Jordanian Armed Forces

Jordanian Armed Forces
source
Name	Jordanian Armed Forces
Native name	القوات المسلحة الأردنية
Founded	1920 (as Arab Legion)
Country	Jordan
Allegiance	House of Hashim
Headquarters	Amman
Commander in chief	Abdullah II of Jordan
Minister of defense	Bisher Al-Khasawneh
Chief of staff	Major General (placeholder)
Active personnel	100,500 (est.)
Reserve	25,000 (est.)
Paramilitary	Jordanian Public Security Directorate
Engagements	1948 Arab–Israeli War, 1967 Six-Day War, 1973 Yom Kippur War, Black September (1970), Gulf War, Iraq War, Syrian Civil War

Jordanian Armed Forces

The Jordanian Armed Forces trace lineage to the Arab Revolt (World War I) and the formation of the Arab Legion, evolving through conflicts such as the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, the 1967 Six-Day War, and Black September (1970), while serving a central role in regional diplomacy with leaders like King Hussein of Jordan and Abdullah II of Jordan. Rooted in ties to the United Kingdom and institutional links with states such as the United States and France, the forces balance defense, internal security, and international missions including deployments under United Nations mandates and coalition operations in Iraq and Syria.

History

The institution began as the Arab Legion under commanders associated with the Hashemite Kingdom of Hejaz and trained by British officers like John Bagot Glubb; it fought in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War alongside units from Iraq and Syria and later faced the Israel Defense Forces in the 1967 Six-Day War. Post-1967 reforms under King Hussein of Jordan focused on rebuilding capabilities with assistance from the United Kingdom and United States, adapting after Black September (1970) when the state confronted the Palestine Liberation Organization and related factions. During the late 20th and early 21st centuries the forces contributed to multinational coalitions in the Gulf War and the Iraq War, and more recently conducted border and counterinsurgency operations linked to the Syrian Civil War and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant threats, while engaging with organizations such as the United Nations for peacekeeping in locations like Sierra Leone and Haiti.

Organization and Command Structure

Command rests with the monarch, Abdullah II of Jordan, who serves as head of state and supreme commander, supported by a Ministry populated by figures from institutions like the Jordanian Armed Forces headquarters in Amman and staff officers trained at academies linked to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, the United States Military Academy, and the French École spéciale militaire de Saint‑Cyr. The structure includes a General Command, regional commands mirroring the administrative divisions of Jordan, and coordination mechanisms with the Public Security Directorate and the Civil Defense Directorate. Strategic planning aligns with national documents and agreements with partners such as the United States Department of Defense, the NATO Partnership for Peace framework, and bilateral pacts with Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Branches and Units

The principal service branches comprise an army component with armored and mechanized divisions trained in doctrines influenced by the British Army and United States Army, an air element operating fixed-wing and rotary assets procured from manufacturers such as Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky, and specialized units including commando, border guard, and engineering formations that work alongside the Jordanian Public Security Directorate and the Gendarmerie. Notable formations have included the 40th Armored Brigade, the Royal Guard units protecting the Hashemite monarchy, airborne and special operations units modeled on lessons from Operation Desert Storm and counterterrorism experience gained during the Global War on Terrorism.

Personnel, Training, and Recruitment

Recruitment draws from the Jordanian population with professional pathways emphasizing officer development through links to institutions such as the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, the United States Army War College, and regional academies in Egypt and Turkey. Training priorities cover combined arms, counterinsurgency, peacekeeping, and border security, with courses conducted in cooperation with the United States Central Command, British Army Training Unit Suffield, and multinational exercises like Eager Lion and Bright Star. Personnel policies reflect service commitments to the House of Hashim under royal decrees and integrate reserve frameworks similar to models used by the United Kingdom and France.

Equipment and Procurement

Inventory modernization has involved acquisitions from vendors such as United States Department of Defense programs, General Dynamics for armoured vehicles, Lockheed Martin for air systems, and purchases from Canada and China in earlier decades; platforms include main battle tanks, utility helicopters, transport aircraft, and air defense systems. Procurement is shaped by strategic partnerships with the United States, multilateral financing institutions, and procurement frameworks linked to NATO interoperability standards; maintenance and upgrade projects have been conducted with contractors from Italy, Germany, and France to sustain systems acquired during the Cold War and post‑Cold War eras.

Operations and Deployments

Operational history spans conventional warfare during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War and the 1967 Six-Day War, internal security operations during Black September (1970), peacekeeping missions under United Nations mandates in Golan Heights and Africa, and contemporary counter‑terrorism and border security operations responding to the Syrian Civil War and ISIS (Islamic State). The forces have participated in multinational exercises and coalition deployments coordinated with the United States Central Command, the Gulf Cooperation Council states, and NATO partners, contributing engineering, medical, and infantry contingents to stabilization missions in regions such as the Balkans and Africa.

International Cooperation and Defense Policy

Jordan maintains defense cooperation agreements with the United States, United Kingdom, France, Egypt, and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, engages in joint exercises like Eager Lion and Bright Star, and contributes to United Nations peacekeeping operations as part of broader foreign policy anchored by the House of Hashim. Policy emphasizes interoperability, counterterrorism, refugee crisis response linked to the Syrian Civil War, and balancing relations with neighbouring actors including Israel and Iraq, while participating in regional security dialogues hosted by organizations such as the Arab League and multilateral initiatives involving NATO and the European Union.

Category:Military of Jordan