Royal Moroccan Air Force

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The Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) (Arabic: القوات الجوية الملكية المغربية ; transliterated: al-Qoat al-Jaoiyah al-Malakiyah al-Maghribiyah) is the official air force of Morocco. The Royal Moroccan Air Force flies a variety of Western-built airplanes.

[edit] Royal Moroccan Air Force wars

In the 1970s, a sub-saharan rebel group, called POLISARIO demanded independence of the Western Sahara from Morocco. The then-ruling King, Hassan II started a war against the POLISARIO. The RMAF had a key role in this war. The Moroccan Air Force let the Polisario-Guerillias retreat to Algeria, in Tindouf.

Some RMAF planes were shot down, including 2 C-130 Hercules, 5 F-5As and 2 Mirages.

Since then, the Moroccan Air Force still flies CAPs (Combat Air Patrol) over the Sahara.

There are 8 RMAF-Air Force bases in Morocco. The biggest are Meknes AFB, Marrakesh AB, Rabat/Sale AFB and Kenitra AFB.

[edit] Moroccan AF Upgrades

In the beginning of the 1990's, Morocco wanted to update or upgrade it's Air Force. In the beginning, they negotiated with the USA for 24 F-16, but that deal was not completed. In 2002, when a war was near with Spain because of the little Island of "Leyla" just off the coast of Northern Morocco. Morocco knew that in case of a war, they wouldn't have a big chance of winning it.

Saudi Arabia wanted to grant to Morocco 12 AH-64 Apache, with additional financial help but the deal was not completed. The United Arab Emirates, or UAE did also gave financial help to Morocco, to strenghthen it's Air Force.

Luckily, it never came near a war. The Moroccan troops who did occupy the dispiuted island, were transported back to Morocco, after which the Spanish Air Force and Navy did take over the occupied Island.

From 1998, until 2004 the Moroccan Mirage F-1's did receive new Radar-systems and Navigation/Communication Hardware from France ( MATRA , MICA missiles ).

Since 1998, Morocco also had talks with France, over the High-Tech Dassault Rafale Fighterjets. Saudi-Arabia will pay for these fighterjets, because it's too expensive for Morocco. The Royal houses of Saudi-Arabia and Morocco have a good relation with each other. After years, Morocco, France and Saudi Arabia finally came to an agreement, for 18 Rafale Fighterjets.