King Abdullah Design and Development Bureau

King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau
Native name
 Arabic: مركز الملك عبدالله الثاني للتصميم والتطوير‎‎
State owned company
Industry Defence
Founded 1999 (1999)
Headquarters Amman, Amman Governorate, Jordan
Area served
 Middle East
Key people
 Atef Al Tal (Chairman)
Br. Gen. Mohammad Al Habhba (CEO)[1]
Products Munitions, Firearm, Artillery, Explosive, Combat vehicle, Electro-optical devices, Clothing
Owner Jordanian Armed Forces
Website www.kaddb.com/en-us

The King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) is a Jordanian defence company. It was established by Royal Decree on 24 August 1999 to provide an indigenous capability for the supply of scientific and technical services to the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF). KADDB was also created for the supply of defense and commercial equipment optimized for Middle East requirements. It is an independent agency within the Jordanian Armed Forces tasked with operating according to best business practices and is financed both through the defense budget and by technology, products and services sales incomes.

KADDB employs approximately 200 military and civilian personnel within its two Strategic Business Units (SBUs).[2] The majority of its staff work in the Engineering Group located within the King Hussein Main Workshops. Headquartered in central Amman, KADDB is organized into three divisions: the Engineering Group, the Manufacturing Group, and the Programs group.

KADDB Investment Group

Launched on January 1, 2010, the KADDB Investment Group has been established to act as the commercial arm for the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB). The KADDB Investment Group aims at establishing new businesses in the Defense, security and Automotive industries along with all services that would compliment these industries.

KIG handles all business-related activities by having its team evaluate an opportunity all the way to realizing its full potential as well as develop the current businesses through implementation of business development, marketing and communication activities, in addition to enhancing the Group’s corporate image. Moreover, the Group carries out marketing and communication tasks for KADDB Investment Group.[3]

KADDB Industrial Park

In October 2009, King Abdullah II inaugurated the KADDB Industrial Park (KADDB IP), which is the first comprehensive free zone in the Middle East, specialized in the defense industry and the manufacturing of vehicles. KADDB IP is a public limited liability company owned completely by the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB). It was established in 2006 in accordance with the Free Zones Law to upgrade Jordan’s industrial base, attract investments, and encourage the development of interactive industries for manufacturing vehicles, in the context of an environment that attracts investment by offering incentives, tax exemptions, and excellent logistical services such as communications, infrastructure, and management. The Park also enjoys the security measures needed for defense industries and all other facilities to ensure the success of the investment. It is located on 3,800 dunams (1 dunum = 1,000 square meters) of land at Khalidiyah in the Mafraq Governorate, 50 km from Amman and 24 km from Zarqa, on the cross roads linking Jordan to Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Syria, which facilitates the transportation of KADDB IP products to all countries in the region.[4]

Projects

KADDB's first priority is to meet military needs; business is balanced between the armed forces’ requests and the bureau’s push for its own technologies or concepts. An example of an idea generated by the bureau for the military is the Desert Iris Jeep. A multi-purpose vehicle, the Desert Iris was developed by Jordan Light Vehicle Manufacturing.[5] The Desert Iris has a Toyota 2.8 liter engine, manual gearbox and four-wheel drive. With a large load area, the truck can carry four soldiers in combat gear. A variety of weapons can be mounted on the Desert Iris. Jordanian forces used the vehicle during United Nations peacekeeping operations in Sierra Leone. Now the vehicle is employed in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Libya.[6]

In 2005, a cooperative venture between Abu Dhabi-based Bin Jabr Group and KADDB, called Advanced Industries of Arabia, won a $41 million contract to supply the UAE armed forces with the so-called Nimr 4x4 high mobility tactical vehicle. The Nimr order called for 500 vehicles in a mix of four variants.[6] The vehicle has a custom-made cooling system, which allows troops to operate in extreme weather conditions. The Nimr will be manufactured at a KADDB plant in Jordan.[5]

A Lebanese variant of the KADDB produced 4x4 Nimr.

