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Royal Moroccan Navy - Modernization

With the aging of the RMN's military equipment, Morocco is seeking to modernize all of its naval fleet with the objective of maintaining a credible force. Operating from bases at Casablanca, Safi, Agadir, Kenitra, and Tangier, the navy was acquiring new equipment designed to expand its operational capabilities.

The most significant addition to the fleet was a 1,270-ton frigate of the Spanish Descubierta class that was delivered to Morocco in early 1985. This ship, armed with Exocet surface-to-surface missiles, Aspide surface-to- air missiles, and guns, will be the first Moroccan combat vessel to have a blue-water capability. If additional vessels of this type were delivered, as the Moroccans reportedly desired, the Moroccan navy would be one of the most powerful in North Africa. There was no indication, however, that Morocco had the financial resources to undertake further purchases of this kind at that time [subsequently, Morocco acquired two units of the much larger Floreal class].

The navy also acquired four Spanish-built, Lazaga-class, fast-attack craft armed with guns and Exocet missiles. These vessels supplemented patrol and attack craft delivered in the 1960s and 1970s. The navy maintained a limited amphibious capability through its possession of four large amphibious transports. These vessels were designed to carry the navy's complement of 500 to 600 marines (naval infantry), who were trained and equipped to strengthen the country's capacity to react in crisis situations.

During the Cold War the Royal Moroccan Navy (RMN) was the poor stepchild of the Moroccan Armed Forces. Until 1988, the RMA and RMAF received virtually all of the U.S. security assistance funds furnished to Morocco as well as the bulk of the Moroccan military budget. By 1990 most of the RMN fleet consisted of large patrol boats, some of which were missile equipped, with an additional six 50-meter patrol boats acquired from Spain. The RMN had only one corvette, which was Spanish built and was equipped with U.S.-origin electronics, a U.S. Navy MK 46 torpedo system, and a commercially procured Raytheon sonar.

The Moroccan Navy bought Selenia's Albatros air defence system for its Spanish-built corvette Colonel Errhamani, delivered in 1983. The ship is also armed with the Oto-Melara 76mm Compact and two single 40mm Bofors guns with Breda improved feed. The four Spanish-built missile boats, Commandant Al Khattabi, Cdt Boutouba, CdtEl Harti and Cdt Azouggarn are all armed witha 76mm Compact gun forward and a single Breda Bofors 40mm aft, as are the French-built gunboats Okba and Triki.

Two new frigates built for the Moroccan Navy in France, based on the French Floreal Class, were constructed at Chantiers de L'Atlantique in Saint Nazaire, will be fitted with BridgeMaster E military-spec tactical radar systems. The vessels were scheduled for delivery in 2003-2004. The Moroccan version of the Floréal design differs only slightly from the original French design. The most obvious difference is the installation of a 76mm Oto Melara gun, with a WM-25 fire control radar replacing the 100mm weapon and Sea Tiger radar used on the French versions. The WM-25 radar and 76mm gun on these ships are reconditioned units from scrapped Lazaga class fast attack craft. A less obvious change is the use of U.S. radar and navigational equipment. The helicopter on the Moroccan version is expected to be the Dauphin. The complement of the ships is 11 officers and 109 enlisted, a larger total than on the French ships.

The Royal Moroccan Navy signed a contract with Schelde Naval Shipbuilding on 06 February 2008, worth approximately €510 million ($816 million), for the design, build and delivery by 2012 of three surface combatants that the Moroccans are designating multimission frigates. The Moroccans came to Schelde in May 2007 after negotiations with France for new warships fell apart. The Sigma design uses standard, 7.2-meter-long (24-ft.) sections separated by bulkheads with watertight doors throughout the ship. By varying the number of sections, a ship can be stretched or shortened. Indonesian corvettes, for example, have 12 sections; two of the Moroccan ships have 13, and the third Moroccan ship has 14. The Morocco contract calls for one 2,300-ton ship (designated Sigma 10513) that will be 105 meters long, with a beam of 13 meters. The other two ships will have a displacement of 2,100 tons (Sigma 9813s) and a length of 98 meters.

In early 2008 the Royal Moroccan Navy ordered four new 70-meter offshore patrol vessels. Designed by Constructions Mecaniques de Normandie, the OPV 70 design is being built at Aker Yards in Lorient, France.

