Morocco has recently received the latest version of the Abrams main battle tank, the M1A2 SEPv3, which will provide a boost to its land forces that already operate older variants of the same tank. The M1A2 SEPv3 is the most advanced and lethal version of the Abrams tank, featuring a new electronic architecture, improved protection, and enhanced firepower.
The delivery of the M1A2 SEPv3 tanks to Morocco was reported by the local media, which spotted the vehicles on trains headed to the south of the country. It is believed that the tanks were delivered in the last few weeks, as part of a contract signed in October 2020 between Morocco and the US company General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), which is the manufacturer of the Abrams tank. The contract, worth $11.9 million, involved the technical support for upgrading 162 Abrams tanks to the M1A2 SEPv3 standard for Morocco. The estimated completion date of the contract was March 2022.
Morocco is one of the few countries in the world that operates the Abrams tank, which is the main battle tank of the US Army and several other allied countries. Morocco has a long-standing military partnership with the US, and has participated in several joint exercises and operations, such as the African Lion and the Flintlock.
Morocco first acquired the Abrams tank in 2012, when it ordered 200 M1A1 SA (Special Armor) tanks from the US, which were surplus vehicles from the US Army stockpile. The M1A1 SA tanks were upgraded by GDLS before delivery, and featured a new primary gunner sight, a second generation forward-looking infrared system, and a blue-force tracking system. Morocco received 127 M1A1 SA tanks by 2016, and the remaining 73 tanks were further upgraded to the M1A2M standard, which included a commander’s independent thermal viewer and a slew-to-cue capability. The M1A2M tanks were delivered to Morocco by 2018.
The M1A2 SEPv3 tanks are the latest and maybe final current rebuilt version of the venerable platform. Both new and older versions of the Abrams are in high demand, particularly since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Designed primarily to address SWaP issues encountered with the M1A2 SEPv2, the v3 introduces a new electronic architecture, simplified maintenance procedures and a new auxiliary power unit. In order to improve lethality and survivability, it also features additional frontal armour and a data link to enable the firing of smart, multipurpose projectiles from its 120mm smoothbore gun. The M1A2 SEPv3 is intended to become the new frontline tank for the US Army, which has awarded GDLS a contract to convert up to 435 M1A1 models to this standard.
The M1A2 SEPv3 tanks will complement Morocco’s existing fleet of Abrams tanks, and will enhance its armored warfare capabilities. The M1A2 SEPv3 tanks have a maximum speed of 67 km/h and a range of 426 km. They have a composite armor that provides protection against kinetic energy and chemical energy threats, and can be fitted with reactive armor tiles for additional protection. They are armed with a 120mm M256 smoothbore gun, which can fire a variety of ammunition, including the M829A4 armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) round, the M830A1 high-explosive anti-tank multipurpose (HEAT-MP) round, and the M1028 canister round. They also have a coaxial 7.62mm M240 machine gun, a 12.7mm M2 machine gun, and a 7.62mm M240 machine gun mounted on a remote weapon station. The M1A2 SEPv3 tanks are equipped with a new vehicle management system, a new power generation and distribution system, a new counter-improvised explosive device (IED) jammer, and a new ammunition data link that enables the use of the XM1147 advanced multi-purpose (AMP) round, which can perform airburst, point detonate, and delay functions.
The acquisition of the M1A2 SEPv3 tanks by Morocco is part of its strategic vision of developing a modern and capable Royal Armored Corps, which is one of the pillars of King Mohammed VI’s defense policy. Morocco’s tank modernization plans have been facing challenges due to the conflicts taking place in various parts of the world, which have affected its ability to acquire new tanks or upgrade its existing ones. Morocco’s plans to acquire Merkava MK3 tanks from Israel, M1A1 Abrams tanks from the United States, and T-72M tanks from the Czech Republic have all been hindered by the ongoing wars in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Morocco has been left with an outdated and insufficient tank fleet, which could compromise its security and deterrence in the region. Morocco will have to find alternative sources of tanks, or negotiate with its partners to resume the delivery of the tanks it had ordered, in order to achieve its strategic vision of developing a modern and capable Royal Armored Corps.
Morocco has about 1,000 tanks in its inventory, mostly of diverse origin, such as the T-72, VT-1A, M1A1SA and M1A2M, and M60A3/A3TTS Patton. However, most of these tanks are outdated and require modernization to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Morocco has been seeking to upgrade its tank fleet by acquiring new tanks or upgrading its existing ones from various sources, such as Israel, the United States, and the Czech Republic.
Morocco’s plans to acquire Merkava MK3 tanks from Israel, M1A1 Abrams tanks from the United States, and T-72M tanks from the Czech Republic have all been delayed by the ongoing wars in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
The Merkava tanks would provide Morocco with superior firepower, advanced armor protection, and technological advancements that would greatly enhance its combat effectiveness and operational readiness. However, the potential deal was jeopardized by the outbreak of the Israeli-Hamas war in May 2023, which escalated into a regional conflict involving Iran, Syria, and Hezbollah. The war has strained Israel’s military resources and diplomatic relations, making it unlikely that it would be able to deliver the tanks to Morocco in the near future.
Morocco was hoping to receive 200 M1A1 Abrams tanks from the United States, which would complement its existing fleet of 222 M60A3 tanks. However, the delivery of the Abrams tanks was also delayed by the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, which erupted in April 2023, following Russia’s invasion of eastern Ukraine. The United States, as a NATO ally, has been providing military assistance to Ukraine, including the transfer of 45 T-72 tanks that were upgraded by the Czech Republic. These tanks were originally intended for Morocco, but were diverted to Ukraine without Rabat’s permission, violating a maintenance contract between Morocco and the Czech company Excalibur Army.
The unauthorized transfer of the T-72 tanks to Ukraine angered Morocco, which demanded compensation from the Czech Republic and Israel, which had a stake in the deal. Morocco had purchased 136 T-72B tanks from Belarus in the early 2000s, and had contracted Excalibur Army to upgrade them to the T-72M standard, which would improve their mobility, firepower, and protection. Morocco had received only 14 of the upgraded T-72M tanks for crew training, and was expecting to receive the rest of the batch by the end of 2023. However, the Czech company decided to send the remaining tanks to Ukraine, without informing Morocco, in order to fulfill the US-NATO request. This left Morocco with a gap in its tank modernization plans, and a loss of trust in its partners.
