US picks Morocco for $304m indefinite-delivery F-16 jet support deal

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., the American defense behemoth, has secured a $303.6 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract under the F-16 System Program Office Foreign Military Sales Support program.

The contract includes Morocco among eight international partners; Bahrain, Bulgaria, Greece, South Korea, Slovakia, Taiwan, and Jordan, selected for long-term maintenance and repair-and-return support of F-16 radar components through November 2030.

Beyond this core group, the wider radar-support program also includes Pakistan, Iraq, Oman, Singapore, Indonesia, Chile, and Argentina.

The contract is part of the Pentagon’s Cyber Resiliency Program, which aims to strengthen military aircraft and digital systems against cyber threats and ensure uninterrupted operational readiness.

Morocco’s selection highlights its growing importance within the global F-16 ecosystem. The Royal Moroccan Air Force has ordered 24 new F-16V “Viper” jets, the most advanced variant, while upgrading its existing fleet to the same configuration. The aircraft use the AN/APG-83 AESA radar and next-generation electronic warfare and mission avionics.

This radar-support award follows Washington’s approval earlier this year of more than $50 million in F-16 technology transfers to Morocco, enabling local production of key components for the Viper platform.

The North African country has been strengthening its defence industrial capabilities following regional tenion with Algeria which conmsistently moves to Russia for arms and Egypt which looks to China.

In October, Maintenance Aero Maroc (MAM) began construction of an 8,000-square-metre heavy-maintenance hangar at Benslimane Airport, in collaboration with Moroccan, Belgian, and U.S. partners. The facility is expected to be operational by late 2026.

If finalized, Morocco would become the first Arab and African country to operate the fifth-generation F-35 platform, representing a significant leap in its military capabilities.

This comes amid regional arms developments: Egypt is reportedly exploring Chinese stealth fighters such as the J-10C and J-31, while Algeria is preparing to purchase Russian Su-57 Felon stealth fighters, potentially as the first export customer, alongside orders for 14 Su-57s and 18 Su-35s to augment its existing Su-30MKA fleet, with deliveries and pilot training expected this year.

Notably, the Morocco F-35 deal hinges on Israeli approval due to the sensitive technology involved and could be worth up to $17 billion over 45 years, covering aircraft, maintenance, support, and training.

Overall, the radar-support contract and Morocco’s potential F-35 acquisition further consolidate the country’s status as a strategic U.S. defence partner in North Africa, reinforcing nearly 250 years of bilateral ties and recent high-level military cooperation.