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

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 M16A2 and 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, MP5A3, M4 carbine and FN SCAR 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 :

• The TT-33 and MAC Mle 1950 handguns.
• The MAS-36, the M2, the AR70/90 and MAS-49/56 Rifles
• The M3, MAT-49 and L2A3 submachine guns.

Crew served weapons

Coaxial Machine Guns and Automatic cannons:

• M240 on M60A3TTS
• NSV on T-72B
• AA-52 on AMX-10 RC, VAB VCI and AML60/90
• M73 on M60A3
• M85 on M60A3
• M2HB on Toyota Land Cruiser, M1025, M113A1/A2, AIFV B-C25/AIFV B-50 and VAB VTT
• MG74 on SK-105 Kürassier
• M1919A4 (Vektor MG4 CA) on Ratel IFV 20/90
• M168 Vulcan on M163 VADS
• M621 cannon on VAB VDAA TA20 and SA 341 Gazelle
• M693 on VAB VCI/I Toucan I and Ratel IFV 20
• M134 In use with helicopters
• M60D In use with helicopters

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

System	Type	Origin	Qty	Notes
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

• SPECTRA helmet
• M78 F1 helmet
• M1 helmet
• OG-107

Vehicles

Utility vehicles

The RMA's high-mobility multipurpose vehicles serves as cargo/troop carrier, weapons platform, and ambulance, among many other roles. 4000 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, 384 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	Image
United States	M1A1SA	Main battle tank	284 M1 A1SA[17]	222 M1 Special Armor Configuration.[18] An additional of 162 M1A2S are on order, of which 48 where en route to Morocco beginning of April 2018.[19] As of 2020 384 tanks are in the Moroccan arsenal of this type.
	M60 Patton	Main battle tank	426, 166 M60A3, 260 M60A3TTS [20]
	M48 Patton	Main battle tank	224	All 224 M48A5 stored as reserve
Russia	T-72B/BK	Main battle tank	148	136 T-72B and 12 T-72BK[21]
China  Pakistan	VT-1A Al Khalid	Main battle tank	54	[22][23] 54 Received in 2011[24]
Austria	SK-105 Kürassier	Main battle tank	109	Of which 109 in maintained reserve.[25]
France	AMX 10 RC	Tank destroyer	108	[26]

Armoured personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles and support vehicles

Model	Image	Origin	Type	Quantity	Notes
Armoured personnel carriers/Infantry fighting vehicles
M113		United States	Armoured personnel carrier	1,133	[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.
AIFV			Infantry fighting vehicle	110	19 AIFV-B-.50 + 90 AIFV-B-C25 + 1 AIFV-B-CP
BMP 1/3		Russia	Infantry fighting vehicle	110	50 BMP 1 + 60 BMP 3
AMX-10P		France	Infantry fighting vehicle	10
Ratel IFV		South Africa	Infantry fighting vehicle	60	30 Ratel 20 + 30 Ratel 90
VAB VCI/VTT		France	Armoured personnel carrier	395	75 VAB VCI+ 320 VAB VTT.
AML 60/90		France	Light armored vehicle	195	140 AML-90, 20 AML-90 Lynx and 35 AML-60
HMMWV		United States	Armoured personnel carrier	1200
URO VAMTAC's		Spain	Armoured personnel carrier	Unknown

Artillery

The Artillery, grouped in GARs, includes self-propelled howitzers, towed howitzers, multiple launch rocket systems and air defense systems, mortar carriers are part of the RIMZ.

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) . Besides this 54 105mm (M101 and L118) are deployed in different regions.

2 Battalions of multiple launch rocket 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	Image
Self-propelled howitzer
155mm M109	United States	Self-propelled artillery	350	155mm[28]
203mm M110A2			60	203mm[28]
155mm Mk F3	France		100	155mm[28]
155 mm CAESAR			40	155mm[29]
Towed howitzer
130mm M1954	Soviet Union	Howitzer	18	130mm
105mm L118	United Kingdom		30	[30]
105mm M101	United States		58	[31]
155mm M114			20	[32]
155mm FH-70	United Kingdom		123	[33]
Multiple rocket launcher
BM-21	Soviet Union	Multiple launch rocket system	36	122mm[34]
PHL-03/AR/AR2/AR3	China		36	300mm[28]
WS-2D			72	400mm[28]
Mortar carriers
M125A1	United States	Mortar carrier	20	With an 81 mm M29 mortar
M106A1/A2			36	With a 107 mm M30 mortar
M1064			91	With a 120mm M120 mortar
AML-60	France		35	With a Brandt Mle CM60A1