DCNS completed the sale to Morocco of a multi-mission frigate FREMM for an amount estimated at 470 million euros. The Shipyard Group (since January 2008) and Rabat (march 2008) have initialed the agreement, which must be formally announced at a Franco-Moroccan scheduled 18 April 2008 in the presence of Prime Minister François Fillon. The Moroccan navy seemed to be moving toward a version Anti-submarine, like the first FREMM French, the "Aquitaine". This choice came shortly after that of Algiers, which has commissioned two submarines of the Russian Kilo class (Type 636) initiated in 2006 in St. Petersburg. These vessels will be added to both units of this class (Type 877) delivered to the Algerian navy in 1987, "Rais Hadj Mubarek" and "El Hadj Slimane", soon to be upgraded. The Moroccan FREMM could be "taken" on the order of French multimission frigates, the first being built at Lorient. This would allow delivery in 2012. In fact, this was delayed until mid-2018.

Due to a catastrophic fire, In January 2010 the Royal Moroccan Navy (RMN) sought a replacement for their current LST. The engine room fire rendered the current LST beyond economical repair. The offered LST was a refurbished LST obtained from U.S. Navy inventories and was configured for international sale. Replacement of the current Moroccan LST allowed the RMN to deliver critical material and personnel in support of humanitarian assistance, counter drug trafficking, natural disaster relief, peacekeeping, and illegal immigration operations. The LST acquisition will enhance interoperability with U.S. systems and further U.S. access to the RMN.

US Government interests would be served by building RMN's sealift capability and increasing RMN's interoperability with U.S. forces. Building Partnership Capacity (BPC) is an OSD core competency and increasing Morocco's sealift capability fulfills this objective. At the same time, replacing the inoperable RMN LST would contribute to the RMN's objectives of increasing its ability to participate in peacekeeping operations, to deliver critical material and personnel, and to respond to natural disasters.

The Royal Moroccan Navy received a 50 meter long Landing Craft Tank (LCT) from French shipyard Piriou in July 2016 after ordering it a year earlie. It was handed over on 25 July and left Concarneau in France by month-end for its home base in Agadir. The vessel, Sidi Ifni, was accompanied by the OPV 70 Bir Anzarane. This new unit was built in France, with training in Concarneau for the first crew to become familiar with both vessel operation and maintenance. Designed by PIRIOU INGENIERIE this 50 metres LCT is based on a proven civilian version which PIRIOU already built in several units. Intended for the transportation of vehicles, various cargos as well as for the supply of water and fuel, the LCT 50 is fitted with two handling cranes and a bow ramp allowing loading or unloading on beach or on dock.

Intended for the transportation of vehicles, various cargos as well as for the supply of water and fuel, the LCT 50 is fitted with two handling cranes and a bow ramp allowing loading or unloading on beach or on dock. She is specifically designed to produce and to store fresh water thanks to her capability to embark a reverse osmosis system and flexible tanks on deck.

By 2018 Morocco’s navy is reportedly interested in acquiring American frigates similar to the Spanish navy’s Descubierta-class corvettes. These ships can strike a target with their Harpoon anti-ship missile system. Equally important was the FAR’s plan to purchase the German Type 212 submarine. The submarine’s many capabilities, including high speed and secrecy in shallow waters, would position Morocco as a regional and continental leader in terms of naval capabilities.

Morocco is allegedly planning to purchase its first submarine ship. If purchased, the submarine will be based at the Ksar Sghir navy base in Northern Morocco. The Spanish news outlet El Confidencial Digital reported in February 2019 that Morocco intended “to buy at least one submarine for the Ksar Sghir base.” The purchase of the submarine is “an old aspiration of the Royal Navy” that remained unachievable to date despite successive attempts, according to the newspaper. The news outlet did not reveal the provenance of the alleged submarine. Moroccan Navy officials intensified the search for submarines after Algeria acquired two new Type 636M ‘Kilo’ class Russian submarines– the upgraded ‘Kilo’ class– adding them to their already four operational submarines.

Reports had emerged that Morocco has already signed agreements to acquire submarines from Russia, the US, and Germany, but none of them have been confirmed. The Royal Moroccan Navy was also said to have approached Greece to purchase a second-hand submarine intended for training Moroccan Navy agents to get them used to modern submarines.