Jordanian Central Command
Jordanian Central Command المنطقة العسكرية الوسطى | |
---|---|
Active | 1970 – 2000 (4th Mech. Div.) 2000 – present |
Country | Jordan |
Branch | Royal Jordanian Army |
Type | Mechanized Infantry |
Role | Multi Role |
Size | 13,000 - 15,000 (2012 est.) |
Garrison/HQ | Amman, Balqa, Madaba |
Colors | KA2 Desert Digital |
Engagements |
|
Commanders | |
Current commander | Brigadier General Adnan Ahmed Al-Raqqad |
The Jordanian Central Command (Arabic:المنطقة العسكرية الوسطى) is the Jordanian Armed Forces regional command responsible for the main front against Israel.
History[]
The Central Command was created after a major army reorganization in 1977. The units that make up the command were transferred from the former 4th Mechanized Division which was disbanded. The units of the command are currently deployed from Zarqa River, north of as-Salt to the Dead Sea in order to protect Jordan on its Israeli border.[1] In 2000 King Abdullah II initiated further restructuring of Jordanian Armed Forces when the remaining Divisions were transformed into lighter, more mobile forces, based largely on a brigade structure and considered better capable of rapid reaction in emergencies.[2][3]
The old 4th Mechanised Division was deployed facing west in the sector from the Dead Sea to the Zarqa river north of Salt. The Jordan Valley, which forms the natural boundary between the two countries along this sector, is a deep, winding depression and the line of hills to the east of the valley forms a natural defensive line for Jordanian forces.[1][4]
Jordanian forces have not been deployed in the Jordan Valley itself, where they would be vulnerable to Israeli air power and artillery. They were deployed on the heights above the valley in positions that enable them to obstruct any enemy movement up the routes to the central plateau leading to the main cities. There are a number of surfaced roads leading up to the top of the escarpment, about 800 to 1,200 m above the floor of the valley, but a well entrenched force could ensure that any enemy advance up those roads could only be attempted at great cost.[4]
This Command was involved in many wars include 48, 67, Battle of Karameh, War of Attrition and war against the Syrian army when he tried to enter Jordan in Black September event.
In 2018, two armored brigades (40th, 60th) and some units have been transferred from deactivated 3rd Armored Division to the central command.
Organisation[]
The Central Command controls regional units from the Dead Sea to the Zarqa River north of Salt. The Current head of Central Command is Brigadier General Adnan Ahmed Al-Raqqad.
Central Command HQ[]
- Command Staff
- HQ Defense Company
- Command Communication Group
Border Guard Force (BGF)[]
- 3rd Border Guard Force Battalion
Combat & Maneuver Units[]
- Royal Guard 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade
- Brigade HQ
- JTAC Team
- Signal Company
- 1st Royal Armored Battalion
- Royal Guard 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion
- Royal Guard 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion
- 17th Field Artillery Battalion (M109A3)
- 62nd Field Air Defense Battalion
- Anti-Armor Company
- Mechanized Engineer Company
- Supply & Transport Company
- Medical Support Company
- Chemical Support Platoon
- Brigade Maintenance Workshop
- Brigade HQ
- Al Hashemi 51st Mechanized Infantry Brigade
- Brigade HQ
- JTAC Team
- Signal Company
- King Ghazi 6th Mechanized Infantry Battalion
- Prince Mohammad 9th Mechanized Infantry Battalion
- Hashemite 10th Mechanized Infantry Battalion
- 9th Field Artillery Battalion (M109A3)
- 61st Field Air Defense Battalion
- Anti-Armor Company
- Mechanized Engineer Company
- Supply & Transport Company
- Medical Support Company
- Chemical Support Platoon
- Brigade Maintenance Workshop
- Brigade HQ
- King Hussein 40th Armored Brigade
- Brigade HQ
- JTAC Team
- Signal Company
- Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II 1st Armored Infantry Battalion (Marder 1A3)
- 2nd Royal Tank Battalion (Leclerc)
- Prince Ali bin Al Hussein 4th Tank Battalion (Leclerc)
- King Ali 5th Armored Infantry Battalion (Marder 1A3)
- 7th Field Artillery Battalion (M109A3)
- 4th Field Air Defense Battalion
- Anti-Armor Company
- Mechanized Engineer Company
- Supply & Transport Company
- Medical Support Company
- Chemical Support Platoon
- Brigade Maintenance Workshop
- Brigade HQ
- Prince Hassan 60th Wheeled Armored Brigade
- Brigade HQ
- JTAC Team
- Signal Company
- Royal Guard 3rd Wheeled Infantry Battalion (RG-33L)
- 3rd "Scorpion" Royal Tank Battalion (B1 Centauro)
- 5th "Elephant" Royal Tank Battalion (B1 Centauro)
- 23rd Field Artillery Battalion (M109A3)
- 73rd Field Air Defense Battalion
- Anti-Armor Company
- Mechanized Engineer Company
- Supply & Transport Company
- Medical Support Company
- Chemical Support Platoon
- Brigade Maintenance Workshop
- Brigade HQ
Combat Support Units[]
- Central Command Artillery
- Command Artillery HQ
- STA Company
- Prince Hashim 20th Heavy Artillery Battalion (M110A2)
- Command Artillery HQ
- 4th Field Air Defense Brigade
- Command Engineer Battalion
Service Support Units[]
- Supply and Transport Battalion
- Command Maintenance Group
- Medical Support Group
- Administrative Transport Group
Command Training Center[]
Unit Summary[]
Number | Unit Type | Equipment |
---|---|---|
Tank Battalion | Al-Hussein, M60A3 IFCS, M88A1 ARV, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series | |
Mechanized Infantry Battalion | YPR 765 IFV, M113A2MK1J, M577A2, YPR-806, Humvee, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks | |
Mechanized Infantry Battalion (MRAP) | RG33L MRAP, Humvee, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks | |
Armored Infantry Battalion (IFV) | Marder 1A3, M577A2, Humvee, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series | |
Border Guard Battalion | MRAP, M113A2MK-1J, Humvee, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks | |
Self-Propelled Artillery | M109A2 Howitzer, M113A2, M577A2, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks | |
Heavy Self-Propelled Artillery | M110A2 Howitzer, M113A2, M577A2, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks | |
Field ADA Battalion | Strela-10, ZSU-23-4 Shilka, Igla-S, 9K38 Igla, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks | |
Engineer Battalion | YPR-765, M113A2, Armoured Tracked Bulldozer (CAT D6T, D7G/R, D8R, D9, Komatsu D155A), Wheeled Bulldozer (CAT 924H, 966C/D/F/G/H, Komatsu WA300-1, WA320, WA380-3A, W470-3), excavators, graders (CAT 12G, 120M), dump trucks, Backhoe loaders, loaders, M58 MICLIC, Aardvark JSFU, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks, Combat Dozer UDK1 and Bomb disposal robots. | |
Command Communication Group | M577A2, M113A2, MRAP, Humvee, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks | |
Supply & Transport Battalion | FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks, Fuel Tankers, Toyota Trucks and many other vehicles. | |
Medical Support Group | M577A2 Ambulance, M113A2 Ambulance, HMMWV M997 Ambulance, Toyota Land Cruiser Ambulance, Mobile Field Hospitals on trucks. | |
Maintenance Group | M113A2, M88 Recovery Vehicle, M1089 Wrecker, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Maintenance Workshop Trucks | |
Administrative Transport Group |
References[]
- ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2013-05-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ IISS Military Balance 2004–2005, p.127-128
- ^ Rubin, Barry M; Keaney, Thomas A (2002). "Armed Forces in the Middle East: Politics and Strategy". ISBN 9780714652559. Cite journal requires
|journal=
(help) - ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-11-22. Retrieved 2013-05-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Military of Jordan