The Apache in Morocco: A Strategic Advantage or Just Media Hype?

Morocco’s acquisition of AH-64E Apache helicopters has been widely publicized, with some Moroccan sources claiming that this deal provides a strategic advantage over Algeria. However, a deeper military analysis shows that these claims are exaggerated. Algeria has decades of experience operating attack helicopters and possesses a well-established fleet, including the Mi-28NE "Night Hunter" and modernized Mi-24s, giving it a clear numerical and tactical superiority in this domain.

Combat Experience: An Irreplaceable Advantage

In military evaluations, owning advanced weaponry is not enough—the most crucial factor is combat experience and operational mastery. Unlike Morocco, which is acquiring attack helicopters for the first time, Algeria has been operating them for over 40 years.

Algeria has deployed Mi-24 "Hind" helicopters since the 1980s, gradually modernizing them, and later reinforced its fleet with Mi-28NE helicopters, deliveries of which began in 2016. Over the decades, Algeria has conducted extensive training exercises to coordinate its attack helicopters with armored units and ground forces—a key factor in any battle.

Meanwhile, Morocco will need years of training and drills to develop a coherent military doctrine that effectively integrates the Apache into its combat operations. Additionally, operating these helicopters requires a sophisticated logistical infrastructure to ensure maintenance, ammunition supply, and spare parts availability.

Numerical Superiority: Algeria Has Over 150 Attack Helicopters

Numbers play a decisive role in modern warfare and cannot be easily compensated for with technology alone. Algeria currently operates over 150 attack helicopters, including the Mi-28NE, modernized Mi-24s, and armed Mi-171Sh helicopters, whereas Morocco has only 6 Apaches delivered so far, with a target of 24 in total.

Even if Morocco reaches its full fleet of 24 Apaches, the numerical gap remains overwhelming, making it nearly impossible to challenge Algeria’s aerial dominance in any potential conflict. Militarily, numerical superiority allows for simultaneous operations across multiple fronts, which is difficult to achieve with a small fleet.

Furthermore, combat experience is irreplaceable. A few training courses in the U.S. cannot turn an air force into a fully operational attack unit. Coordination between attack helicopters and armored units, including tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and ground troops, is not something that can be learned through simulations or short-term training. It requires years of field exercises and real combat experience.

Algeria has perfected this coordination through decades of large-scale military exercises, ensuring its attack helicopters work in synergy with T-90SA tanks, BMP-2 infantry vehicles, and other mechanized units, making them far more effective in real battle scenarios.

Technical Comparison: Apache AH-64E vs. Mi-28NE "Night Hunter"

AH-64E Apache (Moroccan Variant): Advanced but Limited

✅ Strengths:

• M-TADS/PNVS electro-optical system, offering high-quality night vision and target acquisition.
• Diverse weaponry:
  • M230 30mm Chain Gun with 1,200 rounds.
  • AGM-114 Hellfire missiles (8–11 km range, laser-guided).
  • AIM-92 Stinger air-to-air missiles, useful against helicopters and drones.
  • Hydra 70mm unguided rockets for ground targets.
• Advanced communication systems for coordination with ground and air units.

❌ Limitations:

• No Longbow AN/APG-78 radar, reducing its ability to detect and engage multiple targets simultaneously.
• Weaker armor compared to Russian counterparts, making it more vulnerable to man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS).
• Heavily reliant on U.S. maintenance and supply chains, which could be a logistical weakness in prolonged conflicts.

Mi-28NE "Night Hunter": Heavily Armored & Lethal

✅ Strengths:

• Heavily armored, capable of withstanding 23mm caliber rounds and offering cockpit protection with titanium plates.
• Shipunov 2A42 30mm cannon, more powerful than the Apache’s M230.
• Khrizantema and Ataka anti-tank missiles, with a range of up to 10 km and the ability to penetrate 1,200mm of reactive armor.
• N025E radar, allowing multi-target engagement—a significant advantage over the Moroccan Apache.
• Ejector seats for pilots, a safety feature absent in the Apache.

❌ Limitations:

• Less maneuverable than the Apache in urban combat.
• Heavier, requiring a more robust maintenance infrastructure.

Conclusion: Algeria Retains the Advantage

A realistic analysis shows that the Moroccan Apache does not pose a strategic threat to Algeria for several reasons:

1️⃣ Algeria’s numerical superiority: With over 150 attack helicopters compared to 6 currently in Morocco (24 in total), Algeria maintains overwhelming dominance.

2️⃣ Combat experience: Algerian forces have decades of real-world combat and training experience, whereas Morocco is still in the learning phase.

3️⃣ Ground-force coordination: Algerian attack helicopters operate in perfect synchronization with T-90SA tanks and mechanized infantry through regular joint exercises, while Morocco will require years to develop similar capabilities.

4️⃣ Technical superiority of the Mi-28NE: Algerian helicopters feature advanced radars and superior anti-tank weaponry, while the Moroccan Apaches lack the crucial Longbow radar, reducing their situational awareness.

🔴 Final Verdict: At this stage, Algeria remains the dominant aerial power in North Africa in terms of attack helicopters, combat experience, and numerical strength. While the Apache is a valuable addition to Morocco’s arsenal, it does not alter the strategic balance of power between the two nations.