Under the title: “ Morocco.. A new customer for French Rafale fighters to counter Algerian rearmament”, the French magazine “Marianne” said that at a time when Algeria is working to strengthen its military capabilities by receiving Russian fighters and the possibility of purchasing Chinese fourth-generation aircraft, the Rafale fighters of Dassault may tempt the Kingdom of Morocco, led by King Mohammed VI.
The magazine asked: Is it time to move to the military-industrial phase of the diplomatic rapprochement that began in 2024 between Paris and Rabat? According to several specialized websites, including the Spanish website “Defensa”, Morocco is considering purchasing more than ten Rafale F4 fighter jets, the latest upgraded version of Dassault’s best-selling aircraft.
There are two key elements to consider. The first relates to a previous attempt that was not completed. In 2007, when the Rafale was still suffering from export failures, to the point that Nicolas Sarkozy's defense minister, Hervé Morin, bitterly referred to it, preliminary negotiations took place.
At that time, King Mohammed VI wanted to replace the aging Mirage 2000 fleet with Rafale fighter jets . However, Jacques Chirac's hesitation, the diplomatic and commercial missteps during Sarkozy's presidency, and a tempting offer from Washington led to the project's failure in favor of the American F-16 from Lockheed Martin.
During that period, the same competition existed between Rabat and Algiers, as the latter had already concluded a deal with Moscow to purchase about 60 fighter jets, amid ongoing tension over the Western Sahara issue.
The conflict between Morocco and Algeria remains unresolved, while Algeria continues to modernize its military capabilities. Between 2020 and 2025, its military spending increased from approximately €10 billion to €25 billion.
The second factor is that the conflict between Morocco and Algeria remains unresolved, while Algeria continues to modernize its military capabilities. Between 2020 and 2025, its military spending increased from approximately €10 billion to €25 billion, reaching 8.8% of its GDP. This significant increase allowed President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to purchase frigates, drones, and, of course, Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets. It also made Algeria the first foreign customer for the advanced Su-57 fighter jet, a development that worries its neighbor.
Marianne continued, questioning which contract would strike a balance. The magazine explained that Morocco, a Dassault customer during the Mirage 2000 era, is considering purchasing between 12 and 18 Rafale F4 fighter jets, according to specialized websites. If this contract goes through, it is expected to be signed before the end of President Emmanuel Macron's second term, with deliveries beginning after 2030, given the French company's full order book.
Eric Trappier, the CEO of Dassault, has announced his intention to increase production capacity, expecting to manufacture 28 aircraft in 2026, with the goal of reaching 48 aircraft per year by 2029, to meet the demands of France and other countries such as India, which concluded the “deal of the century.”
Among the reasons that might push Rabat to choose France are the delayed delivery of 25 American F-16 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin, as well as Morocco's desire to avoid dependence on a single, potentially unreliable supplier like Washington. However, the option of purchasing F-35s remains on the table.
One fundamental question remains, the same one raised by countries that have acquired American aircraft: What about interoperability? This term simply means: Can different military systems work together despite differences in software, communication languages, and standards? asks Marianne, noting that France provided a positive answer to this question during the “Marathon 25” exercises last year, where French and Moroccan aircraft, including those supplied by the United States, proved their ability to work together.
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