ORYX 26: When Moroccan F-16s Take to the French Skies
McG24, Paris.
Four F-16s from the Royal Moroccan Air Forces have landed in Orange, sharing the tarmac with French Rafales. This striking imagery marks a significant milestone in military cooperation between Rabat and Paris.
This time, it was the Moroccan aircraft making the journey. On September 23, four F-16s from the Royal Moroccan Air Forces touched down at Base Aérienne 115 in Orange. A few days later, they participated in ORYX 26, a joint Franco-Moroccan exercise running from September 28 to October 2, alongside the French Air and Space Force’s Rafales.
The scene is unusual. Moroccan F-16s stationed at a French base, Moroccan pilots and technicians collaborating with their French counterparts, missions planned and executed within the same framework. However, the significance of this scenario extends far beyond the photograph. For Morocco, this is primarily an exercise in projection.
This Time, Morocco Comes to France
The F-16s did not arrive alone. According to Raids Aviation, they were accompanied by a C-130H carrying a portion of the logistical support and a contingent of around fifty military personnel. This detail is crucial.
Flying a combat aircraft abroad is one thing; bringing along the personnel, maintenance, and necessary resources for its operational use is another. At Orange Air Base, the Royal Moroccan Air Forces must operate far from their usual environment. They are working within a French infrastructure, adhering to French procedures, while participating in a shared mission scenario. It’s this experience that gives ORYX 26 its true significance.
A Narrative That Doesn’t Begin in Orange
The current sequence extends an already established cooperation. In 2025, during the Marathon exercise, French Rafales traveled to Morocco to train with Moroccan F-16s. A year later, the roles reversed. The Rafales had come to Morocco; now the Moroccan F-16s are in France.
This back-and-forth exchange is noteworthy as it transitions cooperation from mere discussions to practical application. The crews reconnect, adapt to new environments, work together, and familiarize themselves with their partner’s methods. These are tangible developments, and in military contexts, experience often holds as much weight as the equipment itself.
Let’s Set Aside the F-16 vs. Rafale Rivalry
The presence of both aircraft side by side could easily spark a performance showdown. That, however, is not the focus here. ORYX 26 is centered around preparing and executing air missions in an environment designed to simulate aerial threats and ground-to-air defense systems. Pilots, controllers, mechanics, and support staff are all involved.
In other words, this exercise does not merely test aircraft; it evaluates the ability of personnel and systems to work in unison. For the Royal Moroccan Air Forces, the benefits are clear: each deployment of this kind enhances the crew’s experience and their capability to operate in an international framework.
A Deepening Cooperation
The air exercise is part of a broader Franco-Moroccan military collaboration. The two nations are also engaged in joint naval activities, such as the CHEBEC 26 exercise in the western Mediterranean. From Rabat’s perspective, the increase in exercises holds particular significance.
Morocco is modernizing its military capabilities while simultaneously seeking to create diverse training opportunities with various partners. France is among these partners, alongside other collaborations established by the Kingdom. This strategy is essential for building a varied operational experience without confining Morocco’s defense policy to a single relationship.
Four F-16s and a Simple Message
Ultimately, the photograph taken in Orange speaks volumes. Four Moroccan F-16s on a French base. There is no need to engage in a rivalry with the Rafale or stage a flashy display of force. The image conveys its message clearly.
It showcases a Moroccan air force capable of relocating its aircraft, crews, and support, and integrating them into a complex exercise far from its home bases. This aspect is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing elements of ORYX 26.
Morocco is not just aiming to have modern aircraft; it desires its forces to know how to employ, support, and work alongside other militaries when required. The Moroccan F-16s in Orange are thus not merely there to fly alongside the Rafales. They have come to gain experience and, in the process, demonstrate how far the Moroccan air force is now capable of projecting its power.