The bureau now is working extensively to upgrade and integrate systems for battle tanks and combat vehicles. In partnership with Raytheon, KADDB is upgrading the M60 A3 tank with an integrated fire control system. The Phoenix program improves the tank’s shoot-on-the-move capabilities, lethality and survivability. The IFCS consists of a gunner’s primary sight system, a ballistic computer and an enhanced turret stabilization system. Part of the program is the replacement of the M60’s 105-mm rifled cannon with the Swiss RUAG land systems L 50 120-mm smoothbore compact tank gun. Four M60 A3 tank battalions upgraded with the Raytheon system are operational. The IFCS also is being installed in the Al Hussein hybrid tank, a former British Challenger 1 tank outfitted with the RUAG 120 mm smooth bore gun.[6] Additionally, KADDB is planning to install a new auxiliary power unit on the Al Hussein tank. This APU also is proposed to the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defense for the country’s Challenger 2 tanks, said a company official. The U.K. supplied Jordan with 400 Challenger 1 tanks as part of a government-to-government deal. Another project, called Falcon, is aimed at the development of a highly survivable, reduced-silhouette turret capable of firing 105 mm guns and all types of NATO 120 mm smoothbore ammunition. The design of the Falcon turret places the crew below the turret ring. The reduced volume helps to diminish the vehicle’s profile.[5]

In conjunction with Mechanology Design Bureau and IST Dynamics of South Africa, CLS Jordan and General Dynamics, KADDB is working on the Temsah tracked heavy infantry combat vehicle. It can operate alongside the most advanced battle tanks. The Temsah can be equipped with reactive armor and has a front-mounted engine to increase protection. It can carry a crew of two and up to 10 troops. The vehicle can be configured as a tracked ambulance, command post or a mortar/howitzer platform.[6] KADDB is collaborating on a series of projects with the Jordanian armed forces. Monjed P2 is a recovery vehicle based on the chassis of the decommissioned U.S. M60A1 tank. Monjed can be used for recovery and repair of tanks in the battlefield. The vehicle carries a range of repair equipment, including a crane, cutting material and air tools. Another system, Armored Shield, provides protection for .50 cal. machine gun operators on the M113 and the URUTU armored personnel carriers. The project was initiated in response to an urgent requirement of the military in support of units deployed on U.N. operations. The 90-kilogram shield protects from all directions. Ballistic proof windows provide vision in different directions. In partnership with the armed forces’ Royal Maintenance Corps, KADDB is able to supply new and refurbished armored fighting vehicles.[5]

A Desert Iris vehicle in use by the Special Operation Forces of Jordan at Shaheed Mwaffaq Air Base.

KADDB has been touted as the first company to develop military unmanned vehicles in the Arab world. The design and development bureau worked in 2001 with Jordan Aerospace Industries in a joint venture, called Jordan Advanced Remote Systems (JARS), to develop a series of tactical drones. The Falcon UAV is designed for surveillance missions.[6] It performs real-time day and night reconnaissance, remote sensing, surveillance and target acquisition up to 50 kilometers. The Falcon has a two-stroke engine that burns a mixture of gas and oil. The UAV has an endurance of four hours but could be equipped with additional fuel tanks for more capacity. The system’s ground control station is available in tabletop or shelter-mounted configurations.[5]

The Silent Eye is a backpack portable UAV used for scouting missions, area and perimeter control, highway monitoring and surveillance. It is also suited for search-and-rescue mission support and convoy security. It can be assembled and disassembled in less than 15 minutes, officials said. Advanced system autonomy enables hands-off operation of the system from takeoff through recovery. The I-Wing is a mini UAV with a 1.25-meter wingspan, which can be carried by two people in a lightweight, waterproof case and is shoulder-launched.[6] The wings and tail of the I-Wing are stored in a folded position, but immediately unfold when rocket-launched. On reaching a 100-meter altitude, the hard propellant engine is ejected, and an electric motor is automatically started. The Jordan Arrow is an aerial target system that is intended for both air-defense training and testing of weapon systems. The Arrow simulates a variety of air defense threats. The target is a recoverable UAV equipped with power plant, automatic flight control system, recovery parachute and modular multi-version mission payloads.[5]

KADDB is also developing unmanned ground vehicles. Their Multi-Function Robot is a wirelessly controlled vehicle designed to carry out long-range missions using passive distance-measuring cameras. It is a 6x6 wheeled vehicle designed to carry a 200 kg (440 lb) payload for a range of uses including explosive ordnance disposal operations, logistics, battlefield recovery, reconnaissance, and others. The Multi-Function Robot is completely electrically driven and has a top road speed of 12 km/h (7.5 mph), can pass over a 45 cm (18 in) trench, and can pass a 20 cm (7.9 in) vertical step in forward and reverse. Endurance is 2–3 hours. The platform is available in an anti-tank configuration with two RPG-32 launchers on a remote controller mount. KADDB also has a mini UGV weighing 3 kg (6.6 lb) for EOD usage.[7]

Subsidiaries and affiliates

Jordan Light Vehicle Manufacturing LLC (JLVM)

