Morocco receives second batch of AH-64E Apache Guardian gunships from Boeing
April 25, 2026
The Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) marked a significant milestone in its ongoing push to modernise and enhance its rotary-wing strike capabilities on 7 April, when the air arm welcomed the delivery of its second batch of six AH-64E Apache Guardian gunships from Boeing.
As per local reports, this latest batch of AH-64Es for Morocco was delivered to the RMAF’s 7th Air Base in Khouribga and comprised six attack helicopters with serial numbers ranging from 2407 to 2412.
مشاهد حصرية للمرصد الاطلسي للدفاع و التسليح لوصول الدفعة الثانية من مروحيات الأباتشي AH-64E الهجومية المغربية 🇲🇦 . pic.twitter.com/6EUa1ZLFzr
— Defense Atlas – المرصد الأطلسي للدفاع و التسليح (@DefenseAtlas009) April 18, 2026
This second lot of Apache Guardians has doubled the RMAF’s current AH-64E fleet, which now stands at 12 aircraft, and comes just over a year after the initial six helicopters arrived in the African nation in March 2025.
The delivery of this latest batch of AH-64Es also marks the halfway point in the phased delivery of the 24-aircraft order that Morocco inked with Boeing for roughly $1.5bn in June 2020. In addition to the firm order for 24 AH-64Es, this acquisition contract also includes an option for Morocco to procure an additional 12 Apache Guardians, if exercised.
• المغرب 🇲🇦 يتسلم الدفعة الثانية 6 طائرات من مروحيات الأباتشي AH-64E Apache Guardian
— الدفاع العربي Defense Arab (@defensearab) April 19, 2026
• بذلك يرتفع إجمالي الأسطول إلى 12 مروحية ضمن صفقة تشمل 24 طائرة
• المروحيات مزودة بأنظمة استشعار ورادار متطورة وقدرات متطورة
• سيتم نشرها في القاعدة الجوية السابعة بخريبكة pic.twitter.com/FCUVHWOJgQ
These helicopters will be used to equip two planned Apache Guardian squadrons at the 7th Air Base, which will be operated under the command of the RMAF’s Aerocombat Wing. The base has already completed a series of extensive upgrades to accommodate the RMAF’s two new AH-64E squadrons.
The remaining 12 AH-64Es will be delivered in phased batches through late 2026 and 2027, with both of the remaining batches likely to comprise six gunships each.
With the serial numbers of the helicopters delivered to date ranging from 2401 to 2412, the third batch will likely comprise serials 2413 to 2418, while the fourth and final batch of this order will include serials 2419 to 2424.
How will the AH-64E improve the RMAF’s combat capabilities?
The arrival of these additional helicopters also marks a key step forward in Morocco’s domestic initial test and evaluation phase for the AH-64E – a process that is carried out with any new platform that enters operational military service – as the RMAF continues to mature its new Apache Guardian fleet and its capabilities ahead of its formal Initial Operational Capability (IOC) declaration.
Having now received half of its total 24-aircraft order, the RMAF will have greater flexibility to sustain aircraft rotations for air/ground crew training and frontline combat operations, as well as scheduled maintenance activities.
As Morocco’s Apache Guardian fleet continues to grow and mature, the RMAF will soon be in a position to begin phasing out legacy platforms, such as the SA342L Gazelle helicopter, which has long formed the backbone of the air arm’s light reconnaissance, strike and anti-tank capabilities.
While the Gazelle has served in this role for decades, it has long been the focus of obsolescence concerns and is unable to match the mission-specific all-weather capabilities and advanced systems offered by modern attack helicopters, like the Apache Guardian.
It remains unclear as to when the RMAF will begin phasing out its Gazelle fleet as part of its wider military modernisation initiative.
What was included in Morocco’s Apache Guardian purchase?
In addition to the 24 AH-64Es ordered by Rabat in June 2020 (as well as the option for the nation to procure 12 more airframes), Morocco’s acquisition of the Apache Guardian from the US also included a very comprehensive and strategically important armament package.
Morocco’s AH-64E package – complete with munitions, systems and relevant training and maintenance equipment and services – is estimated to cost approximately $4.5bn.
In November 2019, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) outlined which systems and munitions would be included with this deal:
- 79 T700-GE-701D turboshaft engines (72 installed with 6 spares);
- 36 AN/ASQ-170 Modernized Target Acquisition and Designation Sight, AN/AAR-11 Modernized Pilot Night Vision Sensors (M-TADS/PNVS);
- 18 AN/APG-78 Fire Control Radars (FCRs) with Radar Electronic Units (REU);
- 18 AN/APR-48B Modernized Radar Frequency Interferometers (MRFI);
- 551 AGM-114R Hellfire air-to-ground missiles;
- 60 AGM-114L Hellfire air-to-ground missiles;
- 72 M36E9 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs);
- 588 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) precision-guided rocket kits;
- 78 Embedded Global Positioning Systems with Inertial Navigation (EGIs);
- 39 AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems (CMWS);
- 200 AIM-92H Stinger missiles;
- 81 M261 rocket launchers;
- 78 M299 missile launchers;
- 36 M230E1 single-barrel electrically-drive chain guns, and;
- 93,000 rounds of 30mm chain gun ammunition.
The deal also included the provision of equipment related to the Apache Guardian’s growing manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) capability set, including 21 MUMT-2 video receivers and 39 MUMT-2 kits. The deal also included six Link 16 datalink terminals.
The AH-64E carries a standard weapons load of 16 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, 76 APKWS rockets and 1,200 rounds of 30mm chain gun ammunition.
Featured Image: One of the first six AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters to be delivered to the Royal Moroccan Air Force in March 2025. Morocco has 24 AH-64Es currently on order, with 12 having been delivered, but could grow its fleet to 36 aircraft. Image: Moroccan MOD/RMAF
