Requests Sale Of 24 T-6Bs, 24 F-16C/D Aircraft And Systems

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress this week of possible Foreign Military Sales to Morocco. The government has requested a sale of 24 T-6B Texan trainer aircraft, 24 F-16C/D Block 50/52 fighters, and associated systems for each aircraft.

Total value of the T-6B deal could be as high as $200 million, according to a DSCA release to ANN. The value of the F-16 package, if approved and all options are exercised, could reach $2.4 billion.

The T-6B package requested includes Global Positioning System (GPS) with CMA-4124 GNSSA card and Embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation System (INS) spares, ferry maintenance, tanker support, aircraft ferry services, site survey, unit level trainer, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, contractor technical and logistics personnel services, and other related elements of logistics support.

The Texans would replace the current Royal Moroccan Air Force's (RMAF) fleet of T-37 "Tweety Bird" aircraft, produced in the early 1960s.

Morocco also submitted a laundry list of items associated with its request for new F-16s, including:

• 24 F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft with either the F100-PW-229 or F110-GE-129 Increased Performance Engines (IPE) and APG-68(V) 9 radars;
• 5 F100-PW-229 or F110-GE-129 IPE spare engines;
• 4 APG-68(V)9 spare radar sets;
• 30 AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispensing Systems (CMDS)
• 30 AN/ALR-56M Radar Warning Receivers (RWR)
• 60 LAU-129/A Launchers;
• 30 LAU-117 Launchers;
• 6 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems;
• 4 AN/ARC-238 Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGAR) radios with HAVE QUICK I/II;
• 24 Conformal Fuel Tanks (pairs);
• 4 Link-16 Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low Volume Terminals;
• 2 Link-16 Ground Stations;
• 4 Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Embedded GPS/ Inertial Navigation Systems (INS);
• 12 AN/AAQ-33 SNIPER Targeting Pods or AN/AAQ-28 LITENING Targeting Pods
• 5 Tactical Air Reconnaissance Systems (TARS) or DB-110 Reconnaissance Pods (RECCE);
• 4 AN/APX-113 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF) Systems;
• 28 AN/ALQ-211 Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suites (AIDEWS); or 28 AN/ALQ-187 Advanced Self-Protection Integrated Suites (ASPIS II); or 28 AN/ALQ-178 Self Protection Electronic Warfare Suites (SPEWS)
• 1 Unit Level Trainer

The agency says both sales will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that has been and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in North Africa. Morocco is a major Non-NATO ally, DSCA notes, as well as one of the most stable and pro-Western Arab states.

DSCA also says the sale would contribute to the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by enhancing Morocco's capacity to support US efforts in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), as well as supporting Morocco's legitimate need for its own self-defense.

FMI: www.dsca.osd.mil/, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Moroccan_Air_Force