MOROCCO STILL CONSIDERING F-16 PURCHASE

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000576

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2017
TAGS: PREL MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCO STILL CONSIDERING F-16 PURCHASE


Classified By: Charge Wayne J. Bush for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: On March 27, Ambassador met with Inspector
General of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) General Abdelaziz
Bennani, Morocco,s Chief of Defense equivalent, to discuss
the potential purchase of F-16 aircraft by the GOM.
Clarifying the Moroccan military's position on the potential
fighter jet purchase, General Bennani confirmed that Morocco
is still considering the F-16, and had yet to decide which
aircraft they would purchase (the RMAF is also looking
closely at the French Rafale fighter). On funding, General
Bennani was elusive and unwilling to provide details on the
exact source of payment. Shifting the discussion away from
fighter jets, General Bennani raised the issue of land-based
systems, including EDA tanks and the purchase of HMMWVs. On
the F-16 purchase, we cannot rule out the possibility that
the Moroccan approach has been a feint to leverage the RMAF's
negotiations with the French. End Summary.


2. (C) Ambassador called March 27 on General Abdelaziz
Bennani, Inspector General of the Royal Moroccan Armed
Forces, to inquire into the potential purchase of fighter
aircraft by the GOM and to clarify the contradictory signals
Embassy has received concerning Morocco,s willingness to
consider an F-16 purchase. (Note: In a March 13 meeting, the
Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) Chief of Acquisitions
explained to the Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) that he
was directed by General Bennani to express Moroccan interest
in purchasing the F-16 fighter jet, and that the RMAF did not
fully support what he termed "a political decision" to
purchase the French Rafale. The RMAF submitted March 14 a
formal Letter of Request for Price and Availability; however,
the RMAF informed ODC on March 19 that the F-16 inquiry had
to be put on hold because there was a resurgence of political
pressure from the highest levels to buy the French Rafale.
End Note.)


3. (C) Ambassador began the discussion by asking whether the
purchase of F-16s was an option still under consideration by
the FAR. General Bennani, in response, confirmed that the
purchase of F-16s is still a possibility for the Moroccan
military. He noted that Morocco was still in the process of
studying various options, which included the F-16, the French
Rafale, and a British jet. (Note: Bennani later clarified
that the British jet was in fact the Eurofighter. End Note.)
No final decisions have been made concerning the aircraft to
be purchased and more precise information is needed before a
commitment would be made by Morocco, said General Bennani.
He added that it would be "interesting" to see a proposal
from Lockheed-Martin, and noted that a complete "study" will
be conducted by the Royal Moroccan Air Force.


4. (C) When questioned by Ambassador regarding funding for
the purchase, General Bennani was elusive and sidestepped the
issue. He was unwilling to provide details on the amount or
the source of funds that will be available for a fighter jet
purchase. However, General Bennani said that Morocco needed
fighter jets in order to equalize a "neighbor" (i.e. Algeria)
who was acquiring MiG-29 aircraft.


5. (C) On several occasions during the discussion General
Bennani shifted the conversation away from fighter aircraft
and towards land-based systems, which he claimed Morocco
desperately needs. In this context, he referenced his
December 2006 visit to Washington where he discussed a
lengthy military wish list with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff (CJCS) General Peter Pace, including Abrams tanks.
General Bennani explained that although Morocco would prefer
to receive the equipment at no cost through Excess Defense
Articles (EDA),there may be some funding available to
purchase the systems if EDA were not an option. (Note: To
date Morocco,s military procurement office has for the most
part requested free equipment; they have not placed bids or
tenders for the purchase of tanks, combat vehicles, or other
major pieces of military hardware. They have, however,
purchased used aircraft in the past. End Note.)


6. (C) General Bennani, who during the meeting appeared
relaxed and fully engaged, mentioned he would not be
available to receive a reciprocal visit by CJCS General Pace
in April or May. He explained that he will be traveling
throughout rural Morocco during the proposed timeframe. In
closing, General Bennani requested further information from
the American company, AM General, interested in selling
HMMWVs to Morocco. (Note: The FAR approached AM General in
August 2006 requesting a quote for HMMWVs; AM General
responded with a proposal in September 2006. After hearing
that Morocco was looking to purchase Japanese equipment in
lieu of HMMWVs, Ambassador in January addressed a letter to
the King encouraging him to select AM General to fill Army's
wheeled vehicle requirements. Morocco has yet to respond.
End Note.)

Comment
--------------


7. (C) It remains unclear what factors prompted the F-16
request and whether the F-16 option will be seriously pursued
by the FAR. We cannot rule out the possibility that this has
merely been a feint to leverage the RMAF's negotiations with
the French for the Rafale fighters. We have yet to determine
the exact source of funding or economic impact on the GOM for
an acquisition of this magnitude (approximately 2 billion
dollars). Nonetheless, we now have official high-level
assurances that the F-16 will be considered in the official
"study" being conducted by the Royal Moroccan Air Force,
providing the USG an opening to promote the F-16. End
Comment.

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Bush