Defense & Military
Morocco Advances in Negotiations to Acquire 32 F-35 Fighter Jets
Morocco is in advanced talks with the U.S. to buy 32 F-35 stealth fighters, marking a key step in its defense modernization and regional security role.
Morocco’s Pursuit of the F-35: A New Chapter in Regional Security
The strategic landscape of North Africa is on the cusp of a significant transformation. Morocco and the United States are reportedly in advanced negotiations for the sale of 32 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets. This potential acquisition is more than just a military hardware upgrade, it represents a pivotal moment in Morocco’s defense strategy, its diplomatic alliances, and the regional balance of power. If finalized, the deal would position Morocco as the first Arab and African nation to operate a fifth-generation stealth fighter, signaling a profound deepening of its military and strategic ties with Washington.
The discussions, which have been ongoing since at least 2020, underscore a deliberate and calculated move by Rabat to modernize its armed forces and secure a qualitative military edge. The introduction of the F-35 into the Royal Moroccan Air Force would provide an unprecedented level of air superiority, intelligence gathering, and strike capabilities. This development is not occurring in a vacuum. It is a direct response to evolving regional threats and the military acquisitions of neighboring countries, setting the stage for a new era of strategic competition in the western Mediterranean and North Africa.
Understanding the full scope of this potential deal requires looking beyond the aircraft themselves. The negotiations are intertwined with broader geopolitical currents, including the 2020 Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including Morocco. This diplomatic realignment has unlocked new avenues for security cooperation, making a high-level arms transfer like the F-35 more feasible. As we examine the details, it becomes clear that this is a multifaceted agreement with far-reaching implications for NATO interoperability, regional stability, and the future of U.S. foreign policy in Africa.
The Strategic Rationale and Regional Impact
Morocco’s interest in the F-35 is a cornerstone of its broader military modernization strategy. For years, the Royal Moroccan Air Force has been methodically upgrading its capabilities to enhance deterrence and project power. This effort has included the procurement of upgraded F-16 fighters, Apache attack helicopters, and sophisticated Drones systems. The acquisition of the F-35 would be the logical and ultimate next step in this process, catapulting its air force into the exclusive club of fifth-generation operators and ensuring its technological superiority for decades to come.
A Response to a Shifting Military Balance
A primary driver for the F-35 acquisition is the shifting military balance in the Maghreb. The move is widely seen as a strategic counter to neighboring Algeria’s reported acquisition of the Russian Su-57, another fifth-generation fighter. By securing the F-35, Morocco aims to maintain its military advantage and deter potential adversaries. The F-35’s advanced stealth, sensor fusion, and network-centric warfare capabilities provide a significant leap over previous generations of aircraft, fundamentally altering the calculus of any potential conflict in the region.
The implications of this acquisition extend beyond North Africa. European nations, particularly Spain, are closely monitoring the negotiations. The presence of F-35 jets operating just across the Strait of Gibraltar introduces a new variable into the security architecture of the western Mediterranean. While Morocco is a key partner for Europe in counter-terrorism and migration control, its enhanced military power requires a recalibration of regional defense postures. The deal reinforces Morocco’s role as a major military actor whose capabilities must be factored into the strategic planning of its European neighbors.
Furthermore, acquiring the F-35 would align Morocco’s air power architecture more closely with NATO standards. Although not a member, Morocco is a major non-NATO ally of the United States, and this purchase would significantly improve interoperability for joint operations and exercises. This enhanced compatibility strengthens Morocco’s position as a reliable security partner for the West and integrates it more deeply into the operational frameworks of NATO forces, particularly the U.S. Air Force.
The potential deal, valued at approximately $17 billion, reportedly includes not only the 32 aircraft but also a comprehensive package for training, long-term maintenance, and logistics support spanning 45 years.
The Diplomatic Framework: Alliances and Approvals
The path to acquiring the F-35 is paved with complex diplomatic and legal considerations. The negotiations are being conducted through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, a government-to-government process reserved for trusted partners. The strength of the U.S.-Morocco defense relationship was symbolically highlighted by the display of an F-35 at the 2024 Marrakech Air Show, a clear signal of Washington’s confidence in Rabat as a strategic ally.
A critical hurdle for any major U.S. arms sale in the Middle East and North Africa is the legal requirement to uphold Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge (QME). This U.S. law mandates that any arms transfer to the region must not impair Israel’s ability to defend itself. The normalization of relations under the Abraham Accords has been instrumental in clearing this obstacle. Reports indicate that Israel has not objected to the sale to Morocco, and a pivotal meeting in November 2021 between the Moroccan and Israeli defense ministers was reportedly key to advancing the talks. This tacit approval from Israel is a crucial component, reflecting a new era of pragmatic security cooperation in the region.
