Background

Jordan is an Arab kingdom in the Middle East that has few natural resources and economic fortunes has been undermined by regional instability. The government’s non confrontational line in foreign relations is often at odds withe the more militant approach of local Palestinian and Islamist groups.

Jordan’s Air Defense Capabilities

System	Role	Number Deployed	Platform
Gepard	Short-Range Air Defense	60 Systems	Ground-Based; Road-Mobile
40 mm L/70	Short-Range Air Defense	Unknown	Ground-Based
ZSU-23-4 Shilka	Short-Range Air Defense	Unknown	Ground-Based; Road-Mobile
AN/FPS-117 Radar	Long-Range Air Defense Radar	Unknown	Ground-Based
AN/TPS-77 Radar	Long-Range Air Defense Radar	Unknown	Ground-Based
AN/TPS-43E Radar	Long-Range Air Defense Radar	Unknown	Ground-Based; Transportable
Protivnik GE Radar	Long-Range Air Defense Radar	Unknown	Ground-Based

Current Developments

In April 2013, the US moved two Patriot missile batteries from Qatar and Kuwait to the Jordan-Syrian border.[i]

In September 2018, the United States planned on removing one Patriot battery from Jordan. As of now, there are no plans to replace the system.

In January 2021, Jordan and the United States formally signed an agreement giving the United States access to a number of Jordanian military bases.

In February 2022, the Biden administration announced plans for Jordan to acquire $4.21 billion worth of F-16 C/D fighter jets among a smattering of sales of defense systems to Middle Eastern nations.

In late October 2023, Jordan requested for the United States to deploy Patriot systems in Jordan to protect from regional threats.

Recent News

References

[i] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-jordan-us-syria/u-s-sending-patriot-missiles-to-jordan-may-remain-beyond-drills-idUSBRE95315R20130604