US agrees a $4.8 bn deal to sell F-16 aircraft to Morocco

The US State Department has agreed on a possible sale of F-16C/D aircraft to Morocco as well as upgrades of the country’s current fleet, the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency stated on Monday.

The whole deal could reportedly amount to $4.8 billion, including $3.787 billion budgeted for the purchase of 25 F-16C/D Block 72 aircraft and other related equipment and systems.

“The purchase will improve interoperability with the United States and other regional allies and enhance Morocco’s ability to undertake coalition operations, as it has done in the past in flying sorties against ISIS in Syria and Iraq,” Defence Security Cooperation Agency said in a press release.

The press release reiterated that the deal will not “alter the basic military balance in the region” and neither will it have an “impact on US defence readiness" as a result of the proposed sale.

The contract, yet to be concluded, will involve Moroccan state and Lockheed Corporation, Bethesda and Maryland.

The aerospace and defence company notes on its website that “the F-16 Block 70/72 is the newest and most advanced F-16 production configuration, combining numerous capability and structural upgrades”.

The F-16 Block 70/72, according to Lockheed Corporation features an active radar with new avionics and software that embrace new technologies that were not available earlier series of F-16 were manufactured.

Follow us on Twitter: @The_NewArab