Air defense systems

Moroccan Anti-Aircraft system is based basically on Self Propelled Air Defense Systems. The man-portable air-defense systems 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	Image
Surface-to-air missiles
HQ-9B	China	Long-range surface-to-air missile	4	To be delivered by the end of 2020[35] [36][37][38]
MIM-23 Hawk XXI	United States	HIMAD surface-to-air missile	36
Sky Dragon 50	China	HIMAD	24
9M311/SA-19	Soviet Union	Man-portable air-defense systems	200
9K38 Igla
Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapons
ZU-23-4	Soviet Union	Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon	90
Tunguska M1	Russia	Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon	12
MIM-72 Chaparral	United States	Short range air defense	72
M163	United States	Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon	115
Anti-aircraft guns
ZU-23-2	Soviet Union	Anti-aircraft gun	75
M163 VADS	United States		60
Type 90	China		6	Part of the AF902 FCS/35 Air Defence System

Radars

Model	Origin	Type	Quantity	Notes
AN/TPS-43	United States	Air radar	8
AN/TPS-63	United States	Air radar	8	To be upgraded to TPS-63M (+250%)
AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel	United States	Air radar	8	[39]
AN/TPS-70	United States	Air Radar	U/N
AF902 FC	Switzerland	Air radar	UN	Chinese copy of Skyguard[40]
MSSR		Air radar	U/N
RATAC		Ground radar	12
BOR-A 550		Ground radar	U/N
RASIT		Ground radar	U/N
AN/PPS-5A		Ground radar	U/N
Stentor battlefield radar		Ground radar	20
AN/MPQ-61		Air radar	9	[41]
AN/MPQ-57		Air radar	3	[42]
AN/MPQ-55		Air radar	9	[43]
AN/MPQ-62		Air radar	3	[44]
AN/MPQ-49		Air radar	U/N
ARSS-1		Ground radar	12	[45]
AN/TPS-79		Air radar	3	[46]
Ground Master 403		Air radar	3	Potential purchase of 12, 15 or 18 units[47]

References

1. Excess Defense Articles (EDA) Database
2. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 June 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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. "Maroc Armée Marocaine forces terrestres équipements et véhicules" (in French). Army Recognition. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
8. 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. 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 (27 January 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
16. 2005 Excess Defence Articles for Morocco Archived 30 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine
17. https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2018/08/252106/morocco-received-127-american-m1a1-abrams-tanks/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
18. 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 19 June 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
19. "Morocco to Receive New Shipment of American Abrams Tanks". Morocco World News. 8 April 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
20. "M60 Patton". Tank Encyclopedia. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
21. "T-72 main battle tank (1972)". Tank Encyclopedia. 23 November 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
23. "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
24. UN Register of Conventional Arms
25. "SK 105". fas.org. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
26. hotrod1. "1977 AMX-10 RC". 3dwarehouse.sketchup.com. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
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 5 August 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
28. "Nexter Caesar self-propelled guns for Moroccan army". www.armyrecognition.com. 22 May 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
29. "Morocco acquiring new air defence systems". defenceWeb. 25 May 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
30. "Royal Moroccan Armed Forces". defenceWeb. 13 January 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
31. "Royal Moroccan Armed Forces". defenceWeb. 13 January 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
32. "Royal Moroccan Armed Forces". defenceWeb. 13 January 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
33. "Morocco acquiring new air defence systems". defenceWeb. 25 May 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
34. "Nexter Caesar self propelled guns for Moroccan army". www.globaldefencemart.com. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
35. 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). Retrieved 26 June 2020.
36. "4 بطاريات نظام الدفاع الجوي بعيد المدى HQ-9B للمغرب". udefense منتدى التحالف العربي للعلوم التكنولوجية والاقتصادية (in Arabic). Retrieved 9 September 2019.
37. "In light of what threats is Morocco multiplying its military arsenal?". Atalayar. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
38. www.armyrecognition.com https://www.armyrecognition.com/china_chinese_army_missile_systems_vehicles/hq-9_ground-to-air_medium_range_air_defense_missile_technical_data_sheet_specifications_pictures.html. Retrieved 29 November 2020. Missing or empty |title= (help)
39. http://www.dsca.osd.mil/pressreleases/36-b/2011/Morocco_11-07.pdf
40. A AF902 Artillery fire control system and radar, part of a RMA convoy seen in Morocco
47. 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.