The discussions have also reportedly expanded beyond a simple military sale. The broader negotiations are said to include potential deals for Boeing commercial aircraft, indicating a wider strategic and economic partnership is being forged. This suggests that both nations view the F-35 deal as part of a larger package designed to strengthen bilateral ties across multiple sectors, from defense and security to commerce and technology.
Conclusion: A Defining Moment for Moroccan Defense
The ongoing negotiations for 32 F-35 fighters represent a defining moment for Morocco. This acquisition is the culmination of a long-term vision for military modernization and a clear statement of the country’s strategic ambitions. By securing the most advanced fighter jet in the world, Morocco would not only solidify its military superiority in the region but also cement its status as a premier security partner for the United States and its allies. The deal is a testament to the strength of the U.S.-Morocco alliance, reinforced by the new geopolitical realities shaped by the Abraham Accords.
Looking ahead, the introduction of the F-35 into North Africa will have lasting implications. It will likely accelerate the military modernization efforts of regional rivals, potentially fueling a new arms race. For Europe and NATO, it means engaging with a more capable and assertive Morocco in the Mediterranean. While the final agreement has yet to be announced, the advanced state of the negotiations signals that a new chapter in North African security and power dynamics is about to begin, with the F-35 at its center.
FAQ
Question: Why is Morocco seeking to purchase F-35 fighter jets?
Answer: Morocco is acquiring the F-35 as part of a broader military modernization strategy to enhance its defense capabilities and maintain a qualitative military edge in the region, particularly in response to the military advancements of neighboring countries like Algeria.
Question: What is the status of the deal?
Answer: Negotiations between Morocco and the United States are in an advanced stage. However, no final agreement or official delivery timeline has been publicly announced by either government.
Question: How does this acquisition affect Morocco’s relationship with the U.S. and other allies?
Answer: The deal significantly strengthens Morocco’s strategic alliance with the United States. It also enhances its interoperability with NATO forces, reinforcing its role as a key security partner in the region. The diplomatic groundwork for the deal was facilitated by the Abraham Accords, which also improved relations with Israel.
Sources: Air Data News, Army Recognition, The North Africa Post, Hespress, The Africa Report, Africa Intelligence
Photo Credit: Air Force
Defense & Military
RCAF Accepts First Two CF-35A Fighters at Luke Air Force Base
Canada takes delivery of CF-35A fighters AR-1 and AR-2 at Luke AFB as its C$19B procurement program remains under review.
This is original reporting and analysis by AirPro News.
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) officially accepted delivery of its first two Lockheed Martin CF-35A Lightning II stealth fighters at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona on October 22, 2026, marking the physical introduction of the fifth-generation platform into the Canadian military.
The handover of the aircraft, designated AR-1 and AR-2, proceeds even as the broader C$19 billion procurement program remains in political limbo. Following trade and diplomatic tensions with the United States, Prime Minister Mark Carney initiated a formal review of the 88-aircraft purchase in March 2025, leaving the ultimate size and composition of Canada’s future fighter fleet unconfirmed.
Initial training operations in Arizona
The first two CF-35As will remain stationed at Luke Air Force Base to support the initial training cadre of Canadian instructor pilots and maintainers. The Arizona installation serves as a primary international training hub for the F-35 platform, hosting multiple allied nations. According to the Department of National Defence (DND), a total of eight Canadian jets are planned to be based at the facility through 2026 and 2027.
The delivery occurred exactly one month after the first Canadian aircraft completed its maiden flight at Lockheed Martin’s production facility in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 23, 2026. In an official statement regarding the delivery, the RCAF noted that the arrival of the jets represents a foundational step, adding that the future of air and space power is built on more than equipment alone.
Procurement review and fleet uncertainty
Canada has been a partner in the Joint Strike Fighter program since 1997. After years of political debate and a reset of the procurement process, the Canadian government selected the F-35A in 2022 over the Saab Gripen E to replace its aging McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet fleet. The CF-18 has been in service since the 1980s and is slated for retirement in the early 2030s. In January 2023, Ottawa finalized the agreement to purchase 88 F-35As.
The procurement trajectory shifted in March 2025 when Prime Minister Carney ordered a formal review of the acquisition. Currently, only 16 of the 88 jets are firmly committed and funded. Minister of National Defence David McGuinty confirmed the ongoing evaluation, stating that the question of the F-35 remains under review and that both he and the prime minister are highly engaged in the issue alongside the emerging Defence Investment Agency.
The government is actively evaluating the possibility of operating a mixed fighter fleet. This approach could integrate Saab Gripen E fighters alongside a smaller number of F-35s, reopening a competition that Saab had previously lost during the Future Fighter Capability Project selection.
Path to operational capability
Despite the political uncertainty surrounding the final fleet size, the RCAF continues to execute its transition plan for the funded aircraft. The first CF-35As are scheduled to arrive on Canadian soil at 4 Wing Cold Lake in Alberta in 2028.
