Jordanian Central Command

The Jordanian Central Command (Arabic:المنطقة العسكرية الوسطى) is the Jordanian Armed Forces regional command responsible for the main front against Israel.

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

History

Since the major reorganisation of 1977 the Royal Jordanian Army has kept the Central Command (Formerly known as 4th Mechanized Division)[1] is usually deployed from Zarqa River, north of as-Salt to the Dead Sea in order to protect Jordan on its Israeli wing.[2] But in 2000 the King Abdullah II made a big step to modernize and restructure Jordanian Armed Forces when the Divisions have been transformed into a lighter, more mobile forces, based largely on a brigade structure and considered better capable of rapid reaction in emergencies.[3][4]

The 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.[2][5]

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.[5]

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.

Units
Central Command OrBat 2020 (Click to enlarge)
  • Central Command HQ
    • HQ Defense Company
  • Command Communication Group
  • Border Guard Force (BGF)
    • 3rd Border Guard Force Battalion
  • Combat & Maneuver Units
    • 1st Royal Guard Mechanized Infantry Brigade
      • Brigade HQ
      • Signal Company
      • 1st Royal Armored Battalion
      • 1st “ Royal Guard ” Mechanized Battalion
      • 2nd “ Royal Guard ” Mechanized Battalion
      • Anti-Armor Company
      • Mechanized Engineer Company (Attached from CEB)
      • Logistics & Transport Company (Attached from STB)
      • Brigade Medical Center
      • Brigade Maintenance Workshop
    • 51st Al Hashemi Mechanized Infantry Brigade
      • Brigade HQ
      • Signal Company
      • 6th “ King Ghazi ” Mechanized Battalion
      • 9th “ Prince Mohammad ” Mechanized Battalion
      • 10th “ Hashemite ” Mechanized Battalion
      • Anti-Armor Company
      • Mechanized Engineer Company (Attached from CEB)
      • Logistics & Transport Company (Attached from STB)
      • Brigade Medical Center
      • Brigade Maintenance Workshop
    • 40th King Hussein Armored Brigade
      • Brigade HQ
      • Signal Company
      • 1st “ Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II ” Armored Infantry Battalion (Marder 1A3 IFV)
      • 2nd Royal Tank Battalion
      • 4th “ Prince Ali bin Al Hussein ” Tank Battalion
      • 5th “ King Ali ” Armored Infantry Battalion (Marder 1A3 IFV)
      • Mechanized Engineer Company (Attached from CEB)
      • Logistics & Transport Company (Attached from STB)
      • Brigade Medical Center
      • Brigade Maintenance Workshop
    • 60th Prince Hassan Armored Brigade
      • Brigade HQ
      • Signal Company
      • 3rd “ Royal Guard ” Wheeled Infantry Battalion (MRAP)
      • 3rd Royal Tank Battalion
      • 5th Royal Tank Battalion
      • Mechanized Engineer Company (Attached from CEB)
      • Logistics & Transport Company (Attached from STB)
      • Brigade Medical Center
      • Brigade Maintenance Workshop
  • Combat Support Units
    • Central Command Artillery
      • Command Artillery HQ
      • 7th SP Artillery Battalion (M109A2/3)
      • 9th SP Artillery Battalion (M109A2/3)
      • 17th SP Artillery Battalion (M109A2/3)
      • 20th “ Prince Hashim ” Heavy Artillery Battalion (M110A2)
      • 23rd SP Artillery Battalion (M109A2/3)
    • 4th Royal Field AD Brigade
      • Brigade HQ
      • 61st Field AD Battalion
      • 62nd Field AD Battalion
      • 73rd Field AD Battalion
    • Command Engineer Battalion (CEB)
  • Service Support Units
    • Administrative Transport Group
    • Command Maintenance Group
    • Medical Support Group
    • Supply and Transport Battalion (STB)
  • Command Training Center

Unit Summary
NumberUnit TypeEquipment
5
 Tank Battalion Al-Hussein, M60A3 IFCS, M88A1 ARV, FMTV, Navistar 7000 series
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, M113A2MK-1J, 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
2
 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. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-15. Retrieved 2013-04-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2013-05-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. IISS Military Balance 2004–2005, p.127-128
  4. Rubin, Barry M; Keaney, Thomas A (2002). "Armed Forces in the Middle East: Politics and Strategy". ISBN 9780714652559. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-11-22. Retrieved 2013-05-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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