AMMAN — Jordan's Special Operations Forces has decided to procure
mortar systems from China.
The Jordanian unit has selected the 120 mm mortar system from China's
Northern Industries Corp., known as Norinco. The mortar would replace the
unit's 105 mm artillery, Middle East Newsline reported.
Officials said the mortars would be delivered to Jordan in 2006. They
said the systems would be more accurate than the artillery guns.
"Jordan recently signed a deal with Norinco to purchase a number of their
newest 120 mm mortar guns, which will replace the 105 mm howitzers currently
in service," Brig. Gen. Jamal Al Shawabakeh, commander of Jordan's SOF,
said. "We will receive the new mortars this year."
The SOF commander said the 120 mm mortar, designed for short- to
medium-range fire support, contained a longer range and more powerful shells
than the 105 mm. He said the mortar was also easier to transport in
helicopters.
Al Shawabkeh said SOF would receive a range of new equipment over the
next year. He said the force would be equipped with 24 U.S.-origin
helicopters for counter-insurgency and search and rescue missions.
The helicopters were identified as 12 MD-500 helicopters and 12 S-70
Black Hawk utility helicopters.
"The whole fleet would be operational by the end of 2007," Al Shawabkeh
said.
Jordan has signed an agreement to equip the S-70 with 2.75-inch rockets
and mini-guns. Officials said this would ensure independent airlift and
combat air capability by JSOF.
Al Shawabkeh said JSOF would develop in other areas. He said each member
of the 1,000-soldier force would be armed with four RPG-26 rocket-propelled
launchers. The Russian-origin RPG-26 has been identified as the main
anti-tank weapon of JSOF.
"Our troops are good marksmen and have a hit ratio using the RPG-26 of
one-to-one," Al Shawabkeh said. "But we are assuming that their worst
results, the 1,000-man units would take out 1,000 targets and that is not
bad at all."