The air force plans to declare Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the CF-35A fleet between 2029 and 2030. This timeline aligns with the necessary infrastructure upgrades at Canadian bases and the completion of initial pilot and maintainer training in the United States.
AirPro News analysis
Canada’s ongoing review of the F-35 program is highly unusual for a Tier 3 partner at this late stage of procurement. While the physical delivery of AR-1 and AR-2 ensures the RCAF can begin building its fifth-generation institutional knowledge, the potential pivot to a mixed fleet introduces significant logistical and interoperability questions. Operating both the CF-35A and the Saab Gripen E would require maintaining two distinct supply chains, training pipelines, and maintenance infrastructures. We note that these dual-fleet requirements could potentially offset the initial acquisition savings of a split purchase, complicating the RCAF’s transition away from the CF-18 Hornet.
Photo Credit: Royal Canadian Air Force
Defense & Military
U.S. Army Validates AH-64E Apache Maritime Lifting Sling
The U.S. Army validated a lifting sling for the AH-64E Apache, enabling crane-based maritime loading with rotor blades folded.
The U.S. Army has successfully validated a prototype lifting sling for the Boeing AH-64E Apache, clearing the attack helicopter for crane-based maritime loading and unloading with its main rotor blades folded.
Announced on October 21, 2026, by the Apache Helicopter Project Office, the validation fulfills the final transportability requirement outlined in the aircraft’s Capability Production Document (CPD). The milestone significantly expands the Army’s expeditionary logistics options by reducing reliance on specialized port infrastructure.
Expanding maritime logistics capabilities
Prior to this validation, maritime deployment of the Apache fleet often depended on Roll-On/Roll-Off (RORO) vessels or specialized dock facilities equipped with ramps capable of supporting towed aircraft. The new sling, engineered by industry partner ASRC Federal, allows the AH-64E to be hoisted using standard harbor and shipboard cranes.
This Lift-On/Lift-Off (LOLO) capability mitigates transit bottlenecks and lowers vessel charter costs by opening access to a wider range of global seaports. The U.S. Army stated that the ability to load and unload the aircraft with its main rotor blades folded is a major milestone for expeditionary mobility.
Prototype validation and next steps
The validation exercise took place at Fort Hood, Texas, overseen by the Apache Project Management Transportability Team based at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. During the testing, the team successfully demonstrated the safe hoisting of the AH-64E using the ASRC Federal prototype hardware.
Following the exercise, the test team identified minor adjustments required before full production. These modifications include the addition of protective padding to prevent the hoisting cable from contacting the main rotor blades during lifting operations. Once these adjustments are validated, ASRC Federal will manufacture and deliver five contracted production prototypes to the U.S. Army.
The AH-64E Apache global footprint
Manufactured by The Boeing Company, the AH-64 Apache has served as the primary attack helicopters for the U.S. Army since 1984. The AH-64E is the latest variant, featuring upgraded sensors, software, and weapons performance. The U.S. Army is currently modernizing its fleet to the AH-64E Version 6.5 standard while gradually retiring older AH-64D models.
The global Apache fleet consists of more than 1,280 aircraft operating across 19 defense forces. In March 2023, Boeing reported the U.S. Army fleet had surpassed 5 million total flight hours.
International demand for the platform remains active. On August 11, 2026, Boeing signed offset agreements with Polish industry partners to build a long-term sustainment infrastructure supporting Poland’s incoming fleet of 96 AH-64E helicopters.
AirPro News analysis
The shift from RORO dependency to LOLO capability represents a critical logistical upgrade for U.S. Army aviation. As military planners focus on distributed operations and expeditionary mobility, the ability to utilize commercial container ports and standard maritime cranes reduces reliance on specialized military sealift vessels. This transportability milestone ensures the AH-64E can be deployed more rapidly and flexibly in contested or infrastructure-limited theaters.
Photo Credit: United States Army – Courtesy
Defense & Military
GA-ASI and Spirit Defense Partner on FQ-42 Vengeance CCA
GA-ASI and Spirit Defense team up to manufacture the FQ-42 Vengeance airframe as the USAF targets 500 CCAs by 2032.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and Spirit Defense have formed a strategic partnership to manufacture the airframe for the U.S. Air Force’s FQ-42 Vengeance Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).
Announced in an October 23, 2026, press release, the agreement designates Spirit Defense, a Boeing Company, as a fuselage design-build partner. The collaboration aims to expand manufacturing capacity and establish production resilience as the U.S. Air Force (USAF) accelerates its uncrewed fighter program toward a goal of fielding hundreds of aircraft by the next decade.
