On Tuesday, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced a $1 billion contract to supply one of its advanced systems to an unnamed third party, widely reported to be Morocco. IAI, renowned for its cutting-edge drones and missile defense systems, disclosed in a regulatory filing in Tel Aviv that the deal will be executed over five years, according to Reuters.
This significant agreement aims to enhance Morocco’s military capabilities across air, land, and sea defense. Under the contract, IAI will supply the Ofek 13 spy satellite, which will replace two Airbus and Thales satellites, as reported by Moroccan news websites Le Desk and Le 360, citing Israeli sources in Rabat.
IAI Chairman Amir Peretz, leveraging his connections in Morocco, played a crucial role in securing this deal, as well as a prior $500 million agreement for the Barak 8 air defense system. Peretz is currently visiting Morocco to finalize the agreement.
Israel and Morocco signed a defense pact in 2021, which includes intelligence sharing and cooperation in military industries and procurement. This new development further solidifies their defense collaboration.
