After the airdrop of a batch of military equipment, which had been conditioned by Moroccan and American executives at the Kenitra air base, aircraft from the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) and the US Armed Forces carried out a series of mass airdrop operations on the drop zone, with the execution, once the aircraft had landed, of a ground maneuver aimed at carrying out the assigned mission.
“As part of the 19th edition of the +African Lion+ exercise, paratroopers from the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) and the US Armed Forces carried out an airdrop exercise, to reinforce the operational interoperability of the two countries’ paratroopers and promote their joint action,” Major Mohamed El Kouiti, from the 2nd Parachute Infantry Brigade at the Benguerir military base, told the press on the sidelines of the maneuvers.
During this collective airdrop operation, military officers from both armies conducted a tactical exercise, demonstrating their ability to carry out a wide range of joint maneuvers, explained El Kouiti.
For his part, Lieutenant-Colonel John Staeheli, Battalion Commander of U.S. Forces Africa’s Southern Europe Task Force (SETAF), said the combined joint operation, which brought together 240 Moroccan and American paratroopers, offered the exercises “we need to fight and win” together on the contemporary battlefield.
Reaffirming the US Army’s commitment to “maintaining strong relationships with our allies and partners”, he said that Morocco is one of our oldest and closest allies. Friendship between both countries goes back to the very proclamation of the United States, he added.
Staeheli emphasized that the African Lion exercise is an illustration of the long-standing security relationship between the United States of America and Morocco, saying he was more convinced than ever that “we are stronger when we are together.”
The main aim of these maneuvers is to harmonize tactical, technical and logistical procedures, from the planning phase through to conduct in the field, and to develop the capabilities of the Royal Armed Forces and the US Forces in the field of force projection.
In particular, this involves setting up a joint operational center to monitor the various situations and airborne maneuvers, pooling efforts, particularly in terms of air and medical logistics, carrying out combined load conditioning and splitting the airborne echelon and its complement, and coordinating plans for grounding and maneuvering on the ground.
“African Lion” is a combined joint exercise organized annually by the Royal Armed Forces and the U.S. Armed Forces.
“African Lion 2023”, which will run until June 16, in seven regions of Morocco, namely: Agadir, Tan-Tan, Mehbes, Tiznit, Kénitra, Benguérir and Tifnit, remains an annual event that contributes to consolidating Moroccan-American military cooperation, and reinforcing exchanges between the armed forces of different countries, with a view to promoting security and stability in the region.
