U.S. Approves $825M Stinger Missile Deal for Morocco to Boost Regional Balance

Watan-The United States has granted preliminary approval for the sale of Stinger missiles to Morocco. This deal follows two major agreements: the HIMARS missile systems and the delivery of Apache helicopters. With this, Washington resumes supplying Morocco with advanced weapons to maintain regional military balance.

Earlier this week, the U.S. State Department approved a potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Morocco of FIM-92K Stinger Block I missiles and related equipment worth an estimated $825 million. Morocco has requested up to 600 units of this missile system. The deal also includes engineering, logistics, technical support, and program assistance.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) submitted the deal certification to Congress, noting that the sale would support U.S. national security by strengthening the defense of a key non-NATO ally that remains a force for political stability and economic progress in North Africa.

Morocco Nears Third Major U.S. Arms Deal Amid Rising Defense Ties

The deal still requires congressional approval. It is expected that Congress will not repeat its 2020 rejection of the MQ-9 Reaper drone sale to Morocco, which led Rabat to turn to Turkey and China for arms.

If approved, this would be Morocco’s third major arms deal in recent years, following the delivery of Apache helicopters in January and the U.S. approval of the HIMARS missile system—which proved highly effective in the early stages of the Ukraine war.

The Stinger missiles would enhance Morocco’s air defense. These are portable, shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles. Along with Turkey’s Bayraktar drones, Stingers inflicted significant damage on Russian forces during the early phase of the Ukraine war.

These deals aim to serve two primary objectives:

1. The Pentagon wants to ensure Morocco maintains military balance, especially with Algeria and to a lesser degree, Spain—particularly after Morocco dropped to 61st in the Global Military Strength Rankings in 2024. The new deals could help improve its standing.

2. Morocco has been diversifying its arms sources, including deals with Turkey and especially China, which supplied advanced defense systems when the U.S. delayed selling Patriot systems. Morocco also looks to Brazil, India, and Turkey—which is building a drone assembly plant in Morocco.

Meanwhile, Rabat has not received any decisive conventional weapons from Israel, despite media reports of a potential missile defense system developed jointly with India.

Rumors about Morocco acquiring F-35 fighters are false. Morocco is still waiting for the new batch of F-16s it ordered years ago, and is currently upgrading older ones. All official arms deals are announced through the DSCA and require Congressional approval—rendering unofficial media reports about other supposed deals inaccurate.