**Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft, first 4 aircrafts another 3 aircarfts are in active duty of the 24 F-16 Fighting Falcons and is expected to receive the rest of the deliveries by 2013
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 14, 2011:
Morocco is the latest U.S. partner nation to receive the F-16 Fighting Falcon, a historic event marked by a ceremony here Aug. 4.
The Royal Moroccan Air Force had 95 combat aircraft and 24 armed helicopters in 2006. On December 18, 2007 the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Morocco of F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $2.4 billion. The Government of Morocco has requested a possible sale of 24 F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft with either the F100-PW-229 or F110-GE-129 Increased Performance Engines (IPE) and APG-68(V)9 radars. The proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by enhancing Morocco's capacity to support U.S. efforts in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), as well as supporting Morocco's legitimate need for its own self-defense. Morocco is one of the most stable and pro-Western of the Arab states, and the U.S. remains committed to a long-term relationship with Morocco. The proposed sale will allow the Moroccan Air Force to modernize its aging fighter inventory, thereby enabling Morocco to support both its own air defense needs and coalition operations. Morocco is a Major Non-NATO ally. Delivery of this weapon system will greatly enhance Morocco's interoperability with the U.S. and other NATO nations, making it a more valuable partner in an increasingly important area of the world. The country will have no difficulty absorbing this new capability into its armed forces.
On June 6, 2008 the United States government awarded Lockheed Martin an Undefinitized Contract Authorization (UCA) for the production of 24 Advanced F-16 Block 52 aircraft for Morocco, making the Kingdom of Morocco the 25th nation to select the F-16. Morocco will acquire a Block 52 configuration of the F-16C/D aircraft tailored to meet the specific requirements of the Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF). The Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engine was selected by the Royal Moroccan Air Force to power their new fleet of F-16 Block 52 aircraft. The engine program, sold through the U.S. Government's Foreign Military Sales program, is valued at approximately $170 million and is scheduled for delivery in 2010 and 2011.
On September 9, 2009 the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Morocco of F-16 C/D Block 50/52 aircraft support equipment and weapons at an estimated cost of $187 million. The Government of Morocco has requested a possible sale of 40 LAU-129A Launchers; 20 AGM-65D MAVERICK Missiles; four AGM-65D MAVERICK Training Missiles; four AGM-65H MAVERICK Training Missiles; 60 Enhanced GBU-12 PAVEWAY II Kits; 28 M61 20mm Vulcan Cannons; 28 AN/ARC-238 Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radios with HAVEQUICK I/II or SATURN I/II.
Lockheed Martin was awarded an $841.9 million contract 22 December 2009 to complete production of 24 new F-16 fighters for Morocco, as well as for electronic-warfare gear and support equipment. The contract builds on an initial $233 million award the company received in June 2008 to begin production of the aircraft. Morocco selected the F-16 in 2007, picking the U.S. aircraft over the Rafale. Morocco is the 25th nation to buy the F-16, the world's most widely flown jet fighter.
On October 13, 2009 Hawker Beechcraft sold 24 Beechcraft T-6C trainers to the Royal Moroccan Air Force. The $185.3 million contract includes the aircraft, technical and logistics support and other services. The Royal Moroccan Air Force is the launch customer for the T-6C aircraft, an improved version of the T-6A Texan II. The T-6C will replace Morocco's T-34 basic trainers and Cessna T-37 jet trainers.
The Royal Moroccan Air Force has operational bases in Rabat-Salé, Meknès, Kenitra, and Sidi Slimane and a training base in Marrakech. In the 1980s the main operating bases for fighters were at Meknes (F-5 unit) and Sidi Slimane (Mirage F-1 unit). Both bases were well maintained ; both had unused flightline and maintenance capacities. And Sidi Slimane had 24 hardened aircraft shelters that rival those of any air force in the world. The RMAF's command center at Sald, built by Westinghouse Corporation at a cost of about $240 million, is the hub of a very modern air defense system that blankets all of Morocco. Radar stations throughout the country feed into the Sal6 center where operators track air movements throughout the nation. All the equipment at the center is operated by Moroccans (but some Westinghouse technicians remain as advisors and troubleshooters).
