Algeria and Morocco are located in North Africa , and are considered two relatively powerful countries in Africa.
Algeria is a traditional friendly country of China and has purchased a large number of Chinese weapons. The PLZ-45 155mm artillery on the ground, the SR-5 multi-barrel rocket launcher, the YLC-8B anti-stealth radar, the 056A frigate, the C-28A frigate (3000 tons class), and the CM-302 supersonic anti-ship missile, etc. The emergence of this bunch of weapons highlights the status of Chinese weapons in Algeria.
Algerian C-28A frigate
In the past few years of Aji and Russia-Ukraine conflicts, drone shines brightly. So, Algeria began a series of procurements of Chinese drones. From 2016 to 2018, Afghanistan purchased China's Rainbow 3, Rainbow 4 drone in several batches and displayed it publicly.
The high-quality and low-cost Chinese drone has given Algeria a taste of the sweetness. Therefore, in 2021, Afghanistan purchased a larger Winglong 2 drone from another Chinese company (方洲方方方), which is also one of the main forces of China's active drones. In early 2022, Afang purchased the Rainbow 5 drone , which is the same level as Winglong 2, from Rainbow Company.
The great development of Algeria has put a lot of pressure on Morocco. So, Morocco purchased VT-1A tanks, SR-2 rocket launchers, etc. from China early.
In order to cope with the rapid development of Afghanistan air force, Morocco began to systematically purchase ground air defense forces from China, such as the short-range DK-9 air defense missile and the medium-range Tianlong-50 (TL-50) air defense missile. In recent years, Morocco has spent a lot of money to purchase the export version of the Hongqi 9B air defense missile from China (arrived in 2021). The Hongqi 9B is one of China's most advanced air defense missiles, with a range of more than 260 kilometers. It can be called a killer in Morocco.
At the same time, Morocco has also begun purchasing drones from China. First, in 2020, Morocco bought four second-hand Wingshode 1 drones from the UAE and used them to practice first; in 2022, Morocco officially purchased the advanced Wingshode 2 drone from China.
Morocco's development in air defense forces and drones has in turn given rise to higher and more demands for drones in Algeria. In September 2022, Algeria purchased the WJ-700 Falcon drone from China. The size, takeoff weight and bomb load of the WJ-700 are similar to those of the WJ-700, but in terms of flight altitude, especially flight speed, it is much higher than that of the WJ-700 km/h (600-700 km/h, basically twice as high). WJ-700 can be regarded as the high-altitude high-speed version of Wingshode 2. At the same time, Afrika ordered a batch of Rainbow 4 drones.
Falcon drone
The arms race between Algeria and Morocco is spiraling up like this. Among them, China's advanced weapons are one of the important choices for the two countries. Here we can remind the two countries that China's Rainbow Company and Chengfei have also developed more advanced Rainbow 6 drones, Rainbow 7 drones, Winglong 3 drones, Attack 11 drones, WZ-8 drones, etc. At the same time, China also has various advanced anti-drone equipment, even including tactical laser interception system - Saudi has been purchased and has been in practice, and the effect is very good. Welcome the two countries to come and purchase and continue the competition.
Author: Chenxi Defense
