JORDANIAN ARMED FORCES' EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85T01058R000406410001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 8, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: May 22, 1985
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/08: CIA-RDP85T01058R000406410001-1
Central Intelligence Agency
DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE
22 May 1985
JORDANIAN ARMED FORCES' EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
among his soldiers.
King Hussein is acutely aware of the obsolescence of
Jordan's equipment and is particularly determined to modernize
his air and air defense forces, which are plagued with the most
glaring equipment deficiencies. The King's determination is
reinforced by his sensitivity to the need to preserve high morale
equipment inventory.
Jordan has designed its armed forces to deter aggression by
its three vastly superior neighbors--Israel, Syria,-and Iraq--and
to counter internal threats such as the challenge mounted by the
Palestinian guerrillas in 1970. Amman does not pretend to
possess a major offensive capability, nor does it aspire to
develop one. Even so, Jordan's ability to discourage an attack
by increasing the costs for the aggressor or to buy time until
the Jordan Armed Forces could be reinforced by allies is
jeopardized by the growing obsolescence of a large portion of its
arms, ammunition, night vision devices, and cargo trucks.
-37 weapon-locating radars, infantry fighting vehicles, small
The Jordanians have worked through the US-Jordanian Joint
Military Commission since 1974 to develop a list of equipment
replacement priorities. Since 1983, this list of about 100 items
has remained fairly stable. As'of November 1984, the top
priority items include fighter aircraft; surface-to-air missiles;
attack, transport, and observation helicopters; air defense
radars; electronic warfare equipment; and air force munitions.
There are other items of lower priority that Jordan would also
like to procure, including man-portable air defense_missiles,
light antitank weapons, M-60 tank modernization kits, TPQ-36 and
This memorandum was prepared by I I the Israel-
Jordan-Palestinian Branch, Arab-Israeli Division, Office of Near
Eastern and South Asian Analysis. Information as of 20 May 1985
was used in its preparation. Questions and comments are welcome
and should be directed to Chief, Arab-Israeli Division, at
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DIA review completed.
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Jordan cannot purchase even a small fraction of either its
top priority or lower priority equipment, however, without
extensive grant aid, concessionary terms of credit, barter
arrangements, or a combination of these measures. Of the
countries that manufacture the equipment Jordan needs, only the
US and the USSR have indicated a willingness to provide these
items under the concessionary terms Jordan would require.* West
European firms have not offered grant aid or concessionary terms
of credit. The decline of world oil prices, moreover, has
reduced Saudi interest in underwriting Jordanian arms
urch aces
p
Recently, the Soviets have been more forthcoming than the US
and have sold Amman a variety of air defense weapons. King
Hussein's deep distrust of Soviet intentions probably would deter
him in the near term from turning to Moscow as a principal arms
supplier to Jordan. Given his determination to acquire more
sophisticated equipment, however, the King is likely to conclude
additional arms deals with the Soviets if he cannot satisfy
Jordan's military needs through purchases from the U.S. or the
West Fm-nnaanc
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SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/08: CIA-RDP85T01058R000406410001-1
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/08: CIA-RDP85T01058R000406410001-1
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SUBJECT: JORDANIAN ARMED FORCES' EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
NESA M#85-10107
DISTRIBUTION:
External
1 - Lt. Col. Fred Hof (Pentagon)
Internal
1 - DDI
1 - NESA/NIO.
1 - C/PES
1 - PDB Staff
4 - CPAS/IMD/CB
1 - CPAS/ILS
1 - DDO/NEO
1 - D/NESA
1 - DD/NESA
1 - C/NESA/PPS
2 - NESA/PPS
1 - NESA/AI
2 - NESA/AI/I
DDI/NESA/AI/I
(22May85)
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/08: CIA-RDP85T01058R000406410001-1