Latest news with #RoyalMoroccanAirForce
Ya Biladi
13-05-2025
- General
- Ya Biladi
U.S. Airmen join African Lion 2025 for military exercises in Benguerir and Kenitra
U.S. Airmen have deployed to Morocco for the 21st edition of African Lion 2025, which kicked off Monday in Agadir and will run through May 23. In coordination with the Royal Moroccan Air Force and allied nations, the exercise includes joint training in air-to-air refueling, close air support, and aeromedical evacuation. According to a press release from U.S. Air Forces in Europe, more than 100 U.S. Airmen from units in New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and Germany are participating alongside their Moroccan counterparts. KC-135 aircraft from Ohio's 121st Air Refueling Wing will operate out of Benguerir Air Base, conducting refueling missions with Moroccan F-16s. Medevac training, led by Moroccan forces, will take place at Kenitra Air Base. «African Lion pushes us to our limits, ensuring readiness for real-world operations alongside allies and partners», said Lt. Gen. Jason Hinds, deputy commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe–Africa, highlighting the exercise's importance. African Lion is U.S. Africa Command's largest annual exercise, bringing together 50 nations and 10,000 U.S. troops across Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia. The Moroccan segment officially launched Monday with an opening ceremony at the headquarters of the Southern Zone Command in Agadir.
Ya Biladi
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
AFRICOM : 24 Moroccan pilots complete Apache helicopter training
The Royal Moroccan Air Force (FRA) has strengthened its capabilities with the integration of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, delivered at the end of February from the United States. This strategic acquisition is part of a security cooperation program overseen by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) and announced in 2020, according to a statement from AFRICOM (United States Africa Command). At the reception ceremony, General Michael Langley, commander of AFRICOM, emphasized the impact of this investment on Morocco's defense posture. «By acquiring these Apache helicopters, Morocco is making a significant leap in capability, thereby enhancing its security and strategic position in the region», he stated, highlighting the Kingdom's key role as a major non-NATO ally of the United States. The AH-64E, developed in 2012, is one of the most advanced versions of the Apache. It features cutting-edge digital connectivity, more powerful engines, and drone control capability, along with a range exceeding 450 km and a top speed of 278 km/h. According to Lieutenant Colonel James Anderson, head of the Security Cooperation Office in Rabat, these new aircraft will significantly enhance the FRA's ability to secure borders and address regional terrorist threats. The integration of the Apaches into Morocco's arsenal is accompanied by an intensive training program. So far, 24 Royal Air Force pilots have been trained in the United States, including five instructors, while three others are currently undergoing training. The goal is to achieve full operational capability within six months.
