Marrakech Airshow 2026: US F-35A Fighters Take to Moroccan Skies

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The skies over Marrakech are set to become a focal point for international military aviation as the United States takes part in the Marrakech Airshow 2026, held from October 7 to 10 at a Royal Moroccan Air Force base. Among the most prominent aircraft featured in the American contingent are two F-35A Lightning II fighter jets, bringing one of the world's most advanced combat aircraft to the Moroccan airshow.

The U.S. Department of War is participating in the eighth edition of the event with a delegation of around 45 military personnel. The two F-35As belong to the 48th Fighter Wing based at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom and are scheduled to conduct a flight demonstration during the show.

A broader American aviation presence

The American contingent extends beyond the F-35A. A HC-130J Super Hercules operated by the 176th Wing in Alaska and a KC-135 Stratotanker from the Utah Air National Guard are also taking part, although both aircraft are displayed on the ground.

The combination of fifth-generation fighter technology, tactical airlift capabilities and aerial refueling assets gives the U.S. presence a broader operational dimension. It also allows visitors and participating professionals to observe different elements of the American military aviation system in a single setting.

Beyond the aircraft themselves, the airshow is providing an opportunity for Moroccan and American personnel to work side by side. Pilots, technicians and specialists from both countries are engaged in operational coordination and professional exchanges throughout the event.

Decades of military cooperation

The American participation comes against the backdrop of a longstanding defense relationship between Morocco and the United States. Cooperation has developed over several decades through aircraft programs, military training and multinational exercises.

Morocco's F-16 fleet has become a central component of its combat aviation capabilities, while C-130 Hercules aircraft have also played an important role in the country's air transport capacity. Joint training activities have provided opportunities for Moroccan and American crews to develop interoperability and operational experience.

The African Lion exercise is one of the clearest examples of this cooperation. Moroccan and U.S. forces regularly conduct combined missions, including aerial refueling operations involving American KC-135 Stratotankers. Such activities are designed to strengthen coordination and improve the practical experience of participating aircrews.

An airshow with historic significance

The Marrakech event also carries a diplomatic dimension as Morocco and the United States approach the 250th anniversary of their bilateral relationship.

Brigadier General Matthew French, deputy chief of the Air National Guard for the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa, has emphasized the importance of continued military cooperation between the two countries. In his remarks, the Marrakech Airshow was presented as an opportunity to reinforce partnerships and develop durable capabilities in response to an evolving security environment.

U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Duke Buchan III has likewise highlighted the international character of the Marrakech event, describing it as a showcase for aerospace innovation as well as a symbol of the longstanding ties between Washington and Rabat.

Those ties have historical roots stretching back to the early years of the United States. Morocco was the first country to formally recognize the independence of the United States, establishing a diplomatic connection that has endured for nearly two and a half centuries.

F-35A flight adds a new dimension

The appearance of the F-35A Lightning II gives that historical relationship a highly visible contemporary dimension. The aircraft's participation places advanced American fighter technology at the center of an event that brings together military and civilian aviation stakeholders from different countries.

For Marrakech, the airshow therefore represents more than an exhibition of aircraft. It provides a platform for professional exchanges, defense cooperation and international aerospace engagement, while the presence of the F-35A offers a striking reminder of the depth and evolution of U.S.-Morocco military ties.

As the two countries approach a major historical anniversary, the sight of American fifth-generation fighters over Marrakech provides an aerial expression of a relationship that has evolved from early diplomatic recognition into sustained cooperation in defense, security, training and military exercises.