While the Spanish army will come into possession of its modern Eurofighters in 2026, Morocco plans to receive its first Mirage 2000-9 in 2027. The two neighboring countries are competing for air superiority.
The Royal Air Forces are preparing to receive 30 Mirage 2000-9 fighters from the United Arab Emirates. France, the producer of these planes, which had vetoed this transfer, recently agreed after an easing of diplomatic tensions with Rabat. The Moroccan Air Force should receive its first Mirage 2000-9 in 2027 when the Emirates will receive the 80 Rafale fighters acquired from
France, reports El Español
Meanwhile, Spain plans to acquire more Eurofighter fighters, considered one of the most advanced of the fourth generation of fighters like the Dassault Mirage 2000-9 that Morocco is set to receive. Last September, the Spanish government approved the purchase of 45 units of the Tanche 4+ version of the Eurofighter, the most modern currently available. These planes, whose delivery is scheduled for 2026, are intended to replace the F-18s which have become obsolete.
The Mirage 2000-9 and the Eurofighter differ in every way. The Mirage 2000-9 “resembles the new generation Rafale fighter”, according to its manufacturer Dassault. It is equipped with the RDY-3 radar, night vision goggles, navigation, and infrared detection systems, and the Talios targeting module. As for the Eurofighter, it is equipped with two low-bypass Eurojet EJ200 engines and can “exchange information in all areas and on all platforms”, informs its manufacturer.
With a length of 15.96 meters and a wingspan of 10.95, the Eurofighter has an empty weight of 11,000 kilograms. It can go at a maximum speed of 2,495 km/h and to an altitude of more than 19,000 meters. Its autonomy is 3 hours. For its part, the Mirage measures 14.36 meters long with a wingspan of 9.13 meters. It weighs 7,500 kilograms empty and has a single Snecma engine. The plane can go at a maximum speed of more than 2,300 km/h and an altitude of 17,000 meters. Data on its autonomy are not specified.
The Mirage 2000-9 is compatible with the Black Shaheen cruise missile with a range of 290 km and the MBDA MICA air-to-air missile, capable of reaching up to 80 km. The Eurofighter is compatible with IRIS-T missiles with a range of around 15 km, American AIM-120 air-to-air missiles with a range of more than 100 km, and Meteor missiles with a range of up to 150 km.