Although Presidents Truman and Eisenhower supported the concept of Moroccan independence, they were both much more concerned with the emergence of the Cold War and the necessity for maintaining a good relationship with France which had reasserted its political control in the region. In 1951, the U.S. signed an agreement with the French to establish four U.S. Strategic Air Command bases in Morocco. The U.S. strongly supported Morocco's independence which came in 1956, but the bases agreement between the U.S. and France remained a sore point between the U.S. and Morocco until a 1959 agreement between the two countries led to the evacuation of the four bases in the early sixties and several smaller communications sites in the late seventies.
The Reagan administration, in need of secure air base facilities to support possible Mideast operations, courted King Hassan and has sent an ambassador to Rabat to assure the monarch that "he can count on us." In 1987 the Moroccan government agreed to the use of an old abandoned U.S.Strategic Air Command Base at Ben Guérir as a transoceanic abort landing (TAL) site for NASA's space shuttle during emergencies. On the military side, Morocco signed agreements with the U.S. government allowing U.S. forces access and transit rights at several Moroccan Air Force bases. This agreement included various military construction projects toupgrade and develop facilities for possible contingencies.
The new Block 52 aircraft will supplement the Royal Moroccan Air Force's existing fleet of fighter aircraft and will contribute to the upgrade and modernization of the country's military.
Senior U.S. military officials attended to mark the event and strengthen the relationship between the two countries' air forces, which includes a state partnership program with the Utah Air National Guard that began in 2003.
The relationship between the U.S. and Morocco can be traced back a few hundred years when Morocco became the first country to recognize the U.S. as an independent nation. Senior Moroccan officials, as well as Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, reiterated the close partnership between the two nations during the ceremony.
"I'm here to salute our partnership which we so highly value," Schwartz said. "The friendship between the U.S. and Moroccan militaries is founded on mutual respect, and I am thrilled to be here as you accept the first F-16s into your aircraft inventory."
Officials from U.S. Africa Command and its air component, Air Forces Africa, were also in attendance for the occasion.
"It's an incredible honor for me to be here for the first delivery of the F-16s to the Royal Moroccan Air Force," said Maj. Gen. Margaret Woodward, the Air Forces Africa commander. "We have a wonderful relationship with the RMAF, but being able to fly the same airplane will just increase our opportunity to work together.
"For the United States and the Moroccans, this is a banner day and a great opportunity to increase both of our capacities and strategic partnership," she added.
The U.S. is helping to train Morocco's new F-16 pilots, teaching them not only how to fly the aircraft, but also how to teach others, explained Lt. Col. Charles Blank, the 152nd Fighter Squadron commander from the Arizona Air National Guard in Tucson, Ariz.
Blank worked with the Moroccans during pilot training in Tucson, and saw firsthand the dedication and commitment of the Moroccan pilots.
"The Moroccans are very professional," he said. "They are very positive, well-trained, and eager to get the job done. They will do well."
Training and delivery of the fighter aircraft took approximately two years as the U.S. and Moroccan air forces worked together, Blank said.
Woodward also commented on the achievements of the new F-16 pilots, one of whom received the distinguished graduate award at training and "stood out as one of the best in the class."
"These pilots are doing an exceptional job in training," she said. "I'm really excited about this progress and the opportunity to expand an already strong military-to-military partnership. Some of these pilots will come back to Morocco and set up a training program to train future pilots in the F-16, and they will receive the same training as our own in the U.S. Air Force."
The RMAF pilots chosen for the program have years of experience in other aircraft and are some of the air force's very best, according to Moroccan officials.
Morocco is the 25th nation to receive the F-16. More than 4,400 aircraft have been delivered worldwide from assembly lines in five countries, according to a Lockheed Martin press release.
Senior U.S. military officials attended to mark the event and strengthen the relationship between the two countries' air forces, which includes a state partnership program with the Utah Air National Guard that began in 2003.
The relationship between the U.S. and Morocco can be traced back a few hundred years when Morocco became the first country to recognize the U.S. as an independent nation. Senior Moroccan officials, as well as Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, reiterated the close partnership between the two nations during the ceremony.
