Morocco requests Abrams tank upgrades

The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential foreign military sale of enhancements to Morocco's Abrams tanks, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced on 29 November.

In a package worth $1.25 billion, Morocco has requested enhancements to 162 Abrams tanks to one of the following variants: the M1A1 situational awareness baseline version, the M1A2M, which includes commander’s independent thermal viewer, or the M1A1 US Marine Corps version, which includes slew to cue.

The requested package includes 162 M2 Chrysler mount machine guns; 324 M240 machine guns; 1,035 M865 training SABOT rounds; and 1,610 M831Al HEAT rounds. Also included are 162 export single channel ground and airborne radio systems; 162 RT-1702 receiver transmitters; 162 M250 smoke grenade launchers; M962 .50 calibre rounds; special armour; hunter/killer technology; communication support equipment; and other related elements of logistics and programme support.  

Morocco procured its Abrams fleet through the US Excess Defense Article programme. 

If the sale goes ahead, General Dynamics Land Systems will be the prime contractor.