Jordanian Central Command
المنطقة العسكرية الوسطى
Central Command Shoulder sleeve insignia
Active1970 – 2000 (4th Mech. Div.)
2000 – present
CountryJordan
BranchRoyal Jordanian Army
TypeMechanized Infantry
RoleMulti Role
Size13,000 - 15,000 (2012 est.)
Garrison/HQAmman, Balqa, Madaba
ColorsKA2 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 OrBat 2020 (Click to enlarge)

Central Command HQ

  • Command Staff
  • HQ Defense Company
  • Command Communication Group
  • Command Military Police

Border Guard Force (BGF)

  • 3rd Border Guard Force Battalion

Combat & Maneuver Units

  • Royal Guard 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade
    • Brigade HQ
      • Command Staff
        • Joint Fires Coordination Cell - Targeting Cell
      • Signal Company
      • Medical Center
      • Vehicles & Weapons Maintenance Workshop
      • Chemical Support Platoon (Attached)
      • JTAC Team
    • 1st Royal Armored Battalion (M60A3)
    • Royal Guard 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion (M113A2 MK1)
    • Royal Guard 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion (M113A2 MK1)
    • 17th Field Artillery Battalion (M109A3)
    • 62nd Field Air Defense Battalion (Shilka,Strela-10,Igla)
    • Anti-Armor Company (Kornet-E)
  • Al Hashemi 51st Mechanized Infantry Brigade
    • Brigade HQ
      • Command Staff
        • Joint Fires Coordination Cell - Targeting Cell
      • Signal Company
      • Medical Center
      • Vehicles & Weapons Maintenance Workshop
      • Chemical Support Platoon (Attached)
      • JTAC Team
    • King Ghazi 6th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (YPR-765 pri)
    • Prince Mohammad 9th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (M113A2 MK1)
    • Hashemite 10th Mechanized Infantry Battalion (YPR-765 pri)
    • 9th Field Artillery Battalion (M109A3)
    • 61st Field Air Defense Battalion (Shilka,Strela-10,Igla)
    • Anti-Armor Company (Kornet-E)
  • King Hussein 40th Armored Brigade
    • Brigade HQ
      • Command Staff
        • Joint Fires Coordination Cell - Targeting Cell
      • Signal Company
      • Medical Center
      • Vehicles & Weapons Maintenance Workshop
      • Chemical Support Platoon (Attached)
      • JTAC Team
    • 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 (Shilka,Strela-10,Igla)
    • Anti-Armor Company (M901 ITV)
  • Prince Hassan 60th Wheeled Armored Brigade
    • Brigade HQ
      • Command Staff
        • Joint Fires Coordination Cell - Targeting Cell
      • Signal Company
      • Medical Center
      • Vehicles & Weapons Maintenance Workshop
      • Chemical Support Platoon (Attached)
      • JTAC Team
    • 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)[1]
    • 73rd Field Air Defense Battalion (Shilka,Strela-10,Igla)
    • Anti-Armor Company (M901 ITV)

Combat Support Units

  • Central Command Artillery [2]
    • Command Artillery HQ
    • Prince Hashim 20th Heavy Artillery Battalion (M110A2)
  • 4th Field Air Defense Brigade [2]
    • Brigade HQ
    • Signal Company
  • Command Engineer Battalion
    • 4 Mechanized Engineer Companies [3]
    • General Support Company

Service Support Units

  • Supply and Transport Battalion
    • 4 Supply & Transport Companies [3]
  • Command Maintenance Group
  • Medical Support Group
  • Administrative Transport Group

Command Training Center

Notes:

  1. M109A3 will be replaced by truck mounted artillery
  2. Subordinate battalions attached to combat brigades
  3. Each company supports a brigade

Unit Summary

NumberUnit TypeEquipment
5
 Tank Battalion Leclerc, M60A3 IFCS, B1 Centauro, M88A1 ARV, M577A2, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks
5
 Mechanized Infantry Battalion YPR 765 IFV, M113A2MK1J, M577A2, YPR-806, Humvee, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks
1
 Mechanized Infantry Battalion (MRAP) RG33L MRAP, Humvee, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks
2
 Armored Infantry Battalion (IFV) Marder 1A3, M577A2, Humvee, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series
1
 Border Guard Battalion MRAP, Humvee, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks
4
 Self-Propelled Artillery M109A2 Howitzer, M113A2, M577A2, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks
1
 Heavy Self-Propelled Artillery M110A2 Howitzer, M113A2, M577A2, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks
4
 Field ADA Battalion Strela-10, ZSU-23-4 Shilka, Igla-S, 9K38 Igla, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks
1
 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.
1
 Command Communication Group M577A2, M113A2, MRAP, Humvee, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks
1
 Supply & Transport Battalion FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Military Trucks, Fuel Tankers, Toyota Trucks and many other vehicles.
1
 Medical Support Group M577A2 Ambulance, M113A2 Ambulance, HMMWV M997 Ambulance, Toyota Land Cruiser Ambulance, Mobile Field Hospitals on trucks.
1
 Maintenance Group M113A2, M88 Recovery Vehicle, M1089 Wrecker, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series, DAF Maintenance Workshop Trucks
1
 Administrative Transport Group

References

  1. 1 2 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2013-05-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ↑ IISS Military Balance 2004–2005, p.127-128
  3. ↑ Rubin, Barry M; Keaney, Thomas A (2002). Armed Forces in the Middle East: Politics and Strategy. ISBN 9780714652559.
  4. 1 2 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-11-22. Retrieved 2013-05-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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