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Jordan NATIONAL SECURITY
Armed Forces: In 1988 armed forces totaled about 85,300;
components were army, 74,000; navy, 300; and air force, 11,000.
National Service Law of 1976 required two years' service by males
at age eighteen or when education completed; liberal exemptions
granted for medical or compassionate reasons.
Major Tactical Military Units: Army had two armored
divisions, two mechanized divisions (each division had three
brigades), a Royal Guards Brigade, a Special Forces airborne
brigade, and independent artillery and air defense battalions. Air
force had four fighter ground-attack squadrons, two fighter
squadrons, one advanced training squadron with backup combat
potential, one transport squadron, and four helicopter squadrons.
Navy, an integral part of army with coast guard mission, operated
five coastal patrol boats in Gulf of Aqaba; three larger armed
craft ordered in 1987.
Major Equipment: Bulk of armored vehicles, artillery, and
antitank missiles provided by United States; additional tanks from
Britain; tactical air defense missiles from Soviet Union; fixed
Hawk air defense missiles from United States. Combat aircraft
consisted of newer French-manufactured Mirages and older United
States F-5s.
National Security Costs: Defense budget of JD256 million
(US$763 million) in 1988, although not all assistance from Arab
states--mainly Saudi Arabia--recorded in budget. Defense budget
constituted 22 percent of total government spending in 1987.
Internal Security Forces: National police, known as
Public Security Force, estimated to total 4,000 in 1988, under
Ministry of Interior in peacetime but subordinated to Ministry of
Defense in event of war. Internal and external security
responsibility of General Intelligence Directorate, civilian agency
headed by senior army officer reporting directly to prime minister
and King Hussein.
Data as of December 1989
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