The Royal Armed Forces of Morocco are on the brink of receiving the first shipment of AH-64E Apache combat helicopters from the United States, an acquisition initiated in November 2019. These state-of-the-art helicopters are slated to be stationed at the Khouribga air base military airport. A Moroccan security source disclosed to Yabiladi that «work to rehabilitate this facility, which was operational in the 1940s under the French protectorate, began in early 2022». The source further highlighted Khouribga's strategic advantage, stating, «Khouribga alshttps://www.yabiladi.com/articles/details/76279/maroc-achete-nouveaux-f-16-modernise.htmlo offers an important asset. The mining town is around 200 km from the kingdom's main air base at Benguérir. It is also close to the major port of Casablanca, with 120 km separating the two cities». It is worth recalling that in November 2019, during the first term of President Donald Trump, his administration approved the sale of 36 Apache helicopters to Morocco, with an option for twelve additional units. This deal also included a comprehensive array of equipment, with the contract valued at $4.25 billion (over 40 billion dirhams). The year 2019 was also marked by Morocco's order from the United States for 25 new D Block 72 F-16 fighter jets, alongside the refurbishment of 23 existing aircraft of the same model, amounting to approximately $5 billion. The return of Trump to power might reignite Morocco's substantial arms contracts with the United States.
