Morocco strengthens military ties with Israel, purchases Atmos 2000 artillery systems

Morocco has decided to acquire 36 Atmos 2000 self-propelled artillery systems from the Israeli defense company Elbit Systems for $200 million, the French newspaper La Tribune reported on Saturday.

Growing tensions between the Moroccan military and its former French main arms supplier KNDS, due to technical failures, reportedly led to the decision to buy Israeli military systems. 

“Morocco quickly complained to the French group about recurring problems with the artillery systems that were supplied,” the French news outlet reported. Some of the French systems are reportedly still non-operational and the Moroccan military frustrated by the slow response of the French supplier, which eventually prompted Morocco to make a strategic switch to Israeli military systems. 

Morocco reportedly chose the Israeli Atmos 2000 system for its technical capabilities. It offers a 155 mm cannon with a firing range of over 40 kilometers. The system includes a protected compartment for two to six crew members operating the system. In addition, it also features an integrated electronic system and an automated loading mechanism that reduces the workload for the personnel. 

The new contract further strengthens Israel’s position as one of Morocco’s leading military suppliers. The Jewish state has reportedly become Morocco’s third-largest military supplier according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Israeli military equipment currently constitutes 11% of Morocco’s total arms imports. 

In 2020, U.S. President Donald Trump brokered the normalization agreement between Morocco and Israel as part of the historic Abraham Accords. Morocco and Israel quickly developed strong commercial and military ties. 

The large number of Israelis of Moroccan Jewish descent have further strengthened the ties between Morocco and Israel. 

In November 2021, Morocco and Israel signed a historic bilateral defense agreement that paved the path towards intelligence sharing and joint military exercises. 

Former Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, who signed the agreement with his Moroccan counterpart in Morocco, stressed the importance of the first agreement of its kind between the Jewish state and an Arab state. 

“We have just signed a defense cooperation MOU with Morocco. It is a very significant development, which will enable us to work on joint projects and promote industrial cooperation,” Gantz stated. Looking ahead, Gantz said that “relations between Israel and Morocco should be expanded and enhanced.”

Tensions between Morocco and neighboring Algeria have fueled Morocco’s growing interest in Israeli military equipment. In November 2021, the Moroccan military reportedly expressed interest in acquiring the Iron Dome, Israel’s advanced aerial defense system. 

Top Israeli and Moroccan military officials have visited each other’s countries since the normalization agreement in 2020.

In 2022, Lt.-Gen. Belkhir El Farouk, Inspector General of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, became the first Arab military chief to receive an honor guard during a top level visit to Israel. The Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Avi Kochavi also visited Morocco the same year as bilateral ties became closer between Rabat and Jerusalem. 

In June 2023, Israeli soldiers participated for the first time in the “African Lion” multinational military drill hosted by Morocco. The military exercise included 8,000 soldiers from 18 countries including Morocco, the United States, Israel and Ghana.