Rabat [Morocco], August 12: Morocco has received the first shipments of Barak MX anti-aircraft and missile defense system made by Israel, local media reported on Friday.
The Israeli delivery is in accordance with the 500-million-U.S. dollar arms contract signed by the two countries in February 2022, Morocco World News reported, citing a forum specialized in reporting about the Moroccan military.
The Barak MX system was developed by the Israel Aerospace Industries. It is reported that the system is designed to encounter modern threats, including ballistic missiles, fighters, cruise missiles, drones, helicopters, and gliding bombs.
Since the two countries agreed to normalize relations in 2020, they have been expanding cooperation in several fields. A recent development is Israel's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty claim over the disputed territory of Western Sahara in July.
The Moroccan forces' procurement of the Barak MX system is "a further development in the execution of their modernization agenda for their defensive armament", said Morocco's online English news website Hespress.
In 2022, the U.S. remained Morocco's largest arms supplier by holding a 76 percent market share, and France came in second with 15 percent, according to Morocco World News.
Source: Xinhua