Moroccan Puma Helicopter: A Graceful Warhorse

The Moroccan Puma helicopter is a battlefield veteran with decades of dust and fire under its rotors. Morocco first struck a deal with France in 1974 to acquire 40 of these durable workhorses for its armed forces. Throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s, Moroccan Pumas played a key role in the fight against Polisario Front separatists, flying missions deep into the contested territory of Western Sahara.

That dominance came under threat in the early 1980s, when rebel forces acquired Soviet-supplied 2K12 Kub surface-to-air missiles. After suffering several aircraft losses, Moroccan air operations were forced to scale back, exposing the risks of modern air warfare in asymmetric conflicts.

But the story didn’t end there. In 2007, Morocco kicked off a major modernization program for its Pumas, extending their service life and battlefield capabilities. Today, these helicopters continue to fly—training here alongside U.S. forces during the annual African Lion exercises near Tan Tan, Morocco.

Tough, tested, and upgraded, the Moroccan Puma shows that a warhorse can age with grace—and still be ready for the fight.