Jordan eyes expansion of domestic defense industry.

• Author: Tiron, Roxana
• Position: MIDDLE-EAST DEFENCE - Industry Overview

The Jordanian government is taking steps to boost its domestic defense industry. In particular, a research and development center is achieving tangible results in building sophisticated technology for internal and border security, VIP protection, surveillance and emergency response.

While this equipment, in many cases, answers the needs of the Jordanian armed forces, the center, known as the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau, also is determined to expand its reach in the Middle East and North Africa, Col. Ghazi Khdairi, bureau deputy director general and director of scientific research, told National Defense.

An independent entity within the Jordanian armed forces that reports directly to the king, the bureau has its own laboratories, production and manufacturing Facilities. KADDB was established by royal decree in 1999 to provide independent scientific and technical services to Jordan's armed forces, in the process, the bureau also is assisting the Hashemite Kingdom in creating a sustainable industrial base.

After five years of operation, KADDB now has more than 30 development programs, said Khdairi. Most of the programs are carried out with the help of international partners and Jordanian companies.

"We are not an industrial country, and we bring in the necessary technology by identifying strategic international partners and work with them jointly to develop a product or a technology," he said.

When it started out, the company's focus was on converting and armoring existing trucks, land systems and tanks. While that has proven a mainstay for KADDB, it has started moving into building light aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles. It also has begun efforts on soldier protection, such as helmets and body armor, Khadairi said. "So far, the work is being done in these areas to meet the requirements of the armed forces," Khdairi said.

According to bureau documents, part of the strategic direction for this year is to design, develop and evaluate wheeled and tracked armored fighting vehicles. In the process, KADDB plans to establish a series of joint ventures.

Plans involve expanding KADDB's expertise to communications, battlefield management and air defense systems. Aeronautics also is on the list, to include aircraft upgrades and systems integration. KADDB researchers specialize in software development, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, robotics and genomics.

The first priority is to meet military needs, said Khdairi...