Morocco has commenced field testing of the U.S.-made Patriot air defense system in a calculated and rapid move reflective of mounting regional rivalry. This development is seen by military observers as a direct strategic response to Algeria’s induction of the Russian-made Su-35 Flanker-E and its anticipated acquisition of the fifth-generation Su-57 Felon stealth fighter later this year.
The field trials, which reportedly began this month at the Royal Air Defense Command base in Salé, underscore Morocco’s intent to modernize its multi-layered air defense shield amid rising tensions with Algeria and intensifying strategic competition across North Africa.
The presence of the Patriot system in Morocco has been confirmed through widely circulated images on social media, showing Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) units being hauled by civilian trucks. Defense analysts consider this a concrete step toward eventual acquisition. The trucks were reportedly headed for the Salé base, rather than Ben Guerir Air Base as previously speculated, suggesting the system is undergoing operational integration testing within Morocco’s main air defense command infrastructure.
This deployment marks a significant milestone in Morocco’s long-term defense partnership with the United States. According to multiple sources, it represents the culmination of several years of discreet high-level negotiations between Rabat and Washington.
While Moroccan authorities have yet to release an official statement, defense observers within the kingdom interpret the testing as a signal of serious procurement intent. The Patriot system is now undergoing comprehensive technical and tactical evaluation to determine its compatibility with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR) and its layered defense doctrine, which seeks to counter a growing array of ballistic, cruise missile, and drone threats.
The origins of this prospective acquisition trace back to January 2021, when the U.S. International Trade Administration publicly acknowledged Morocco’s interest in the Patriot system.
“Morocco is the largest purchaser of U.S. arms in Africa… The country has purchased Patriot air defense systems and G550 reconnaissance aircraft,” the administration stated.
Later that same year, a senior executive at Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the Patriot system, confirmed that Morocco would acquire the latest PAC-3 MSE (Missile Segment Enhancement) variant—an advanced interceptor optimized for destroying ballistic missiles and hypersonic aerial threats at greater altitudes and longer ranges.
If confirmed, the PAC-3 MSE would form a critical layer in Morocco’s air defense ecosystem, complementing shorter-range assets and offering a credible shield against long-range missile strikes and high-altitude surveillance incursions. The missile’s hit-to-kill kinetic intercept technology would be especially valuable in neutralizing sophisticated threats emerging from North Africa’s increasingly contested airspace.
This field testing phase mirrors Morocco’s previous approach to major defense procurements. As noted by the Moroccan Defense Observatory:
“This process mirrors the acquisition of Apache helicopters, which were field-tested in Morocco in 2016 prior to the official contract signing, and the HIMARS missile systems, which underwent multiple tests during African Lion exercises before their eventual acquisition.”
Indeed, earlier this month, Morocco took delivery of its first six AH-64E Apache attack helicopters at the Royal Air Force Base in Salé, a symbol of deepening interoperability with U.S. forces.
At the ceremony, General Michael Langley, Commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), lauded Morocco’s expanding defense stature.
“African armies are watching you and taking examples from you,” he said, calling Morocco “a reference in defense and stability.”
Across the border, Algeria has rapidly escalated its airpower build-up. The Algerian Air Force recently initiated operational training flights using the Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E from Oum Bouaghi Air Base, following a 2018 deal with Russia for 24 airframes.
With its superior thrust-vectoring engines, long-range radar, and enhanced survivability, the Su-35 gives Algeria a formidable presence in the skies—especially when paired with its existing fleet of over 70 Su-30MKA fighters, which have been the mainstay of its air force since 2006.
However, the most geopolitically consequential shift lies ahead. Algeria has been officially named the first export customer of Russia’s fifth-generation Su-57 Felon, with Algerian pilots currently training in Russia and deliveries expected by the end of the year.
Although official numbers remain undisclosed, open-source intelligence suggests an initial batch of six Su-57s, with earlier media reports indicating Algeria’s interest in eventually acquiring up to 14 units.
The Su-57, Russia’s answer to the U.S. F-22 and F-35, boasts stealth capabilities, supercruise, and sensor fusion—a leap in technology that could tilt the regional airpower balance. Its expected deployment in North Africa sends a strong signal to Rabat and Washington.
Analysts widely interpret Algeria’s push for the Su-57 as a direct countermeasure to Morocco’s own growing fleet of F-16 Block 70/72 Vipers, which feature advanced AESA radar, conformal fuel tanks, and precision-strike capability.
Rabat, which maintains close defense ties with both the United States and Israel, is also reportedly eyeing the F-35 Lightning II—a move that, if realized, could elevate Morocco into an elite tier of stealth fighter operators.
As Morocco and Algeria intensify their respective procurement of next-generation weaponry—from air defense systems and stealth jets to long-range strike platforms—the Maghreb is emerging as one of the most dynamic and militarized regions on the African continent.
With two rival powers increasingly armed with top-tier U.S. and Russian platforms, the balance of power is in flux. What was once a cold geopolitical rivalry is now evolving into a high-tech deterrence standoff—a regional arms race that will reshape not only North Africa’s military dynamics but also the broader strategic calculus of NATO, Russia, and other global powers with vested interests in the Mediterranean and Sahel theatres.
