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ALGERIA'S VEILED REPLY....PICTURE OF A BUK M2 AND VISIT TO THE 8TH BB HEADQUARTERS...

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Algeria and Morocco capture 61% of arms imports in Africa. While tensions in Western Sahara fuel the rumors of an unlikely war, what weight the ground and air armies of the two countries?

Abdelkader Messahel reiterated Algeria's position on Tuesday, April 11, on the France 24 plateau: Western Sahara "is not a matter between Algeria and Morocco".

However, the chief of staff Ahmed Gaïd Salah has visited the military regions near the border, according to Algerian media, for an "inspection visit". Because in fact, the Algerian and Moroccan armies have been fighting along their common border for more than 55 years.

The surprise of the war of the Sands - which broke out in 1963 between Morocco and Algeria over the delimitation of the borders inherited from colonialism - allowed the nascent Algerian army to discover and tame its South, and to become familiar with the wars of maneuvering so different from the asymmetrical war (1954-1962) to which the National Liberation Army (NLA) was well trained.

On October 31, 1963, Haile Selassie (left to right), Emperor of Ethiopia and President of the Organization of African Unity, Ahmed Ben Bella, President of Algeria, Hassan II, King of Morocco and Modibo Keita, President of Mali, sign an agreement of these


In fact, Algeria and Morocco account for 61% of arms imports into Africa . Their two armies play a modern version of the confrontation between NATO and the USSR in Central Europe, with enormous means involved and very different strategies. It is precisely this huge difference between the two armies that makes it difficult to compare their strengths and goals.

Taking advantage of the oil windfall and its experience in the fight against terrorism, the National People's Army (NPA) - the official name of the Algerian army - has greatly strengthened in recent years while maintaining the same number of men, and brought greater flexibility to his troops.

If we compare it to what it was during the 1980s, the ANP, and especially the army, is no longer this monolith modeled on the armies of the Warsaw Pact

Moreover, if we compare it to what it was during the 1980s, the ANP, and especially the army, is no longer this monolith modeled on the armies of the Warsaw Pact, designed for wars. fast maneuvers that allow you to move quickly in hostile environments.

Today, the Algerian army aligns two reinforced and one-half armored divisions, two mechanized infantry divisions (which would have the status of armored divisions in other countries), and a motorized infantry division.

The Algerian armored divisions exceed 10,000 men each and have between 300 and 500 modern or modernized tanks. But in view of the latest acquisitions, there are actually four to five tank divisions.

These divisions have their air defense regiment equipped with radars, anti-aircraft artillery and anti-aircraft missiles that can create a bubble of about sixty kilometers to protect them, even in very advanced positions or out of the territory.

A professional army
They also have several towed and self-propelled artillery regiments, rocket and missile regiments. This configuration allows to engage these mini-armies on many fronts and still have many reserves and an efficient supply train and well protected.

Algeria aligns between 1,300 and 2,000 modern T72 M1M or AG and T-90SA type tanks and more than 2,000 armed armored vehicles and troop transports.

The FAR have multiplied the exercises with Western armies and have followed advanced training with Belgium, the United States and France

Morocco, with its experience in its war in Western Sahara, has a smaller army in terms of equipment but an equivalent number of men. The main advantage of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) is the professionalisation of the army. While the ANP relies heavily on the conscripts of the national service, the FAR have for the past ten years abolished conscription.

This effort will probably have an impact on the quality of the troops, especially as these last ten years, the FAR have multiplied the exercises with Western armies and have followed advanced training with Belgium, the United States and France in particular.

The King of Morocco Mohammed VI decorates the different branches of the Moroccan army in Rabat, May 14, 2006, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Royal Armed Forces (AFP)


The Moroccan army is much less well equipped than its Algerian counterpart. It totals 700 tanks and will reach with the delivery of the Abrams tank contract around 2020 the 1,000 tanks.

On this figure, it is necessary to count a good half composed of tanks of old generation which will have to be reformed or renovated. The FAR do not have armored divisions. Their doctrine favors groups of light and mobile combat grouped around a dozen armored battalions of three brigades of mechanized infantry and thirteen artillery battalions which represent the backbone and the strike force of the army of Moroccan land.

It is precisely the artillery that is the main advantage of Morocco against Algeria, even if the ANP has invested heavily to catch up.

Heavy consequences
As far as its air capabilities are concerned, Morocco has a total of 73 light fighters / bombers, the most recent being the 23 F16s acquired recently. They provide the Royal Air Force with the ability to intercept long-range air targets (beyond the pilot's visual field) and perform precision ground strikes. The remainder of the attack fleet consists of renovated and modernized Mirage F1 and F5, whose mission envelope has been expanded.

Opposite Algeria has a modern fleet composed of 58 multirole Sukhoi 30 MKA fighters, about fifteen Mig29S and about forty Su24 bombers. Most of the fleet is refuelable in flight and has a long radius of action, which is not the case for Moroccan aviation.

READ: Armament: thirty years of competition between Algeria and Morocco

Algeria also aligns about 200 MI8-derived Russian transport helicopters, around 100 Augusta Westland transport helicopters, 42 Mi28 heavy-attack helicopters and some 30 Mi24 modernized attack helicopters, while the Moroccan fleet is obsolete and revolves around a hundred French Puma transport helicopters and twenty light Gazelle attack helicopters.

Finally, what makes the difference on the ground between the Moroccan and Algerian armies is the anti-aircraft defense, almost non-existent in Morocco and one of the most successful in the world for Algeria.

What makes the difference on the ground between the Moroccan and Algerian armies is the anti-aircraft defense, almost non-existent in Morocco

In fact, the territory's air defense command forces have a very dense radar network covering even the majority of Moroccan territory and complete long, medium and short range anti-aircraft systems, which represents a real threat. for aviations even very advanced.

In conclusion, if the Algerian army far exceeds its Moroccan counterpart, the latter has worked hard to bridge the gap by becoming professional, gaining experience by working with advanced armies and participating in international coalitions.

Algeria aligns between 1 300 and 2 000 modern tanks of types T72 M1M or AG and T-90SA (AFP)


The Moroccan army has also benefited from huge quantities of weapons taken from the surplus of Western armies including those of Belgium from France, Spain and the United States.

Finally, if Morocco has the capacity to intervene beyond the wall in the liberated territories of Western Sahara, it is unlikely that it can take decisive action on the Algerian territory.



- Akram Kharief is a freelance journalist specializing in defense and security. He runs the menadefense.net information website on defense in the Middle East and North Africa since 2011.

 

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