Jordan Military Power Ranking 2025
MPR Rank: 47th
MPR SCORE: 654
MPR Index: 0.2726 (1.0000 is perfect)
Reverse MPR Index: 0.6894 (0.0000 is perfect)
Z Score: +0.538 (standard deviations above the mean)
Overview
Jordan ranks 47th in the 2025 Military Power Rankings (MPR), representing a small but highly professional military force strategically positioned in the heart of the Middle East. Despite limited resources and a modest domestic defense industry, the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) maintain a reputation for discipline, competence, and operational readiness, particularly in areas such as border security, counterterrorism, and regional stability operations. Jordan’s military strength is amplified by its deep defense partnerships—especially with the United States, which provides substantial aid, training, and logistics support.
Strengths: Strategic Partnerships and Operational Proficiency
Jordan’s military significance stems from its regional role, training quality, and strategic cooperation:
Counterterrorism and Border Defense
Jordan has prioritized internal and border security, maintaining a robust intelligence apparatus and rapid response units trained to counter cross-border infiltration and extremist threats.
The Special Operations Command is among the most respected in the region, frequently partnering with Western forces in joint exercises and real-world missions.
U.S. and Western Defense Support
Jordan receives hundreds of millions of dollars in annual U.S. military assistance, including weapons, equipment, and advanced training.
Key American-built systems in service include F-16 fighter jets, M60 tanks, Black Hawk helicopters, and U.S.-standard communications platforms.
Stability and Multinational Operations
Jordan is a pillar of moderation in a volatile region, maintaining defense relations with the U.S., UK, Israel, and Gulf states.
It contributes to UN peacekeeping and regional security operations, enhancing its role as a trusted mediator and coalition participant.
Why Jordan Ranks 47th in 2025
Jordan’s professionalism and alignment with Western doctrine are offset by critical limitations in size, sustainability, and warfighting depth:
1. Small Force Size and Limited Firepower
The JAF includes approximately 100,000 personnel, with a compact but efficient structure focused on territorial defense, not expeditionary operations.
Heavy equipment—including armor and artillery—is largely older-generation, and Jordan lacks strategic assets like long-range missiles or cruise weapons.
2. No Strategic Deterrent or Technological Autonomy
Jordan is a non-nuclear state with no independent missile program, relying entirely on conventional weapons and external deterrence.
It does not manufacture major platforms domestically, and modernization efforts are almost entirely reliant on foreign funding and transfers.
3. Inability to Sustain High-Intensity Conflict
While Jordan can rapidly respond to local and border threats, it lacks the logistics, reserves, and industrial support to endure prolonged or multi-front conflict.
Air force and mechanized units are well-trained, but would require coalition backing in any peer or near-peer confrontation.
Conclusion
Jordan stands as a model of military discipline and regional cooperation, with a focus on counterterrorism, internal security, and defense diplomacy. Its value lies not in battlefield dominance, but in stability, trust, and tactical proficiency.
The MPR ranking of 47th reflects Jordan’s strong defensive doctrine, elite forces, and strategic alliances, balanced against its limited technological capacity, force size, and combat depth. Jordan remains a key regional player, but one designed for coalition-based, strategic defense, not for independent large-scale warfare.
Military Strength and Force Projection:
Active Military Personnel: 100,000 (IISS 2023)
Reserve Personnel: 65,000 (CIA World Factbook)
Paramilitary Forces: 40,000 (General Intelligence Directorate, Royal Guards)
Army Personnel: 90,000
Air Force Personnel: 10,000
Ground Forces:
Main Battle Tanks (MBTs): 800+ (M60, Challenger 1)
Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): 2,000+
Artillery (Towed and Self-Propelled): 200+
Air Force:
Combat Aircraft: 60+ (SIPRI 2023)
Helicopters: 50+
Transport Aircraft: 10+
Aircraft Breakdown:
F-16 Fighter Jets: 50
AH-1 Cobra Helicopters: 25 (attack helicopters)
C-130 Hercules: 6 (transport)
Naval Forces:
Jordan is a landlocked country with limited naval assets focused on coastal patrol and border security in the Aqaba region along the Red Sea.
Missile Capabilities:
Jordan does not possess ballistic or hypersonic missiles. The country’s missile defense systems, including surface-to-air missile (SAM) batteries, are largely focused on protecting its airspace from regional threats.
Strategic Partnerships:
Jordan’s strategic partnerships are largely centered on its relationship with the United States, which provides military aid, training, and equipment. Jordan also works closely with regional allies such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt on counterterrorism and border security. As part of its commitment to regional stability, Jordan participates in peacekeeping missions and humanitarian efforts in conflict zones.
Jordan – Military History & Combat Experience
Jordan’s military history is shaped by its involvement in Arab-Israeli wars, its proximity to regional conflicts, and its evolution into one of the most professional and strategically balanced militaries in the Arab world. While Jordan has not fought a major war in decades, its armed forces have played important roles in coalition operations, border security, and counterterrorism.
1948 Arab-Israeli War: The Arab Legion, Jordan’s elite force at the time, performed better than any other Arab army, capturing and holding East Jerusalem and the West Bank. This marked the high point of Jordanian conventional combat performance.
1967 Six-Day War: Jordan suffered heavy territorial losses to Israel, including East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Although its military fought bravely, poor coordination with Egypt and Syria led to strategic failure. The war prompted major defense reforms.
1970 Black September: In a critical internal conflict, the Jordanian Armed Forces fought and expelled the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from the country after it had effectively set up a parallel authority. This operation restored state sovereignty and showcased the army’s ability to conduct urban combat and counterinsurgency.
