Wing Loong II side view, Dubai Air Show 2017. By Wikimedia user (Mztourist)
The Moroccan military has purchased an unspecified number of Wing Loong II from China, the French International Defense & Security (DIS) magazine, which is specialized in defense, armament and geostrategy, revealed in its November issue.
The Wing Loon II was developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group for use as an aerial reconnaissance and precision strike platform. It has an endurance of 32 hours and an operational range of up to 4,000 kilometers.
The combat drone is capable of carrying up to 12 anti-tank guided missiles and has a maximum speed of 370 kilometers per hour. Furthermore, the drone can be equipped with a satellite data-link that provides it with a long range strike capability.
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DSI didn’t provide any details on the Moroccan-Chinese drone deal, which was not likely the first of its kind. In 2020, Morocco received four Wing Loong combat drones from the less capable first generation. At the time, it was reported that the drones were a gift from the United Arab Emirates.
Morocco have been working to build a large drone force. Over the last two years, the kingdom purchased dozens of drones, including IAI Herons from Israel, Bayraktar TB2s from Turkey and MQ-1 Predator XP from the United States.
The new drone deal came amid growing tensions in the disputed Western al-Sahara region. Morocco has been fighting the Algerian-backed Polisario Front in the region since the 1970s.