"I'm here to salute our partnership which we so highly value," Schwartz said. "The friendship between the U.S. and Moroccan militaries is founded on mutual respect, and I am thrilled to be here as you accept the first F-16s into your aircraft inventory."
Officials from U.S. Africa Command and its air component, Air Forces Africa, were also in attendance for the occasion.
"It's an incredible honor for me to be here for the first delivery of the F-16s to the Royal Moroccan Air Force," said Maj. Gen. Margaret Woodward, the Air Forces Africa commander. "We have a wonderful relationship with the RMAF, but being able to fly the same airplane will just increase our opportunity to work together.
"For the United States and the Moroccans, this is a banner day and a great opportunity to increase both of our capacities and strategic partnership," she added.
The U.S. is helping to train Morocco's new F-16 pilots, teaching them not only how to fly the aircraft, but also how to teach others, explained Lt. Col. Charles Blank, the 152nd Fighter Squadron commander from the Arizona Air National Guard in Tucson, Ariz.
Blank worked with the Moroccans during pilot training in Tucson, and saw firsthand the dedication and commitment of the Moroccan pilots.
"The Moroccans are very professional," he said. "They are very positive, well-trained, and eager to get the job done. They will do well."
Training and delivery of the fighter aircraft took approximately two years as the U.S. and Moroccan air forces worked together, Blank said.
Woodward also commented on the achievements of the new F-16 pilots, one of whom received the distinguished graduate award at training and "stood out as one of the best in the class."
"These pilots are doing an exceptional job in training," she said. "I'm really excited about this progress and the opportunity to expand an already strong military-to-military partnership. Some of these pilots will come back to Morocco and set up a training program to train future pilots in the F-16, and they will receive the same training as our own in the U.S. Air Force."
The RMAF pilots chosen for the program have years of experience in other aircraft and are some of the air force's very best, according to Moroccan officials.
Morocco is the 25th nation to receive the F-16. More than 4,400 aircraft have been delivered worldwide from assembly lines in five countries, according to a Lockheed Martin press release.
ROYAL MOROCCAN AIR FORCE F-16S - IMAGES
HTTP://WWW.F-16.NET/GALLERY
The first Moroccan F-16C block 52 #08-8001, seen here on September 21st, 2010, is scheduled to fly in the fall of 2010. Morocco, the 25th nation to operate the F-16, ordered twenty-four block 52 aircraft in 2009. The two-tone light brown scheme with grey underside is unique to... | The first Moroccan F-16C block 52 #08-8001, seen here on September 21st, 2010, is scheduled to fly in the fall of 2010. Morocco, the 25th nation to operate the F-16, ordered twenty-four block 52 aircraft in 2009. The two-tone light brown scheme with grey underside is unique to... | The first Moroccan F-16C block 52 #08-8001, seen here on September 21st, 2010, is scheduled to fly in the fall of 2010. Morocco, the 25th nation to operate the F-16, ordered twenty-four block 52 aircraft in 2009. The two-tone light brown scheme with grey underside is unique to... |
RMAF F-16D block 52 #08-8017 takes flight on November 10th, 2010. [Photo by Carl Richards] | RMAF F-16D block 52 #08-8018 comes into land at NAS Fort Worth on December 14th, 2010. [Photo by Scott Fischer] | RMAF F-16D block 52 #08-8019 is spotted during a test flight at Lockheed Martin from NAS Fort Worth on February 14th, 2011. [Photo by Zane Adams] |
RMAF F-16C block 52 #08-8004 with callsign 'Viper 04' is spotted on short finals to runway 35 at NAS Fort Worth on February 28th, 2011. [Photo by Sebastiaan Does] | RMAF F-16C block 52 #08-8003 is touching down on the runway at NAS Fort Worth in February of 2011. [Photo by Scott Fischer] | RMAF F-16D block 52 #08-8020 is seen at NAS Fort Worth during a test flight on March 9th, 2011. The airframe is part of the order for 24 brandnew F-16 block 52s for the RMAF. [Photo by Piet Luijken] |
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