The Century Deal for Morocco: The F-16 Block 72, the modern American block, will arrive soon
Morocco is close to receiving the F-16 Block 72 VIPER fighters after the completion of the manufacture of engines, with an analysis of the capabilities of new aircraft and their impact on air excellence.
Arab Defense website – September 7, 2025: Morocco signed a large military agreement with the United States, which is considered among the largest in the Kingdom’s history, with a value of more than $ 5 billion. This deal included the purchase of 25 F-16 Block 72 VICK 72 fighters, as well as the development of former Moroccan fighters from the F-16 Block 52 to the latest Block 72 VICK, which is one of the most advanced fighters, and features some of the features similar to the F-35 ghost planes, Especially in radar systems and digital technologies.
The deal was not limited to fighters only, but also included large quantities of Amraam -guided missiles outside the range (with a range of up to 160 km), dozens of launch platforms, information systems, navigation and planning, as well as radars and other equipment. The deal also included training of pilots, engineers, and Moroccan technicians on maintenance and employment methods.
The major surprise was the approval of the American side to develop former Moroccan fighters inside Morocco, with the participation of Moroccan engineers, which constituted a qualitative step in transferring technology to the Kingdom, and represents one of the most prominent strategic gains for this deal.
About six years after the signing of the contract, it was recently announced that all the 29 fighter engines for the deal, of which 25 engines will be installed directly in the new aircraft, and four backup engines that will be stored inside the Kingdom. This achievement is a strong indication of the proximity of the delivery of aircraft, as another engine is usually rode before the plane enters the experimental testing phase. We are expected to witness the arrival of the first pictures of Moroccan aircraft within the American bases before being transferred to the Kingdom by the end of this year.
As for the reasons for the delay in delivery, they are due to the great global demand for F-16 fighters, which exceeded 200 aircraft, in addition to re-allocating some production lines to support Ukraine, and transfer major lines for the production of F-35 aircraft. Nevertheless, Morocco succeeded in persuading Lockheed Martin to open a F-16 maintenance facility inside the Kingdom, and negotiations are currently being held to acquire F-35 fighters, with the American company providing detailed technical offers for Moroccan officials.
On the local side, the American engines manufacturer, Partt & Whitney, owns a factory inside Morocco since 2022 to produce some parts of the engines, which enhances national technical and industrial capabilities.
As for the military impact, the F-16 Block 72 VIPER is multi-task and is considered the closest to the fifth generation fighters in terms of capabilities. The Moroccan F-16, AESL, has an advanced range of up to 300 km, capable of tracking 20 goals with high accuracy and difficulty disturbing it.
Moroccan fighters also excel in terms of missiles, as the AMRAAM-120D missiles possess up to 160 km, which gives Morocco the ability to direct pre-emptive strikes and impose air control before the opportunity to respond to the response has the opportunity, a principle that Israel has previously used in its confrontations with Iran to ensure air excellence.
In conclusion, the completion of the manufacture of engines is a decisive step approaching in Morocco to receive its new fighters, which will greatly support the capabilities of the Moroccan Air Force and enhance the balance of power in the region, especially compared to Algeria.
It has been officially announced that the manufacture of all engines for Moroccan F-16 Block 72+ fighters, which represents a decisive step towards receiving the first aircraft in the near future. The information indicates that Morocco has requested 29 F100-PW-229 EEP engine, which is manufactured by the American company “Prat & Whitney”, within the conclusion of the deal, where 25 engineers will be allocated to the fighting aircraft, while four additional engines will be kept as reserves with the maintenance teams of the Royal Air Force.
The process of manufacturing engines was completed in the fifth week of last July, indicating that the production of the aircraft themselves reached very advanced stages. Estimates indicate that the first Moroccan fighter of this model appears at the end of 2025 or the beginning of 2026 at the latest.
The deal included additional equipment along with engines to enhance technical and logistical preparations to receive new aircraft. In addition to the backup engines, Morocco requested a large number of equipment, most notably 40 advanced JHMCS helmets (Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System) to equip 25 aircraft, providing five backup helmets that can be used when needed, taking into account that the new fleet includes mono and dual-seat aircraft. 26 AESA AN/APG-83 SABR radars were also requested, i.e. the number of aircraft with one reserve radar, in addition to a backup computer, technical and other operational equipment.
Once these aircraft enter the service, the Royal Moroccan Air Force will become the only African operator for the most advanced “F-16” copies, equipped with a fifth-generation radar and armament systems among the most dangerous in their class. These systems include long-range air-to-air missiles with their combat range, which reaches 180 km, and SDB smart bombs with a range of about 110 km, and Harbon anti-ship missiles with a range of 180 km, along with GBU-31 heavy fortifications of heavy fortifications with a maximum range of 120 A kilometer, as well as the various ammunition and missiles currently used on Moroccan F-16 fighters.
However, the delivery of these aircraft has been delayed about five years since the signing of the deal, as a result of several factors, most notably the large demand for F-16 Block 72 aircraft around the world, where production orders have exceeded two hundred planes in recent years. Lockheed Martin’s decision also contributed to transferring part of the F-16 production line to produce F-35 fighters to postpone production, before the company later had to establish a new F-16 production line in another American state, which led to the postponement of the delivery of several orders, including the Moroccan deal.
In conclusion, the completion of the engines manufacturing is a strong indication of the approaching delivery of delivery, and there remains only to wait for the first official photos of Moroccan F-16 Block 72+ fighters coming out of Lockheed Martin factories, marking a new stage in the development of the Moroccan Air Force.
The Moroccan F-16 Block 72+ fighter deal is due to a contract signed by the Kingdom with the United States of America in 2019, and includes the acquisition of 25 new aircraft of this advanced style, as well as the development of 23 old F-16 fighters currently present in service to the same standard. This deal is among the largest in the history of the Moroccan Air Force, as its total value exceeded four billion US dollars, distributed between buying new aircraft and modernizing the current fleet, in addition to ammunition, spare parts, technical support and training.
The new “F-16V Block 72+” planes feature an advanced AESA radar of the type ANA/APG-83 SABR, an updated electronic warfare system, and a large digital display in the cockpit, as well as an advanced communication and processing systems that enhance field awareness and the ability to work within a wide combat network.
The deal also includes an advanced armament package that includes a long-range air-to-air-to-air missiles, SDB-accurately guided bombs, Harpoon ships, super-31 JDAMs, along with JHMCS scrapping helmets, reserve radars, electronic systems and additional computers To ensure combat readiness and provide maintenance and long -term support.
Although the deal was signed five years ago, the delivery was delayed due to the great pressure on the “Lockheed Martin” production lines, especially after the transformation of part of its capabilities to produce “F-35” fighters, which forced the company to open a new production line for “F-16” fighters in another state, which affected the dates of delivery of several customers, including Morocco. The appearance of the first fighters, expected between late 2025 and the beginning of 2026.
The article appeared in the century deal for Morocco: F-16 Block 72 modern American fighters arrived soon on the Arab defense site.
