Jordanian brigade integrates UAVs for exercise

A still from the JAF's coverage of Exercise ‘Decisive Response' shows a soldier operating a JODDB counter-UAV jamming system. (Jordanian Armed Forces)

A Jordanian mechanised infantry brigade used various types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the first time during a live-fire exercise viewed by King Abdullah II.

The television coverage of Exercise ‘Decisive Response' that was broadcast on 13 September showed a Schiebel Camcopter S-100 rotary UAV, an Al-Basheq vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAV, an armed multicopter, and smaller commercial quadcopters being used to support the 12th Yarmouk Mechanised Brigade, a formation from the Jordanian Armed Forces' (JAF's) Northern Military Region.

Brigadier General Hasan Abu Rumman, commander of the Northern Military Region, said the exercise aimed to keep pace with the development of modern warfare and was the first to use UAVs.

“This is considered a qualitative addition to the exercises of the Jordanian Armed Forces and we hope that in the future it will be used more widely and in an optimal way,” he said.

The multicopter, which had the name Hexa 2 written on it, was shown carrying four bombs, while smaller quadcopters were used as one-way attack UAVs against various targets, including a vehicle.

The Al-Basheq surveillance UAV is made by Chinese company Mugin but has a control system developed by the Jordan Design and Development Bureau (JODDB). Jordan has had Camcopter S-100s since February 2011, when Schiebel announced it had delivered two to the JODDB.

A JODDB Skystorm radio frequency jamming system was also shown in the exercise, with the footage implying it was used to force a one-way attack UAV to land.