Page 14 - SOFEX 2022 - Day 1 | DAILY NEWS

additional military aid since FY2015, chan- Excess Defense Articles
U.S.-JORDAN neled through the Defense Department’s

DEFENSE TIES various security assistance accounts. In 1996, the United States granted Jordan
Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status, a
designation that, among other things,
ATTAIN NEW For FY2023, the Biden Administration is makes Jordan eligible to receive excess
requesting US$1.45 billion in total bilateral U.S. defense articles, training, and loans
HEIGHTS assistance, which would make Jordan, after of equipment for cooperative research
Israel, the second-largest targeted recipient and development. In the past decade, the
of annual U.S. foreign aid in the President’s United States has provided US$83.3 million
congressional budget justification. in excess U.S. defense articles to Jordan,
including three AH-1 Cobra Helicopters, 45
As a result of the Syrian civil war and Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles
U.S. Operation Inherent Resolve against (MRAPs), and M577A3 Tracked Command
the Islamic State, the United States has Post Carriers.
increased military aid to Jordan and
channeled these increases through DOD- The FMF procedures may be used to
managed accounts. purchase new equipment (e.g., preci-
sion-guided munitions, night vision) or
Although Jordan still receives the bulk to sustain previous acquisitions (e.g.,
of U.S. military aid through the Foreign Blackhawk helicopters, AT-802 fixed-wing
Military Financing (FMF) account, Congress aircraft). The FMF grants have enabled the
has authorised defense appropriations to Royal Jordanian Air Force to procure muni-
strengthen Jordan’s border security. U.S. tions for its F-16 fighter aircraft and a fleet
assistance has helped finance the creation of 31 UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters.
The United States and the Hashemite
Kingdom of Jordan continue to cement of the Jordan Border Security System, an
integrated network of guard towers, sur-
their military partnership. Opportunities
veillance cameras, and radar to guard the
kingdom’s borders with Syria and Iraq.
The Biden administration in Washington According to International Trade
considers the Hashemite kingdom “a vital Administration under the U.S. Department
US partner on a wide range of regional Since FY2015, total DOD security cooper- of Commerce, Jordanian Armed Forces
security issues.” ation funding for Jordan has amounted to receive substantial aid from the U.S.
at least US$1.5 billion dollars. Government under the FMF Program which
The U.S.-Jordanian military cooperation requires equipment and solutions be pur-
is a key component in bilateral relations. In December 2021, the United States Air chased from U.S. vendors.
U.S. military assistance is primarily directed Force, under C-130 Ramp-to-Ramp (R2R)
toward enabling the Jordanian military to transfer program, donated three C-130 Currently, the United States has US$5.3 bil-
procure and maintain U.S.-origin conven- transport aircraft to the Royal Jordanian lion in active government-to-government
tional weapons systems. Air Force. sales cases with Jordan under the FMS
system.
The U.S. and Jordanian officials have According to the U.S. Embassy in Amman,
conducted about 50 meetings of the U.S.- “The transfer of the USAF C-130 aircraft Recent and significant FMS deals include:
Jordan Joint Military Commission (JMC) in boosts RJAF fixed wing tactical airlift capa- F-16 Air Combat Training Center; UH-60M
which high-level officers from both coun- bility by nearly 50 per cent and saves RJAF Black Hawk helicopter and related equip-
tries engage in discussions on enhancing approximately US$30 million in equipment ment; 700 Advanced Field Artillery Tactical
cooperation and future procurement. renovation costs.” Data Systems; F-16 weapons, munitions,
Annual U.S. military aid represents at ground vehicles, jet engines, and logistics
least 20 per cent of Jordan’s total military In February 2022, the Defense Security support; High-Mobility Artillery Rocket
defense budget. Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Systems (HIMARS); Guided Multiple
Congress of a potential F-16 sale to Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS), and
According to the State Department, Jordan Jordan estimated at US$4.21 billion. The other multiple rocket launch systems; 37
Meter Coastal Patrol Boats; as well as
receives one of the largest allocations sale includes the transfer of new planes AMRAAM air-to-air and Javelin anti-tank
of International Military Education and to Jordan, including 12 F-16 C Block 70
Training (IMET) funding worldwide, and aircraft and four F-16 D Block 70 aircraft. missiles.
IMET graduates in Jordan include King It also includes weapons systems to arm
Abdullah II, the Chairman of the Joint the fighters and engines and other parts to
Chiefs of Staff, the Vice Chairman, the Air refurbish older F-16 models currently main-
Force commander, the Special Forces com- tained by the Royal Jordanian Air Force.
mander, and numerous other commanders.
The United States has provided military aid It is unclear whether the Biden
to Jordan since 1957. Total bilateral U.S. Administration has granted Jordan the abil-
aid to Jordan through FY2019 amounted ity to finance the purchase over multiple
to approximately US$23.8 billion. Jordan years, which may be necessary given the
also has received over US$1.5 billion in cost of the proposed sale.
14 | NOVEMBER-01-2022 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/DAILY NEWS