Morocco to buy Israeli spy satellite

Morocco is set to acquire a spy satellite from Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) in a deal valued at $1 billion, Moroccan media reported on Wednesday.

The state-owned IAI announced on Tuesday that it had secured a $1 billion contract to provide one of its systems to an undisclosed third party. IAI, known for producing some of Israel’s most advanced drones and defence missile systems, disclosed in a regulatory filing in Tel Aviv that the agreement will be executed over the next five years.

According to Moroccan news websites Le Desk and Le 360, which cited Israeli sources in Rabat, IAI will supply the Ofek 13 spy satellite under the contract. This satellite will replace two existing satellites from Airbus and Thales.

Both the head of the Israeli mission in Rabat and Morocco’s foreign ministry have declined to comment on the matter when approached by Reuters.

Attribution: Reuters