North Africa Arms Race: Algeria Claims the Su-35, Morocco Has the Patriot
The arms race in North Africa is heating up. On one side, Morocco seeks to employ American aircraft in its military; on the other, Algeria favors Russian-built fighters.
Morocco could be the first Arab and African nation to acquire the fifth-generation Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. The country has sought this aircraft in response to Algeria, its key regional rival, seeking to adopt the Russian-made Sukhoi Su-57.
While it could be years before either nation eventually operates a fifth-gen stealth fighter, the arms race in North Africa is heating up.
Algeria received its first Sukhoi Su-35 at the Oum el Bouaghi Air Base on March 13. With the aircraft’s arrival, Algeria is now just the third foreign operator of the Russian Su-35 after China and Iran. At the same time, Egypt, India, and the United Arab Emirates have reportedly expressed interest in the advanced multirole fighter.
The “4++ generation” Su-35, which was initially developed as an export model of the Su-27, has been described as a competent foe to current U.S. aircraft, including the F-15 Eagle, the F/A-18 Super Hornet, and potentially even the F-35 Lightning II.
Moroccan Response to the North African Arms Race
Morocco operates a fleet of around two dozen F-16 Fighting Falcons, which are now being upgraded from the Block 52+ model to the F-16V configuration.
“This development marks a pivotal moment in the North African kingdom’s defense strategy, aiming for greater self-sufficiency and enhanced military prowess,” Morocco World News reported last May.
However, Rabat may have another advantage.
According to a report from Army Recognition, the Moroccan military is now “evaluating the U.S.-made MIM-104 Patriot air defense missile system, a step that could lead to the country’s first confirmed acquisition of the widely deployed platform.”
The U.S.-made anti-aircraft defense system was designed to detect, track, and intercept an enemy’s aircraft, tactical ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles. The Patriot can integrate high-performance radar and sophisticated computer systems for precise guidance and control, simultaneously engaging multiple threats.
It is already employed to protect nineteen NATO nations in Eastern Europe and has been used to great success by Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia.
Though it is now employed to engage ballistic and cruise missiles and drones, it can target an adversary’s aircraft. In Ukraine, it has been reported that the MIM-104 Patriot has shot down Sukhoi Su-34 as well as Su-35s.
Tipping the Balance of Power in North Africa
The Patriot could greatly enhance Rabat’s ability to counter any Algerian Su-35s and perhaps even the Su-57 if the North African nation receives the fighter. It further highlights the growing military ties between Rabat and Washington.
Army Recognition further reported, “Over the past several years, Morocco has signed multiple arms agreements with the United States, totaling over $9 billion. These include acquiring twenty-five F-16 fighter aircraft for $2.8 billion and twenty-four AH-64 Apache helicopters for $1.6 billion. Morocco will have forty-eight F-16s and 36 Apaches in operational service by 2028.”
That is in addition to Morocco’s desire to operate the F-35.
The North African nation is now on track to be the first to adopt the Patriot, and it could be the first to obtain the F-35. While a regional arms race will continue, Rabat will likely remain the frontrunner.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites, with over 3,200 published pieces and over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author at [email protected].
Image: Wikimedia Commons/ Staff Sgt. Kaitlyn Ergish.