Morocco has reportedly brought its Barak MX air and missile defense system into operational service, according to Israeli media citing satellite-detected electronic signatures. Acquired through a foreign military sale agreement with Israel in 2022, the system provides a multi-layered defensive shield capable of countering drones, aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic threats at ranges of up to 150 kilometers. Deliveries began in 2023, enabling rapid integration supported by deepening defense cooperation between Rabat and Tel Aviv. Analysts have characterized the deployment as an “Iron Dome of the desert,” highlighting its role in reinforcing airspace security across Morocco’s southern regions and the Sahara. The activation coincides with heightened regional concern over the proliferation of drones and loitering munitions, particularly from non-state actors such as the Polisario Front, underscoring the system’s strategic relevance.
