Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — Jordan has ordered tactical anti-tank missiles from the United States as Al Qaida’s Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant presses attacks in the region with U.S.-origin tanks captured in Iraq.

The Defense Department has awarded a contract for the Javelin Block 1 tactical missile for Jordan’s military.

Under the $162.4 million contract, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin would supply the anti-tank guided missiles to the Hashemite kingdom.

“Work will be performed at Tucson, Arizona, with an estimated completion
date of Sept. 30, 2014,” the Pentagon said.

In a statement on July 3, the Pentagon identified the prime contractor
as the Javelin Joint Venture, operated by Raytheon and L-M.

The statement said Jordan and New Zealand would receive 20 out of the 361 Block 1 missiles ordered. The rest would be delivered to the U.S. military.

  Javelin Block 1 tactical missile, Jordan orders U.S. anti-tank missiles as U.S. tanks captured by ISIS pose threat, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon