Two US Air Force F-35A Lightning II fighter jets took to the skies over Marrakech on Wednesday as part of the opening of the Marrakech Airshow 2026, underscoring the depth of military and aviation cooperation between the United States and Morocco.
The US Department of War is participating in the airshow, held at the Royal Moroccan Air Force base in Marrakech from October 7 to 10, with a delegation of 45 US military personnel.
The US contingent features two F-35As from the 48th Fighter Wing, based at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom. An HC-130J Super Hercules from the 176th Wing, based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, and a KC-135 Stratotanker from the Utah Air National Guard are also being showcased on the ground.
The appearance of the F-35As is particularly notable given the longstanding US-Morocco air partnership, which has centered largely on the F-16 Fighting Falcon and C-130 Hercules platforms. Morocco’s F-16 fleet forms the backbone of the Royal Moroccan Air Force’s combat capabilities and regularly participates in exercises and operations alongside US forces.
“It is an honor to be in Marrakech as we approach the 250th anniversary of the US-Morocco Alliance,” said Brigadier General Matthew French, Deputy Air National Guard Advisor to the Commander of US Air Forces in Europe and Africa.
“Hosted by the United States’ oldest ally, this forum perfectly illustrates our objective: building strong and enduring allied and partner forces capable of responding to an ever-changing security environment,” he added, stressing that cooperation strengthens both the individual and collective capabilities of the two countries.
US Ambassador to Morocco Duke Buchan III likewise reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to its Moroccan partner, highlighting US efforts to provide advanced air and aerospace capabilities and to work jointly with Morocco to promote peace, stability and shared prosperity across Africa.
Buchan noted that the two countries have been “flying side by side” for decades, from pilot training programs to increasingly complex joint operations.
The military partnership comes against the backdrop of one of the world’s oldest bilateral relationships. Morocco was the first country to recognize the independence of the United States and to seek diplomatic relations with the newly established American republic.
Nearly 250 years later, Washington and Rabat continue to anchor their partnership in shared interests in peace, security and regional prosperity — a relationship showcased once again in the skies over Marrakech.