Fears of war. They are requesting assistance from the United States
8:42 AM EDT, October 30, 2023
As tensions in the region escalate, Jordan has requested that the United States install Patriot air defense systems on its territory. This information was relayed by the spokesman for the Jordanian army, Gen. Mustafa Hiyari, during an appearance on state television this Sunday evening.
"We have solicited our American allies to aid us in securing our nation by installing Patriot air defense systems," stated the spokesperson.
The Reuters agency points out that Patriot air defense systems have been previously deployed in Jordan, a country allied with the United States in the Middle East. This situation occurred in 2013, during the outbreak of the Syrian civil war, when Jordanian authorities were concerned about the conflict spilling over to other regional countries. According to Reuters, Jordan is one of the primary recipients of military financial aid from the United States.
Officials in Amman have growing concerns that the Israeli bombings of the Gaza Strip, launched in response to an October 7 attack by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, might escalate into a wider conflict.
This past Saturday, Washington announced that the USA would redirect extra THAAD and Patriot air defense systems to the Middle East. Based on information from the Pentagon, this move is in response to recent attacks on American troops in the region and the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
Jordan seeks assistance - desires Patriot Systems at border
The Patriot systems, whose placement in Amman is being sought, are technology dating back to the 1960s. They were developed to replace the MIM-23 Hawk system and to extend the operational range of the American army.
The Patriots serve as an efficient air defense mostly due to the inclusion of the AN/MPQ-53 (Raytheon) radar. This radar can detect targets as far as 62 miles away and track up to 125 objects in the sky at the same time. Simultaneously, the Patriot can guide missiles to address nine threats.
Missiles launched from the system can achieve speeds over 5 Ma (3728 mph), posing a threat to any type of missiles in the sky. The American anti-missile system has repeatedly demonstrated its effectiveness, specifically in the interception of Russian Iskanders or Kalibrs.
