Upgrading Jordan’s military capabilities would be a boon to the US and Israel’s air defense against Iranian missile strikes.

As Israel, the United States, and Iran engage in direct confrontation, the United States must urgently reassess its strategic partnership with Jordan, a longstanding ally in the region. Jordan forms a geographical barrier in the space between Israel and Iran and has recently emerged as an indispensable bulwark against Iranian aggression and regional chaos. If the United States is going to promote stability in the region without risking direct involvement, bolstering Jordan’s defensive capabilities is now a strategic necessity.

The United States has maintained robust diplomatic and military relations with Jordan since 1949, with formal military assistance beginning in 1957. This partnership has evolved into one of America’s most reliable alliances in the volatile Middle East, with Jordan designated as a Major Non-NATO Ally in 1996. Over the past decades, total US bilateral assistance to Jordan has totaled approximately $33.6 billion through FY2025, reflecting the sustained American investment in regional stability.

The current Memorandum of Understanding, signed in September 2022, provides $1.45 billion annually through FY2029, representing the largest multi-year US foreign assistance commitment to the kingdom, totaling $10.15 billion over seven years. Of that, $400 million annually is allocated to Foreign Military Financing (FMF), demonstrating a well-established infrastructure for US-Jordanian military cooperation. However, the current framework, while strong, is no longer sufficient to meet the scale and urgency of the threats facing the Hashemite Kingdom.

The kingdom’s recent performance during the June 2025 Iranian drone and missile attacks, where Jordanian forces intercepted numerous projectiles threatening both Israeli and Jordanian territory, demonstrates the critical importance of immediately expanding US military assistance to the kingdom. This is a prudent investment in US and allied security interests, not only aid for Jordan’s own sake. Jordan’s geography, adjacent to Israel and along drone and missile flight paths from Iran, makes it a natural buffer in aerial warfare.

Jordan: A Frontline State

In recent conflicts, Jordan has proven its commitment to this role.

During Iran’s April 2024 strikes on Israel, “Operation True Promise I,” Jordan demonstrated exceptional defensive capabilities by intercepting a significant number of the over 300 drones and missiles launched from Iran toward Israel. While the exact number of interceptions is not specified, reports indicate that the Royal Jordanian Air Force’s (RJAF) participation was pivotal in repelling the attack.

“Operation True Promise II,” the October 2024 Iranian strikes on Israel, involving approximately 200 ballistic missiles, again saw Jordan’s air defense systems perform admirably. Jordanian forces intercepted multiple missiles, with the US Navy and Jordan reporting successful missile interceptions that complemented Israeli defensive efforts. These operations validated Jordan’s growing importance as a critical component of regional air defense architecture. As a result, Iran’s attacks caused damage and debris that, in one case, injured three Jordanians on the ground.

The June 2025 Iranian attacks marked the most significant test of Jordan’s defensive capabilities to date. As Iran launched over 500 ballistic missiles and more than 200 drones in “Operation True Promise III,” Jordan immediately closed its airspace and scrambled its F-16 fighters, downing several Iranian drones overhead. This helped limit the barrage’s impact (although missiles still got through to strike the Tel Aviv area).

Even as Jordan faces rising domestic unrest over the war in Gaza, it continues to defend its skies and intercept Iranian missiles, some of which are falling over or near Jordanian population centers. On June 13, five Jordanian civilians were injured by falling debris from intercepted missiles. Jordan’s growing burdens demand recognition and support, especially given the very real possibility that future Iranian strikes may target Jordan itself, either deliberately or accidentally.

In effect, Jordan has unwillingly become the frontline of regional air defense due to its geography. It is absorbing the risk that might otherwise fall on other US partners. Whether Iranian missiles are merely flying over or eventually aimed directly at Jordan, the fact remains: defending Jordanian skies now serves as the first layer of US regional security. And Jordan is doing it without flinching.

