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| Military of Morocco | |
|---|---|
| Name | Armed Forces of Morocco |
| Native name | Forces Armées Royales |
| Founded | Royal Army traditions date to the Almoravid period; modern formation 1956 |
| Headquarters | Rabat |
| Commander in chief | King Mohammed VI |
| Minister | Minister of Defense |
| Commander | Inspector General of the Armed Forces |
| Active personnel | ~195,000 (est.) |
| Reserve | ~150,000 (est.) |
| Conscription | Compulsory selective service legislation debated; volunteer force |
| Percent gdp | ~3% (varies) |
Military of Morocco is the collective term for the royal armed services responsible for the defense of Morocco, the protection of Moroccan sovereignty, and the projection of power in the Maghreb and international missions. Rooted in historical formations from the Almoravid dynasty and Alaouite dynasty, the modern forces evolved after independence from France and Spain in 1956, playing roles in regional conflicts such as the Western Sahara War and multinational operations under United Nations and African Union mandates.
The historical lineage traces to medieval dynasties including the Almoravid dynasty, Almohad Caliphate, and the Saadi dynasty, which fought in campaigns like the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa and the Siege of Ceuta (1415). Colonial-era formations served under French Protectorate in Morocco and Spanish Morocco before post-1956 reorganizations influenced by the Suez Crisis, alliances with France, United States, and procurement from the Soviet Union. Key episodes include the post-independence campaign against Tarfaya Strip incursions, the Sand War border tensions with Algeria, and the long-running Western Sahara conflict involving the Polisario Front, the Madrid Accords, and ceasefire arrangements mediated by the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). The 1970s saw the creation of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces structure and large-scale purchases such as M1 Abrams negotiations and earlier acquisitions like AMX-30 and T-72 (Soviet tank). Recent history includes Morocco's re-engagement with the African Union and participation in international missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, and Mali.
Command is centralized under the King of Morocco as Commander-in-Chief, with the Ministry of Defense (Morocco) overseeing policy and the Royal Armed Forces General Staff handling operations. The Inspector General, a senior officer, coordinates between the Royal Army (Morocco), Royal Navy (Morocco), and Royal Air Force (Morocco), while the Royal Guard (Morocco) preserves regimental ceremonial and protection roles for the monarchy. The structure includes regional military «zones» comparable to corps commands, liaison units with the National Gendarmerie (Morocco), and cooperation directorates with foreign counterparts like the NATO Mediterranean Dialogue and bilateral commands with United States Africa Command and French Armed Forces.
Primary branches comprise the Royal Army (Morocco), Royal Navy (Morocco), Royal Air Force (Morocco), and Royal Gendarmerie (Morocco). Specialized formations include the Royal Guard (Morocco), Special Forces Group units trained for counterinsurgency and counterterrorism alongside the DGST liaison for internal security, amphibious units, and army aviation brigades equipped with attack and transport helicopters. Armor brigades fielded historically include squadrons operating Leclerc and M60 Patton variants, while mechanized infantry brigades are centered on platforms such as VBCI-type IFVs and older M113. The navy maintains FREMM-type frigate procurements, patrol vessels, and a naval infantry component; the air arm operates squadrons flying F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-5 Tiger II, and transport types including C-130 Hercules.
Personnel strength combines active-duty soldiers, gendarmerie personnel, and paramilitary reserves. Recruitment draws from national institutions including Royal Military Academy (Morocco) and foreign training exchanges with École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr, US Military Academy, and Sandhurst. Conscription has been intermittently debated in the Parliament of Morocco with laws and programs for selective national service proposed, while the current system emphasizes professional volunteer enlistment and reserve mobilization through regional recruitment centers. Career paths include professional NCO development, officer commissioning through military academies, and international staff college attendance at institutions like the NATO Defence College.
Capabilities span combined arms with armor (main battle tanks), mechanized infantry, artillery systems including towed and self-propelled guns, air defense batteries, and surveillance assets such as UAVs acquired from various suppliers. Air capabilities include multirole fighters, transport aircraft, and helicopters for CSAR and troop lift; naval assets emphasize littoral patrol, anti-submarine warfare, and blue-water escorts. Procurement partners include United States Department of Defense, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, and defense firms like General Dynamics, Dassault Aviation, Leonardo S.p.A., and KAMAZ-linked suppliers. Modernization programs focus on networked command systems, satellite communications, and acquisition of precision-guided munitions and advanced radar suites.
Operational history covers border defense along the Morocco–Algeria border, counterinsurgency operations in the Atlas Mountains, and the long-term deployment related to the Western Sahara conflict including buffer zones and MINURSO-mediated ceasefire monitoring. Internationally, Moroccan contingents have participated in UNIFIL in Lebanon, UNAMSIL in Sierra Leone, and contributed forces to Operation Enduring Freedom-linked cooperation and anti-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden. Bilateral exercises include regular drills with France, United States, and Spain, and participation in multinational exercises such as African Lion and Exercise Phoenix Express to enhance interoperability.
Defense policy is directed by royal prerogative with strategic documents aligning force posture to threats from regional instability, transnational terrorism, and maritime security concerns in the Strait of Gibraltar and Atlantic Ocean. Budgeting decisions are set in the national budget process involving the Ministry of Economy and Finance (Morocco) with allocations for procurement, personnel, and infrastructure. Morocco seeks strategic partnerships through defense cooperation agreements, offset arrangements with manufacturers like Lockheed Martin and Thales Group, and participation in arms control dialogues at forums including United Nations General Assembly disarmament debates.
Category:Morocco military