Morocco has taken delivery of six more AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. A ceremony marking the handover was held on Monday, October 26, 2026, at the Royal Moroccan Air Force’s First Air Base in Salé, attended by senior Moroccan military officials and Major General Matthew W. Brown, commander of the US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF).
In a statement, SETAF-AF said the latest delivery brings the number of helicopters received by Morocco to 19 out of the 24 ordered under a Foreign Military Sales contract worth nearly $1.3 billion.
According to the same statement, Morocco is one of only two African countries operating Apache helicopters and the only country on the continent flying the AH-64E variant. Major General Brown described the delivery as an important milestone in strengthening Morocco’s defense capabilities and regional security.
Royal Moroccan Air Force personnel receive six AH-64E Apache helicopters at the First Air Base in Salé on October 26, 2026.
Beyond expanding Morocco’s military equipment, the helicopters are expected to deepen defense cooperation between Rabat and Washington. Their integration supports the joint operational readiness and interoperability objectives set out in the 2026–2036 defense cooperation roadmap, signed at the Pentagon in April, the statement said.
Read also : What does the Apache AH-64E add to Morocco’s military capabilities?
SETAF-AF also announced that American and Moroccan pilots and ground forces will train with the helicopters during upcoming editions of African Lion, the continent’s largest joint military exercise. According to Brown, incorporating the aircraft into these exercises will improve both armies’ operational readiness and their ability to conduct joint operations.
The American commander also praised Morocco’s contribution to regional security, saying the cooperation demonstrated the strength of the alliance between the two countries. SETAF-AF recalled that Morocco became the first country to recognize the United States in 1777 and that the two nations maintain the oldest treaty relationship in American history.