An Upgraded Arsenal: F-16s, Apaches, and Patriots

As new Iranian drone and missile tactics emerge, Jordan’s own military hardware is ill-suited for this challenging mission. Its air force relies on F-16A/B fighter jets dating back to the 1990s. Even with upgrades, these older F-16s lack the advanced radars and weaponry of newer models. They struggle to reliably counter high-speed or high-altitude threats like Iran’s modern ballistic missiles. Likewise, Jordan’s principal surface-to-air system is the US-made MIM-23 Hawk—a missile system first fielded in the 1960s. The Hawk was not designed to intercept today’s cruise missiles or Iran’s new hypersonic ballistic warheads.

The RJAF currently operates more than 60 F-16 A/B MLU aircraft and recently purchased eight new F-16 Block 70 fighters, with plans for 12 total aircraft. However, the escalating threat environment demands substantial capability enhancement to maintain regional deterrence and defensive effectiveness.

The current plan for 12 F-16 Block 70 aircraft is insufficient given the evolving threat landscape. Jordan requires a minimum of 24–36 Block 70 fighters to maintain adequate air defense coverage and operational flexibility. These advanced aircraft feature AESA radar systems, which are capable of tracking more targets simultaneously and over a wider range than previous systems.

Unlike Israel or Gulf allies, Jordan does not currently deploy Patriot or other advanced anti-missile batteries. Tellingly, in late 2023, Jordan asked the United States to station Patriot systems on its soil, acknowledging it lacks the resources to acquire them alone. This status quo is untenable going forward—a buffer state needs robust armor, and right now Jordan’s armor is too thin.

Deploying Patriot missile batteries to Jordan—and ultimately transferring Patriot units for Jordan’s own use—would immediately enhance the country’s ability to intercept ballistic missiles and advanced aerial threats. Likewise, integrating a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system would add an upper-tier layer of missile defense against projectiles that fly above the Patriot’s reach. Together, Patriot and THAAD would provide Jordan with a layered shield capable of knocking down incoming drones and missiles at multiple stages. This would mark a quantum improvement over the outdated Hawk system currently in place.

In addition, Jordan requires two complete squadrons (24 aircraft) of new AH-64 Apache helicopters to provide close combat attack, reconnaissance, and border security capabilities. With Jordan’s aging AH-1 Cobra helicopters acquired in the 1980s, the Apache’s twin-engine design, 30mm cannon, Hellfire missiles, and advanced avionics make it an ideal fit for Jordan’s diverse security requirements, ranging from counterterrorism operations to anti-smuggling efforts to conventional defense.

A Burden-Sharing Opportunity

Accelerating aid to Jordan aligns with Washington’s goal of countering Iran’s aggression without direct US military confrontation. It is a cost-effective means to neutralize Iran’s missile and drone power. Unlike some foreign aid programs, this support yields immediate tangible benefits for US security. A better-defended Jordan reduces the risk that Iranian attacks could escalate into a wider war, drawing in US forces. It also reassures other allies that the United States is committed to a collective defense strategy.

Rather than improvising ad hoc defenses each time Iran strikes, it makes strategic sense to upgrade Jordan’s capabilities permanently. A modernized Jordanian air defense network would deter Iran by closing off an avenue of attack and ensure that any future missile barrages could be blunted far from their targets.

Jordan has participated in US-led missions from Afghanistan to Kosovo to the fight against ISIS. It hosts US troops and coordinates closely on counterterrorism and peacekeeping. The United States owes Jordan the military edge to continue shouldering that burden.

As the United States faces budget constraints and competing global priorities, investment in Jordan’s military capabilities offers an exceptional return on investment through force multiplication, burden sharing, and regional deterrence enhancement. The time for incremental support has passed; America must provide Jordan with the advanced military capabilities necessary to serve as a bulwark against Iranian aggression and a guarantor of regional stability in an increasingly dangerous Middle East.

About the Author: Abdullah Hayek

Abdullah Hayek is an advanced track writer and commentator and a Middle East History & Peace Fellow with Young Voices. He also serves as an independent Middle East analyst and consultant based in Washington, D.C. Follow him on X: @ahayek99.

Image: H. Mohammed / Shutterstock.com.

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