The US State Department has approved the “potential sale” of Highly Mobile Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and related equipment to Morocco, with a total value of $524.2 million, according to a statement issued by the State Department on Tuesday.
The department said in the statement that the Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the certification required to notify Congress of this potential sale on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the government of Morocco has ordered the purchase of 18 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Launchers (HIMARS) with 40 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), 36 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, and 36 Replacement Warheads for Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS). , and nine High Mobility Multipurpose Vehicles (HMMWV).
Morocco also requested, according to the statement, 18 field artillery tactical data systems, communications and positioning devices, military trucks and other technical materials.
The department said this proposed sale supports the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a major non-NATO ally that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in North Africa.
The ministry stated that the proposed sale would improve Morocco’s ability to confront current and future threats, and would contribute to Morocco’s ability to detect threats and monitor its borders, which contributes to maintaining regional stability and security.
It added that the proposed sale of this equipment and support would not alter the military balance in the region.
The Himars missile launcher gained great fame after its impressive performance in the Ukrainian war, when its great accuracy and superior ability to move around and avoid detection contributed to the consolidation of Ukraine’s recent gains and the infliction of heavy losses among the ranks of the Russian raiders.
HIMARS is a multiple missile launcher mounted on light armored vehicles, and it fires missiles guided by a geographical positioning system, with a range of about 80 km.
This launcher, which weighs 5 tons, can fire six missiles at one time, and its location can be changed quickly and easily to avoid counter-strikes.