JLVM is a joint venture between KADDB and the Jankel Group Ltd of the UK to design, develop, produce, and market military vehicles. Its main products are Al-Jawad troop carrier for internal security uses, Al-Tha’lab long-range reconnaissance vehicle. JLVM, which has been operational since 2008, won the King Abdullah II Award for Excellence in 2010. JLVM vehicles production strategy is "Build to Order" and/or "Engineer to Order" to the customer's specific requirements ranging from soft skin and special purpose vehicles to fully armoured Internal Security Vehicles (ISVs) based on a variety of commercial off the shelf chassis. Other soft skin products such as 4x4 utility vehicles, LRPV, Ambulances, mobile medical solutions vehicles …etc. are part of JLVM products portfolio.[2][8]

Jordan Manufacturing and Services Solutions (JMSS)

JMSS is 100% owned by KADDB, staffed with workforce, equipped with infrastructure, which consists of 12,500M² workshops and stores, 50 tons overhead cranes, CNC Machines which include(Water Jet, Laser, 1000MT Press Brakes, CNC Plasma cutting machines, CNC tube bending) and owns heavy steel structure manufacturing up to tank assembly including hull machining machines, hull and turret manipulators and turning machines.[9] Its activities include:

Special Operations Forces Exhibition (SOFEX)

SOFEX is the world’s fastest growing and region’s only special operations and homeland security exhibition and conference that features the largest fully integrated and innovative Special Operations Forces equipment and solutions from around the world.[10][11]

JoSecure International

Jordan International Security Company (JoSecure) is a commercial entity fully owned by King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB).[12] It was established, back in 2004, to provide a variety of high quality security services to governmental and private sectors both locally and throughout the region, by providing the highest levels of services and applications. Business units include: Man Guarding, Systems Integration, Tracking and Navigation, and Security and secured products.

Jordan Advanced Machining Company

Jordan AMCO's objective is to establish a location for precision manufacturing in Jordan to support the country’s developing industrial base, as well as exploring regional and international export opportunities.[13]

Jordan AMCO's intention is to be at the forefront of advanced manufacturing in Jordan, and as well as providing machining services on a direct supply basis we will also be providing technical assistance to other local manufactures with tooling selection, heat treatment, training requirements and assistance with understanding material properties and their machining characteristics etc.[14]

Jordan Ammunition Manufacturing and Services Company (JORAMMO)

Jordan Ammunition Manufacturing and Services Company established in 2008 as a joint venture between KADDB, MECAR, a Belgian ammunition manufacturing company, and DMV, a holding company from the USA. JORAMMO aims to become one of the largest centers in the Middle East and North Africa for the design, development, production of ammunition, conducting testing and qualification of the Company's products, and dematerializing ammunition.[15] The company caters for the ammunition needs of the Jordanian Armed Forces as well as other armed forces in the region and worldwide.[2]

Others

References

  1. ↑ KADDB. "Board of Directors & MD - KADDB".
  2. 1 2 3 KADDB Industrial Park – NEWS. Kaddb-ipark.com (2009-10-09). Retrieved on 2011-10-31.
  3. ↑ KADDB Investment website
  4. ↑ :: KADDB Industrial Park ::. Kaddb-ipark.com. Retrieved on 2011-10-31.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jordan Eyes Expansion of Domestic Defense Industry. Nationaldefensemagazine.org (2011-03-17). Retrieved on 2011-10-31.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jordan eyes expansion of domestic defense industry. – Free Online Library. Thefreelibrary.com (2005-05-01). Retrieved on 2011-10-31.
  7. ↑ KADDB at SOFEX 2014: First presentation of the Multi-Functional Robot - Armyrecognition.com, 6 May 2014
  8. ↑ JLVM LLC Web Portal: Home. Jlvmllc.com (1999-12-04). Retrieved on 2011-10-31.
  9. ↑ KIG | Jordan Manufacturing and Services Solutions (JMSS). Kaddbinvest.com. Retrieved on 2011-10-31.
  10. ↑ KIG | Sofex. Kaddbinvest.com. Retrieved on 2011-10-31.
  11. ↑ Sofex website
  12. ↑ KIG | JoSecure International. Kaddbinvest.com. Retrieved on 2011-10-31.
  13. ↑ KIG | Jordan Advanced Machining Company. Kaddbinvest.com. Retrieved on 2011-10-31.
  14. ↑ JordanAMCO. JordanAMCO. Retrieved on 2011-10-31.
  15. ↑ KIG | Jordan Ammunition Manufacturing and Services Company (JORAMMO). Kaddbinvest.com. Retrieved on 2011-10-31.
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