Scaling production for the uncrewed fleet
The partnership connects GA-ASI headquarters in San Diego, California, with Spirit Defense operations in Wichita, Kansas. Spirit Defense operates as an independent supplier to the defense industry, providing engineering, manufacturing, and lifecycle support for military programs. By integrating Spirit Defense into the supply chain, GA-ASI intends to reduce the risk of single points of failure and increase the industrial depth required for high-volume production.
GA-ASI recently completed a new low-observable paint facility to support the CCA program and stated it is currently positioned to deliver six aircraft per month to meet initial USAF objectives. The addition of Spirit Defense is designed to scale that output further.
David R. Alexander, President of GA-ASI, highlighted the strategic necessity of the agreement in meeting military requirements.
“We’re excited to be working with Spirit Defense. We’ve established our proven design, development, and manufacturing capability for the FQ-42. With Spirit Defense we add capacity, which is exactly the kind of production resilience our U.S. Air Force customer is looking for with its CCA ramp-up. This kind of partnership represents the scalable industrial base the Air Force and the U.S. Department of [Defense] are looking for from industry.”
Keith Schrader, President and CEO of Spirit Defense, confirmed the company’s readiness to support the airframe build.
“We’re proud to bring deep manufacturing expertise and proven capabilities to this important program. Our team understands the responsibility that comes with supporting critical national defense programs, and we’re ready to deliver for our customer and the warfighter.”
The FQ-42 Vengeance in testing and evaluation
The FQ-42 Vengeance is a purpose-built, fifth-generation uncrewed fighter developed to operate alongside crewed aircraft in semi-autonomous combat roles. The design features an internal weapons bay, low observability, and a modular architecture intended for the rapid integration of mission systems and autonomy software.
On September 18, 2026, GA-ASI delivered a new FQ-42 Vengeance to Creech Air Force Base in Nevada to support continued USAF test, evaluation, and experimentation. The aircraft has already participated in formation flights with crewed fighters, including the F-35 Lightning II and the F-15E Strike Eagle.
Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink officially named the aircraft “Vengeance” on September 14, 2026. The aircraft was previously known internally as Dark Merlin. During the naming announcement, Meink emphasized the rapid pace of the acquisition program.
“Today, the first FQ-42 and FQ-44 increments are already rolling off the assembly line,” Meink stated. “They’ll be performing many of the same missions that we do with manned fighters today.”
Evolution of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft initiative
The USAF Collaborative Combat Aircraft program is designed to field affordable, semi-autonomous drones to augment crewed fighter squadrons. The target unit cost for the aircraft at full-rate production is approximately $20 million.
GA-ASI was selected by the USAF in April 2024 to build production-representative flight test articles for the program. The FQ-42 Vengeance completed its maiden flight in August 2025, and GA-ASI secured an initial production contract from the USAF in June 2026. The FQ-42 is one of two primary designs selected for the first increment of CCA production, alongside Anduril Industries’ FQ-44 Fury.
The scope of the CCA program has expanded significantly since its inception. Initial projections called for 150 aircraft, but on September 14, 2026, the USAF confirmed a revised goal to field at least 500 Collaborative Combat Aircraft by 2032.
Mike Shortsleeve, Vice President for Strategy Business Development at GA-ASI, addressed the increased production targets following the USAF announcement.
“The intent for them is to go up to as many as 500 aircraft by 2032,” Shortsleeve said. “We’re ready to do that production.”
GA-ASI has operated as a sole manufacturer of its Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) line since its founding in 1992. Over 30 years, the company’s Predator line has logged more than 9 million flight hours across platforms including the MQ-1C Gray Eagle, MQ-9A Reaper, MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian, and the MQ-20 Avenger.
Beyond the domestic FQ-42 program, GA-ASI is engaged in discussions with international militaries regarding the Gambit Series. The Gambit Series is a family of modular CCAs derived from the FQ-42, the XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station, and the MQ-20 Avenger, optimized for electronic warfare, suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses, and stand-off precision strike missions.
AirPro News analysis
The partnership between GA-ASI and Spirit Defense illustrates the central challenge of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program: industrial capacity. Designing a capable uncrewed fighter is only half the mandate; the other half is manufacturing it at a scale and price point that traditional defense primes have struggled to achieve with crewed aircraft. By bringing a Boeing subsidiary into the fold for fuselage production, GA-ASI is signaling to the Department of Defense that it can meet the aggressive 2032 target of 500 aircraft without requiring massive, unilateral capital expenditure.
This distributed manufacturing approach also directly addresses the Pentagon’s ongoing concerns regarding supply chain fragility. Relying on a single facility in San Diego for a critical next-generation platform presents a strategic vulnerability. Distributing the airframe build to Wichita builds redundancy into the program while leveraging existing aerospace manufacturing infrastructure, a model that will likely become standard as the USAF pushes for higher volumes of attritable or semi-attritable autonomous systems.
Photo Credit: General Atomics
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