Morocco’s quest to overhaul its ageing fleet of military transport aircraft has sparked a fierce rivalry between two aerospace heavyweights, with Brazil’s Embraer edging closer to sealing a contract for its KC-390 Millennium while America’s Lockheed Martin mounts a determined challenge to keep its C-130J Super Hercules in contention.
Valued at more than $600 million, the deal would see the Royal Moroccan Air Force acquire four to five new airlifters to succeed its current lineup of 14 C-130H Hercules and two KC-130H tanker variants, whose operational readiness has come under scrutiny as they approach the end of their service lives. This procurement comes at a time when Morocco’s defence spending has surged to $12.88 billion in 2024, an increase of nearly $484.7 million from the previous year, reflecting the kingdom’s determination to modernise its forces amid regional tensions, including the protracted dispute with the Polisario Front over Western Sahara and broader security commitments in Africa.
The Royal Moroccan Air Force needs versatile platforms that can haul substantial cargo loads while adapting to a spectrum of roles, from deploying troops in rugged, inaccessible terrains to conducting search and rescue efforts, medical evacuations, and peacekeeping contributions under the African Union or NATO auspices. These aircraft must endure harsh conditions, such as dusty airstrips in the Sahara or humid coastal zones, with strong engines, ample cargo holds, and the resilience to function without extensive ground support. Interoperability ranks high on Morocco’s priorities, ensuring seamless coordination with international allies during joint exercises or multinational operations. Both contenders satisfy these demands, but the choice boils down to balancing the proven track record of the C-130 family against the KC-390’s contemporary efficiencies in fuel consumption and maintenance.
Embraer’s KC-390 Millennium, a twin-engine jet-powered transport introduced in the mid-2010s, brings a fresh approach to the table with its multi-role design that emphasises speed, payload versatility, and lower operating costs. Capable of carrying up to 26 tonnes of cargo, it reaches a maximum speed of 987.8 kilometres per hour and a ceiling of 10,973 metres, with a normal range of 2,590 kilometres that extends further in ferry configurations. Its fly-by-wire controls and advanced avionics allow for precise handling, while features like aerial refuelling—for both fixed-wing fighters and helicopters—add to its utility in extended missions. The aircraft excels in dropping paratroopers, launching supplies via airdrop, or even combating wildfires with specialised kits, making it a one-stop solution for air forces managing diverse threats on a budget. Embraer positions the KC-390 as ideal for African nations, where a single platform can cover logistics, humanitarian aid, and tactical insertions without the need for multiple specialised fleets, promising high availability and productivity through streamlined logistics.
Negotiations between Embraer and Morocco have gained momentum over recent years, culminating in a series of milestones that suggest a deal is on the horizon. In March 2024, a demonstration KC-390 from the Brazilian Air Force visited Rabat and Kenitra Air Base, where Moroccan pilots and crews flew aboard to assess its performance firsthand, igniting talk of an impending agreement. That same year, the two nations inked a Memorandum of Understanding at the Marrakech Air Show to pursue joint ventures in commercial aviation, defence, and urban air mobility, signed by Moroccan Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour, Minister Delegate for Investment Karim Zidane, Moroccan Investment and Export Development Agency Managing Director Ali Seddiki, and Embraer Commercial Aviation President and CEO Arjan Meijer. This pact envisions a $1 billion investment to build an integrated aviation hub in Morocco, generating around 1,000 jobs by 2035 through maintenance, repair, and overhaul facilities for civil and military aircraft. It also highlights shared aspirations between Brazil and Morocco as Global South leaders to foster Atlantic cooperation, potentially paving the way for technology transfers and local assembly that could offset costs and create economic ripple effects.
By September 2024, during the C-390 Operators Meeting, a presentation slide displayed Morocco’s flag alongside those of Chile and the United Arab Emirates as prospective users, confirming the kingdom’s entry into the C-390 User Group after the Rabat evaluations. Embraer views Africa as a fertile market, projecting a need for 105 aircraft in the KC-390’s category over the next two decades, part of a global demand for 490 such platforms. Securing Morocco would not only yield financial gains but also serve as a diplomatic coup, expanding Embraer’s reach into Africa and the Middle East, regions where it seeks to challenge established players. The company’s defence ties with Brazil, formalised in a 2024 cooperation accord with Morocco, could sway the decision, offering a pathway to diversify suppliers and lessen dependence on traditional Western sources.
Yet Lockheed Martin refuses to concede ground, leveraging its longstanding relationship with Morocco to push the C-130J Super Hercules, the latest iteration of a design that has defined military airlift for decades. This four-engine turboprop, with a maximum takeoff weight of 164,000 pounds, achieves speeds up to 410 miles per hour and a range that varies by payload but often exceeds 2,000 nautical miles when carrying 44,000 pounds of cargo. It accommodates up to 128 combat troops, 92 paratroopers, or 97 litters for medical transport, with a cargo bay that handles oversized loads without specialised equipment, thanks to a truck-bed-height ramp. Upgrades over earlier models include more powerful Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 engines, enhanced avionics for better navigation in adverse weather, and reduced crew requirements, all while maintaining the Hercules’ legendary short-field performance on unprepared runways. Morocco’s history with the C-130 dates back decades, including a 2019 request under the US Excess Defence Articles programme for two C-130H aircraft, approved a year later, which has fostered familiarity and existing infrastructure.
Lockheed’s campaign has intensified, reportedly enlisting support from the US State Department to underscore the strategic benefits of sticking with American technology, especially amid strengthened US-Morocco relations under the Trump administration. This push transforms what seemed like Embraer’s lead into a tight race, with geopolitical considerations looming large. Morocco’s potential pursuit of Lockheed’s F-35 fighter jets could tip the scales, as bundling deals might yield concessions or integrated support. Recent investments reinforce Lockheed’s foothold: in 2022, a partnership with Belgian firms Sabca and Sabena Aerospace, alongside Morocco, established Maintenance Aero Maroc at Benslimane Airport—a 15,000 square metre facility for maintenance, repair, overhaul, and upgrades of military aircraft and helicopters, creating up to 300 jobs in the presence of Moroccan Defence Minister Abdeltif Loudyi. In July 2025, L3Harris Technologies won a contract to upgrade the Royal Moroccan Air Force’s C-130 fleet, involving avionics enhancements, depot maintenance, engine refurbishments, and ancillary services at their Texas site from 2025 to 2029, extending the aircraft’s lifespan and ensuring mission readiness.
For Lockheed, triumphing in Morocco would reaffirm its market dominance, particularly in Africa, where the C-130’s ubiquity opens doors to follow-on contracts and strengthens ties with NATO partners. The company’s global network provides unmatched logistical backing, a factor that could appeal to Morocco’s ambitions in regional stability and international deployments. However, Embraer’s KC-390, with its jet propulsion offering faster transit times and lower lifecycle costs, positions it as a disruptive force against the ageing C-130 lineage, potentially eroding Lockheed’s hold if Morocco opts for innovation over continuity.
This 2025 showdown encapsulates broader trends in defence procurement, where cost, performance, and alliances intersect. Morocco’s choice will mould its air mobility for generations, influencing operations in Western Sahara—where rapid resupply and evacuation are critical—and beyond, while signalling its balancing act between Western powers and emerging Global South collaborators. As negotiations progress, the outcome could reshape market dynamics, with Embraer eyeing African expansion and Lockheed defending its turf in a continent ripe for modernisation.
