8]
APILAS  France 1000+ [8]
LRAC-89 2000+ [8]
RPG-7V  Soviet Union [11][12]
M20 Super Bazooka  United States limited use; obsolescent[11]
M72 LAW 500+ [11]
M56 Scorpion tank destroyer 28 [7]
M901 ITV 80 [7]
SU-100  Soviet Union 8 [7]

Other equipment

Vehicles

Utility vehicles

The RMA's high-mobility multipurpose vehicles serves as cargo/troop carrier, weapons platform, and ambulance, among many other roles. 1500 HMMWV[13] in different versions, 1,200 URO VAMTACs and 800 URO VAM-TL [14] are part of RMAs inventory, which also includes various CUCVs. 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. An unknown number of ACMAT ALTV has also been purchased.[15]

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. Due to 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 number of active equipment it's 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 and 600 ACMAT VLRA. 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. Two M1075 & M1076 Palletized load systems were also purchased.

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. For this mission 86 M578, 10 SK-105 ARV, 4 VT1A ARV and 81 M88 Recovery Vehicles were acquired.

Military engineering vehicles are vehicles built for the construction work or for the transportation of combat engineers on the battlefield. Bulldozers are extensively used, all along with 6 M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle.[16]

Tanks

Around 1000 tanks are in service: 150 VT-1A, 270 M1A1SA, 148 T-72B and 427 M60A3/A3TTS Patton. M48 Pattons were retired from active service and stored as reserve with the 1991 cease-fire, the SK-105 Kürassiers had the same fate.

Origin Model Type Quantity Notes
 Russia T-72B/BK2nd Generation MBT148136 T-72B and 12 T-72BK [17][18]
 United States M60 Patton427260 M60A3TTS and 167 M60A3 [19][20][21]
M1A1SA3rd Generation MBT222Special Armor Configuration.[22] An additional of 162 M1A1SA are on order, of which 48 where en route to Morocco beginning of April 2018.[23] Total of 384 tanks will be in the Moroccan arsenal of this type.
 China VT-1A54[24][25] 54 Received in 2011 [26]

APCs/IFVs/Support vehicles

Model Origin Type Quantity Notes
APCs/IFVs
M113  United States APC~1,900[27] Some M113's were indigenously fitted with a ZPU 2-14.5 Anti-Aircraft Gun, and others equipped with a TOW launcher mounted on a tripod on top of the vehicle.
Cougar HE MRAPUNUsed in a Chinese Movie shot in Rabat,Morocco
AIFVIFV11019 AIFV-B-.50 + 90 AIFV-B-C25 + 1 AIFV-B-CP
Ratel IFV  South Africa 6030 Ratel 20 + 30 Ratel 90
VAB VCI/VTT  France APC39575 VAB VCI+ 320 VAB VTT. 140 To be upgraded
AML 60/90LAV195140 AML-90, 20 AML-90 Lynx and 35 AML-60
AMX-10PIFV10
BMP-3  Russia 35-4035-40 BMP-3 on order
Tank destroyers
AMX 10 RC  France Tank destroyer110
M901A1  United States 23

Artillery

The Artillery, grouped in GARs, includes Self-Propelled Howitzers, towed Howitzers, MRLS and Air Defense Systems, mortar carriers are part of the RIMZ.

The equipment includes: 213 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) . Besides this 54 105mm (M101 and L118) are deployed in different regions.

2 Battalions of MRLS are also listed as part of RMAs inventory, the first with 36 122mm BM-21 and the second with 36 300mm AR2.

Surface to surface artillery

Model Origin Type Quantity Notes
Self-Propelled Howitzer
155mm M109  United States Self-Propelled Artillery~300[28]
203mm M110A260
155mm Mk F3  France 100
155mm 2S19M1 MSTA-S  Soviet Union U/N[29][30]
Towed Howitzer
130mm M1954  Soviet Union Howitzer18
105mm L118  United Kingdom 36
105mm M101  United States 18
155mm M19835
155mm M11420
155mm FH-70  United Kingdom,

 Germany,  Italy

 30
155mm M-1950  France 35
Multiple rocket launcher
BM-21  Soviet Union MRLS36122mm
PHL03/AR2 36[31][32] 300mm
Mortar carriers
M125A1  United States Mortar carrier20With an 81 mm M29 mortar
M106A1/A236With a 107 mm M30 mortar
M106491With a 120mm M120 mortar
AML-60  France35With a Brandt Mle CM60A1
VAB-VTM12With a towed 120mm MO-120-RT mortar.

Air Defense Systems

Moroccan Anti-Aircraft system is based basically on Self Propelled Air Defense Systems, waiting the arrival of MIM-23 Hawk XXI HIMAD SAM. The MANPADS used by the infantry are the 9K32 “Strela-2” (SA-7 Grail), 9K38 “Igla” (SA-18 Grouse).

Other systems include AAG as M1939 (61-K), ZU-23-2 or M167 VADS, usually mounted on LUVs and CUCVs.

For base protections 100 Type-90 (PG99) were purchased from China, and recently, vehicles part of the AF902 FC5/35mm AA Gun Air Defence System has been seen.

