The Royal Air armed forces and French Air Forces have conducted lately a joint exercise to reinforce tactical proficiency,coordination and interoperability amid recent geopolitical tensions.
Dubbed “Marathon25”,the exercise saw the participation of Moroccan F-16 fighter jets and Puma helicopters for transport and medical evacuation missions,while France contributed five Rafale B jets from the 4th Fighter Wing and an A330 MRTT Phénix for air refueling and strategic transport.
The training included a live-fire campaign by the Rafale jets,in-flight refueling of Moroccan F-16s,and joint exercises focusing on several combat scenarios.
This is the first time Rafale jets participate alongside Moroccan F-16s in an exercise. The French Army posted photos of this military air exercise on its X account.
Moroccan-French military cooperation is based on a longstanding partnership rooted in historical ties,strategic interests,and mutual defense goals.
The two countries have cooperation agreements in military training,intelligence sharing,and counterterrorism. France has supplied Morocco with military hardware,including helicopters and radar systems,and provides technical support for maintenance and upgrades.
United News - unews.co.za