Lockheed Martin will bring an F-35 cockpit demonstrator to the Marrakech Air Show this week, giving visitors a chance to see and interact with the controls of the US-made fifth-generation fighter. The cockpit will be on display from 7 to 10 October at the eighth Marrakech Air Show. Invited guests will be able to take part in scheduled demonstrations at Lockheed Martin’s main stand.
The display will also include models of the F-35A Lightning II, F-16 Fighting Falcon and C-130J Super Hercules. Other systems on show will include the HIMARS rocket system, Javelin anti-tank missile and Sniper Networked Targeting Pod.
The outdoor display will feature F-16 fighters operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) and a C-130J Super Hercules operated by the US Air Force.
Lockheed Martin is using the event to present both its aircraft and its wider defence systems. The company will also display models of the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptor and Extended Range Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (ER GMLRS).
The different systems are part of a wider push to show how aircraft, sensors, weapons and command systems can work together across air, land and missile-defence operations.
A supplier event will take place on 6 October, one day before the air show opens. Lockheed Martin will hold the event with the Moroccan Ministry of Industry and Trade and invite local companies to learn about its supplier requirements and manufacturing opportunities.
The meeting is aimed at helping Moroccan companies qualify to supply components and services for Lockheed Martin programmes around the world. Potential suppliers include companies based in the country’s growing aerospace industry.
Lockheed Martin has had a long defence relationship with Morocco. The country bought its first C-130H Hercules transport aircraft from the company in 1974. The relationship expanded with the delivery of F-16 Block 52 fighters from 2011.
The F-16 fleet is now being upgraded to the F-16V standard. The upgrade includes the AN/APG-83 AESA radar and other modern avionics. Morocco has also ordered 25 new F-16 Block 70/72 aircraft.
The country has expanded its interests beyond fighter aircraft. It has been cleared to buy 18 HIMARS launchers, along with ATACMS tactical missiles and GMLRS rockets. Its air-defence network is also being strengthened with Patriot PAC-3 MSE interceptors and related systems.
Lockheed Martin is also becoming more involved in aircraft maintenance inside Morocco.
Maintenance Aéro Maroc (MAM) is a joint project involving Lockheed Martin, Belgium-based Sabena Engineering and MEDZ, a subsidiary of the state-backed CDG Group. The project is developing a maintenance facility at Benslimane Air Base.
Construction started in October 2025. The wider site covers about 80,000 square metres, with the first phase including an 8,000-square-metre-plus hangar.
The first phase is focused on heavy maintenance of C-130 Hercules aircraft. Work will include structural maintenance, corrosion control and avionics upgrades. The facility is expected to expand its capabilities over time and could eventually support other aircraft, including F-16s.
The project is also designed to develop local technical skills and reduce the need to send aircraft abroad for major maintenance. It could eventually serve other air forces operating C-130 aircraft in North and West Africa.
The C-130J Super Hercules is another major part of Lockheed Martin’s pitch at the air show. The company is presenting the aircraft as an option for the future renewal of the RMAF’s ageing C-130H fleet.
The Super Hercules can carry troops and supplies and can also support humanitarian and disaster-response missions.
The F-35 display adds another dimension to the company’s presence at the show. The aircraft is a fifth-generation fighter designed around stealth, sensor fusion and electronic warfare.
The F-16 Block 72 belongs to the fourth-generation fighter class, although it uses advanced technology. Its AN/APG-83 AESA radar gives it strong tracking and electronic-warfare capabilities.
The F-35 uses the AN/APG-81 AESA radar, along with its Distributed Aperture System, Electro-Optical Targeting System and electronic-warfare equipment. These systems combine information from different sensors and give the pilot a single picture of the battlefield.
The F-35 is also designed to carry weapons and fuel inside its fuselage when stealth is needed. The F-16 carries its weapons and fuel externally, which can increase its radar signature.
The two aircraft also have different performance characteristics. The F-16 can reach more than Mach 2, while the F-35 has a top speed of about Mach 1.6. The F-16 can also carry a larger external weapons load when stealth is not required.
The F-35 is designed for missions in areas protected by modern air-defence systems. Its main advantage is not speed but its ability to remain difficult to detect while collecting and sharing information with other aircraft and forces.
The appearance of the F-35 at Marrakech does not mean that Morocco has announced plans to buy the aircraft. It does, however, give Lockheed Martin an opportunity to present its fifth-generation fighter to military delegations while also promoting its aircraft, missile systems and growing industrial presence in the country.