Model Origin Type Quantity Notes
Surface-to-air missiles
MIM-23 Hawk XXI  United States HIMAD SAM36to be delivered
AF902 FCS/35 SHORAD/HIMADUN[33]
9K32 Strela-2  Soviet UnionMANPADSUN
9K38 IglaUN
Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapons
ZSU-23-4  Soviet Union SPAG90
Tunguska M112
MIM-72 Chaparral  United States 72
M163115
anti-aircraft guns
ZU-23-2  Soviet Union anti-aircraft gun160
M167 VADS  United States 42
Type 90   Switzerland 100Part of the AF902 FCS/35 Air Defence System

Radars

Model Origin Type Quantity Notes
AN/TPS-43  United States Air radar8
AN/TPS-63  United States Air radar8to be upgraded to TPS-63M (+250%)
AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel  United States Air radar8[34]
AN/TPS-70  United States Air RadarU/N
AF902 FC   Switzerland Air radarUNChinese copy of Skyguard [33]
MSSR Air radarU/N
RATAC Ground radar12
BOR-A 550 Ground radarU/N
RASIT Ground radarU/N
AN/PPS-5A Ground radarU/N
Stentor battlefield radar Ground radar20
AN/MPQ-61 Air radar9
AN/MPQ-57 Air radar3
AN/MPQ-55 Air radar9
AN/MPQ-62 Air radar3
AN/MPQ-49 Air radarU/N
ARSS-1 Ground radar12
AN/TPS-79 Air radar3
Ground Master 403 Air radar3Potential purchase of 12, 15 or 18 units [35]

References

  1. ↑ Excess Defense Articles (EDA) Database
  2. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 June 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  3. ↑ wiw_af_morocco - worldinventory
  4. ↑ Trade Registers
  5. ↑ The Military Balance in the Middle East - February 19, 2004
  6. ↑ Morocco, Spain, Portugal, France, Chile, Brazil = MK47 Auto Grenade Launcher
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Maroc Armée Marocaine forces terrestres équipements et véhicules" (in French). Army Recognition. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Tiger, Grey, "Light Antitank Weapons", World Infantry Weapons: Morocco, retrieved 9 December 2016
  9. ↑ Kornet E Anti-Armour Missile - Army Technology
  10. ↑ KBP Metis M/ M1 AT Guided Missile
  11. 1 2 3 Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2008-09. Jane's Information Group; 34 edition (2008).
  12. ↑ Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  13. ↑
  14. ↑
  15. ↑
  16. ↑ 2005 Excess Defence Articles for Morocco Archived 30 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine.
  17. ↑ 1999: 30 T-72B 2000: 58 T-72B & 12 T-72BK Archived 19 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine.
  18. ↑ 48 upgraded T-72 tanks and a large number of spare parts supplied to Morocco, from Belarus, according to the Russian military news agency referring to the directorate of the 140th tank repair factory in Borisov
  19. ↑ 300 Ex-US M60A1 from 1991 to 1994 and 120 M60A3TTS and 7 M60A1 in 1997
  20. ↑ "Morocco's M60A1 tanks were upgraded to M60A3's as these became available." "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2016-09-13.
  21. ↑ 140 Upgraded to M60A3TTS in 2009 Source: Army-guide
  22. ↑ The Government of the Kingdom of Morocco has requested a possible enhancement and refurbishment of 222 M1A1 Abrams tanks, provided as part of a grant Excess Defense Article(EDA) transfer notified to Congress on 27 April 2011, to the M1A1 Special Armor (SA) configuration "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 May 2013. Retrieved 2012-06-19.
  23. ↑ "Morocco to Receive New Shipment of American Abrams Tanks". Morocco World News. 2018-04-08. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  24. ↑
  25. ↑ "The acquisition of the US and Chinese tanks will allow Morocco to retire much of its existing tank fleet" Janes Defence Weekly 2012/06/20
  26. ↑ UN Register of Conventional Arms
  27. ↑ 330 M113A2
    420 M113A1
    13 M113A1-B
    104 M901A1 Improved TOW Vehicle
    115 M163 VADS Vulcan Air Defense System
    38 M548A1 cargo carrier
    163 M577A2 command vehicle (some upgraded to M1068 SICPS)
    14 M981 FISTV Fire Support Team Vehicle
    20 M125A1 Mortar carrier with 81 mm M29 mortar
    36 M106A1/A2 Mortar Carrier with 107 mm M30 mortar
    73 M730 launcher for the MIM-72 Chaparral
    30 M113 AMEV armored ambulance
    pigasso (See: Variants of the M113 armored personnel carrier)"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 June 2004. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  28. ↑ 44 M-109A1B, 43 M109A2 (Ex-Belgium), 40 M-109L47 (ex-Switzerland), 60 M109A5, and 35 M109A2, 22 M109A3, 4 M109A4 from EDA 2011 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 June 2004. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  29. ↑ "Russia might offer non-nuclear submarine to Morocco". US News Las Vegas. 4 July 2013. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  30. ↑ Russia has delivered to Morocco a batch of Msta-S self-propelled howitzers
  31. ↑ After Type 05 MLRS (the export version called AR2) officially entered service in the PLA artillery forces, China signed with Morocco the contract of providing one battalion of AR2 HIMARS || MRLS | showpl.php?id=626 Kanwa Daily News
  32. ↑ United Nations Register of Conventional Arms
  33. 1 2 A AF902 Artillery fire control system and radar, part of a RMA convoy seen in Morocco
  34. ↑ http://www.dsca.osd.mil/pressreleases/36-b/2011/Morocco_11-07.pdf
  35. ↑ In North Africa, TRS has sold three radars to Morocco, which is renewing its air control facilities, and there is potential for further sales of 12, 15 or 18 units, a defense expert said.
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