Israel Aerospace Industries in advanced negotiations to sell precision ballistic missiles to Morocco

Israel Aerospace Industries is conducting advanced negotiations to sell LORA precision ballistic missiles to Morocco, according to Calcalist. The deal, whose value is unknown, is meant to expand Morocco's long-range precision fire capabilities, against the backdrop of an arms race with Algeria and the dispute over sovereignty in Western Sahara. The negotiations are taking place alongside the defense exhibition in Marrakech, in which eight Israeli companies are participating.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is conducting advanced negotiations to sell LORA precision ballistic missiles to Morocco, as learned by Calcalist from security sources. The deal, whose value is unknown, is meant to expand Morocco's long-range precision fire capabilities of about 500 km, against the backdrop of an arms race with Algeria, which is arming itself with Russian and Chinese weapons and supports the Polisario Front in the dispute over sovereignty in Western Sahara. The advanced negotiations are taking place alongside the Marrakech Air Show 2026 defense exhibition, in which eight Israeli defense companies are participating for the first time, among them IAI, Elbit Systems and Rafael. The LORA missiles are displayed in the Israeli pavilions. Security officials told Calcalist that the very open participation of Israeli companies in the exhibition indicates the quality of relations between the countries. According to estimates, Israeli defense exports to Morocco since the beginning of the decade have totaled more than $2 billion. According to SIPRI, Israel has become Morocco's third defense exporter, after France and the US, with more than 10% of the market. Morocco has already purchased Elbit Systems' precision rockets, PULS systems, IAI's Barak MX air defense system, and according to foreign publications, an intelligence satellite in a deal of about one billion dollars. Earlier this year, the deployment of Rafael's Spyder system was reported. Alongside the LORA missiles, IAI is also displaying at the exhibition the Heron MK-2 UAV, the Barak MX system, communication satellites and capabilities for converting passenger aircraft to cargo, among other things ahead of the 2030 World Cup in Morocco. Elbit Systems and Rafael are also displaying developments, among them Rafael's high-power laser air defense system for intercepting drones.