Morocco has submitted a formal request to the United States to train Royal Moroccan Air Force pilots on F-35A stealth fighter jets, signalling preparations for a potential acquisition of the fifth-generation aircraft.
- Morocco has formally requested US training for its pilots on F-35A stealth fighter jets, hinting at intentions to acquire the advanced aircraft.
- This request coincides with Morocco strengthening military ties with Washington and upgrading its air force, including acquiring F-16 Block 72 jets from Lockheed Martin.
- Training for Moroccan pilots may take place at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, emphasizing intensive classroom and simulator preparation due to the F-35's single-seat design.
- Morocco's push for military modernization, including potential F-35 procurement, is partly driven by its rivalry with Algeria, which is also upgrading its air power with Russian-made systems.
Moroccan publication Assahifa Arabic first reported on October 8, 2026, citing sources familiar with the discussions, that Rabat had formally requested US approval to train its pilots on Lockheed Martin’s fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets, a move that could pave the way for acquiring the advanced aircraft.
The request marks a potential step in Morocco’s efforts to modernise its military, ranked Africa’s sixth most powerful in the 2026 Global Firepower Index, as Rabat deepens defence cooperation with Washington and seeks to expand its air combat capabilities.
Morocco targets F-35A fighter jets amid US air display
Rabat’s reported request specifically concerns the F-35A, a fifth-generation stealth fighter designed to operate from conventional land-based airfields.
While the sources did not disclose how many Moroccan pilots would undergo training or when the programme might begin, they indicated that the F-35A best meets the Royal Moroccan Air Force’s operational requirements.
According to Assahifa Arabic, "Morocco is specifically interested in the F-35A variant, given its suitability for operations from conventional land-based air bases and the requirements of the Royal Moroccan Air Force."
The reported request comes alongside an aerial display involving two US Air Force F-35As at the Marrakech International Air Show in October 2026.
US Africa Command (AFRICOM) identified the aircraft as belonging to the 48th Fighter Wing, based at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom.
During the exhibition, Lockheed Martin also showcased an F-35 cockpit simulator and aircraft models, highlighting the fighter’s advanced sensors, stealth technology and electronic warfare capabilities.
Meanwhile, sources cited by the publication "believe that the submission of the training request indicates that preparations have advanced and strengthens the possibility of an imminent announcement of a deal involving a significant number of the world's most advanced fighter jets."
US pilot training arrangements and potential F-35 deal
As part of the reported preparations, pilot training could last between five and eight months, with Luke Air Force Base in Arizona identified as a possible destination.
Under existing arrangements, US military instructors oversee flight training while Lockheed Martin personnel support classroom and simulator instruction, as seen in F-35 programmes for Norway and Italy, although Morocco’s participation would require US approval, funding and security clearances.
Regarding the potential purchase, the publication further explained that "the completion of the aircraft acquisition deal through the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program will put Moroccan pilots on a training program included in the package agreed between Morocco and the US government, or arranged through a complementary government agreement."
F-35 acquisition could reshape North Africa’s air power
Beyond the proposed training arrangements, sources cited in the report suggested that acquiring the F-35A could make Morocco the “king of the skies” in North Africa, citing the aircraft’s low radar signature, advanced sensors and ability to operate in heavily defended airspace.
However, Washington has yet to approve an F-35 sale to Rabat. If the deal goes ahead, Morocco could become Africa’s second country to acquire fifth-generation stealth fighter jets, following neighbouring Algeria, which received its first Russian-made Su-57 aircraft in 2026.