The US has approved a potential sale of 25 M88A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lifting Extraction System (HERCULES) vehicles to Morocco.
The estimated cost of the vehicles and/or M88A1 long supply HERCULES refurbished vehicles with associated equipment is expected to be $239.35m.
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The possible foreign military sale is subject to the approval of Congress, which has been notified about the deal by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).
Morocco will procure 25 M2 .50 calibre machine guns, 25 export single channel ground and airborne radio system (SINCGARS), 30 AN/VAS-5B driver vision enhancer (DVE) kits, 25 M239 or M250 smoke grenade launchers, as well as 1,800 M76 (G826) or L8A1/L8A3 (G815) smoke grenade rounds.
In addition, the package may include 25,000 A576 cartridges, .50 calibre linked 4 API/API-T F/M2, as well as 300 G815 – grenade with smoke screening L8A1/A3.
The customer request also comprises 2,500 A541 – 50 armour-piercing incendiary tracer M20 F/M2, 91,800 A557 – cartridge, .50 calibre 4 ball/1 tracer linked M33 F/M2, as well as 54,000 A598 – cartridge, and .50 calibre blank F/M2.
DSCA said in a statement: “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a major non-Nato ally that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in North Africa.”
The M88A2 HERCULES and/or M88A1 long supply HERCULES refurbished vehicles will be used in the modernisation of the Morocco Armed Forces.
It will also allow the country to better deter regional threats while satisfying its existing and future combat vehicle recovery needs.
BAE in York, Pennsylvania, US, will serve as the principal contractor for the sale.
The M88 family of vehicles is used to recover stranded or disabled combat vehicles.
