First video Released of Moroccan PULS Rocket Launchers Conducting Live-Fire Exercise
On March 20, 2025, the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces showcased their long-range PULS rocket launchers in a live-fire exercise in the Moroccan Sahara. This demonstration, involving the EXTRA rocket capable of hitting targets 150 kilometers away, highlights Morocco's military modernization and strategic efforts amid regional tensions, particularly with Algeria.
hassan benyoub 
Moroccan Sahara, March 20, 2025, 3:30 PM PDT – The Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR) have unveiled the first images of a live-fire exercise involving their long-range PULS (Precise and Universal Launching System) rocket launchers, conducted in a remote area of the Moroccan Sahara. The exercise, detailed in a statement on X by @MarocArmee and reported by Barlamantoday.com, showcases Morocco’s growing military capabilities and its commitment to modernizing its defense arsenal.
راجمات PULS التابعة للمدفعية الملكية، خلال تمرين رماية حية.#TheRoyalArmedForces @ElbitSystemsLtd pic.twitter.com/99gJ4psaGI — Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (@MoroccanArmed) March 20, 2025
Details of the Exercise
According to military sources cited by Le360.ma and shared on X, the exercise took place in a desert region of the Moroccan Sahara, where a PULS launcher fired an EXTRA rocket with a range of 150 kilometers. The rocket successfully hit its target with precision at its maximum range, demonstrating the system’s accuracy and reliability, as captured in photos posted on X by @MoroccoDefense. The images, showing the rocket’s launch and impact, have garnered significant attention, with @MilitaryAfrica calling it “a game-changer for North African security.”
The Moroccan PULS systems, acquired from Israel, are capable of striking targets up to 300 kilometers away using Predator Hawk tactical ballistic missiles, per a 2023 Jane’s Defence Weekly report. The FAR has now received the full delivery of PULS launchers, which are fully operational, as confirmed in the FAR’s statement on X and detailed on farmorocco.wordpress.com.
Strategic Implications
This live-fire exercise highlights Morocco’s efforts to bolster its defense capabilities amid regional tensions, particularly with Algeria, its rival over Western Sahara, as noted in a 2024 Defense News analysis. The PULS system, part of a $500 million U.S.-approved sale in 2023, complements Morocco’s HIMARS rocket launchers, enhancing its ability to project power across North Africa, per The Defense Post. Posts on X, like @SaharaSecurity’s, suggest the exercise signals Morocco’s readiness to deter threats, while @AlgeriePatriote criticized it as “provocative.”
The EXTRA rocket, with a 150-kilometer range, and the Predator Hawk, extending to 300 kilometers, provide Morocco with a versatile, long-range strike capability, as outlined in GlobalData’s 2025 defense report. The exercise’s location in the Moroccan Sahara underscores Rabat’s strategic focus on securing its southern territories, disputed by the Polisario Front and Algeria, per Al Jazeera’s March 2025 coverage.
Technological and Regional Context
The PULS system, developed by Israel’s Elbit Systems, is known for its precision and adaptability, capable of firing various munitions, as detailed on elbitsystems.com. Morocco’s adoption of this technology, alongside U.S. HIMARS systems, reflects a shift toward advanced Western and Israeli weaponry, contrasting with Algeria’s reliance on Russian equipment, which has faced criticism for maintenance issues, per The Africa Report (March 2025).