1973 Yom Kippur War: Jordan sent a token force to support Syria on the Golan front but did not fully engage in the conflict, maintaining a careful balance between pan-Arab solidarity and national preservation.
Post-2000s Counterterrorism & Border Security: Jordan has focused on counterterrorism, particularly against ISIS and Al-Qaeda spillovers from Syria and Iraq. Its special forces are highly trained and operate in coordination with U.S. and regional allies, protecting borders and intercepting infiltration.
Peacekeeping Missions: Jordan is a major contributor to UN peacekeeping operations, deploying troops to Africa, Kosovo, and the Middle East, gaining valuable multinational experience.
Jordan’s military history reflects a doctrine of calculated engagement, defensive readiness, and strategic restraint, reinforced by extensive Western training and experience in internal conflict management. Its reputation is built not on large-scale warfare, but on reliability, professionalism, and operational precision in both domestic and multinational contexts.
General Information
Demographics and Geography
Population: ~11.6 million (2024 est.)
Population Available for Military Service: ~4.5 million (males and females aged 18–49)
Geographic Area: 89,342 km²
Land Boundaries: 1,744 km
Bordering Countries: Iraq, Israel, Palestine (West Bank), Saudi Arabia, Syria
Coastline: 26 km (Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea)
Climate: Mostly arid desert; rainy season from November to April
Terrain: Arid plateau, highland regions in the west, desert in the east
Natural Resources: Phosphates, potash, shale oil, uranium, limestone
Proven Oil Reserves: ~1 million barrels
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: ~6 billion cubic meters
Economic Indicators
Defense Budget (2025): ~$2.3 billion USD
Defense Budget as % of GDP: ~5.3%
GDP (PPP): ~$118 billion USD
GDP per Capita (PPP): ~$10,300
External Debt: ~$43 billion USD
Military Expenditure Trend (last 5 years): Stable at high share of GDP; focus on border security, counterterrorism, and mobility
Military Infrastructure and Readiness
Military Service Obligation: Suspended; fully professional volunteer force, though reserve and national service initiatives exist
Primary Defense Focus: Border defense (especially Syrian and Iraqi borders), internal security, anti-terrorism, rapid deployment
Military Industry Base: Growing; includes KADDB (defense manufacturing), Jordan Design and Development Bureau (JODDB), local production of APCs and light weapons
Cyber/Electronic Warfare Capability: Developing under Joint Special Communications Command; regional capabilities improving
Nuclear Warhead Inventory: None (non-nuclear state)
Major Military Districts / Commands: Divided into Northern, Central, Eastern, and Southern military regions
Missile Inventory Highlights: Kornet and TOW ATGMs, NASAMS, AIM-120 AMRAAM, Excalibur artillery, JDAM PGMs, Chinese C-802 anti-ship missiles
Reservist Call-up Readiness / Timeline: Structured but limited in scale; call-up potential within 30–45 days
Reservist Force Size: ~65,000 (trained reserve and auxiliary forces)
Space, Intelligence, and Strategic Infrastructure
Space or Satellite Programs: None domestically operated; relies on commercial and foreign data
Military Satellite Inventory: None; uses U.S., French, and commercial ISR feeds
Intelligence Infrastructure: General Intelligence Directorate (GID), Military Intelligence Directorate, Public Security Directorate
Intelligence Sharing Partnerships: Strong ties with U.S., UK, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and NATO counterterrorism centers
Airports (Total): ~23 (civilian and military)
Major Military Airports: Muwaffaq Salti AB (Azraq), King Abdullah II AB, Marka Military Airport
Naval Power and Maritime Logistics
Merchant Marine Fleet: ~20 vessels
Major Ports: Aqaba
Naval Infrastructure: Small naval force (Royal Jordanian Naval Force); operates patrol boats and coastal surveillance systems
Naval Replenishment Capability: Minimal; focused on short-range security in the Gulf of Aqaba
Domestic Mobility and Infrastructure
Railway Network: ~293 km (limited use; under expansion)
Roadways: ~100,000 km
Energy and Fuel Logistics
Oil Production: ~2,000 barrels per day
Energy Imports: Highly import-dependent; reliant on Saudi Arabia and Iraq for crude oil and Egypt for gas
Strategic Petroleum Reserves: Limited; estimated 30–45 days national coverage
Defense Production and Strategic Forces
Domestic Defense Production: Moderate; focuses on small arms, APCs (e.g., Al-Jawad), light aircraft upgrades, and munitions
Military Installations (Domestic): Over 50 facilities including training centers, logistics hubs, and garrisons
Military Installations (Overseas): None officially; Jordan contributes to UN and Arab League missions
Foreign Military Personnel Presence: U.S. troops stationed at Muwaffaq Salti AB and training facilities under defense cooperation agreements
Defense Alliances: Strong bilateral agreements with the U.S., UK, and Saudi Arabia; NATO Mediterranean Dialogue member
Strategic Airlift Capability: Operates C-130H Hercules; relies on U.S. and GCC support for large-scale deployments
Wartime Industrial Surge Capacity: Limited but supported by international partners and rapid procurement channels
Research and Industry Support
Defense R&D Investment: Modest; focused on vehicle upgrades, ballistic protection, and communications systems
Key Wartime Industries Beyond Defense: Jordan Petroleum Refinery Co., Jordan Phosphate Mines Co., Royal Jordanian (airlift), Jordan Hijaz Railway (logistics)
Political and Administrative Structure
Capital: Amman
Founding Date: May 25, 1946 (independence from the United Kingdom)
