December 25, 2007:
Morocco is buying 24 late model (Block 50/52)
U.S. F-16 fighters. Spares, training and additional electronics (recon,
electronic warfare and targeting pods)
push the value of this deal to over $2 billion. Morocco is doing this in
response to the Algerian purchase of 36
MiG-29s and 30 Su-30s. Currently the Moroccan air forces has 39 U.S. F-5s and
29 French Mirage F1s. These are 1960s technology, and would not stand a chance
against the new Russian fighters Algeria is receiving.