US Approves Possible $100m APKWS II Sale of Up to 1,500 Rockets to Jordan
The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Jordan of up to 1,500 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) laser-guided rockets and related equipment, valued at an estimated US$100 million. The determination was announced on 2 November 2026 under DSCA Transmittal No. 26-95. A possible-sale approval is not a signed contract; final quantities and price are set in later negotiations.
What Jordan requested
According to the State Department notice, the Government of Jordan has requested to buy up to 1,500 WGU-59A/B or B/B Single Variant Block Upgrade APKWS II all-up-rounds or guidance sections. The single-variant kit covers air-to-air, ground-to-air or air-to-ground employment.
Non-Major Defense Equipment in the package includes launchers; Mk-152 high-explosive warheads; MK66 rocket motors; proximity fuzes; WTU-1/B practice warheads; inert MK66 rocket motors; support equipment; publications and technical documentation; transportation; and US government and contractor engineering, technical, training and logistical support.
The principal contractor is BAE Systems, Inc., Nashua, New Hampshire. The notice says there are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with the sale, and that any offset would be defined in negotiations between Jordan and the contractor. No additional US government or contractor representatives would be assigned permanently to Jordan beyond periodic programme reviews, training and maintenance support.
Why Washington frames the sale this way
The State Department says the proposed sale would improve the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally that is “an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.” It links the rockets to an enhancement of Jordan’s air defence capability in support of the Middle East Air Defense pillar of the Regional Security Construct, arguing that additional APKWS II rounds would increase Jordan’s capacity to defend itself, allow a reduction of sustained US support over time, and improve security for US military assets stationed in Jordan.
The notice also states that Jordan will have no difficulty absorbing the articles into its Armed Forces, and that the proposed sale will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
What APKWS II is — and what was not disclosed
APKWS II (AGR-20) is BAE Systems’ semi-active laser guidance kit that converts 70 mm (2.75-inch) Hydra-family rockets into precision munitions. The State Department text refers to the sale as providing “additional” APKWS II guided rockets, which implies Jordan already fields the system, but the notice does not name current launch platforms, aircraft or ground launchers, delivery timelines or funding arrangements.
Note: A State Department possible FMS approval is a congressional notification step. It does not mean a contract has been signed or that 1,500 rounds will necessarily be delivered at the stated ceiling value.
Verified and unverified
- Verified (US State Department / DSCA Transmittal 26-95, announced 2 November 2026): possible FMS to Jordan of up to 1,500 APKWS II WGU-59A/B or B/B; estimated US$100 million; listed non-MDE support items; BAE Systems Nashua as principal contractor; Major Non-NATO Ally / Middle East Air Defense rationale; no permanent extra US presence in Jordan beyond periodic support.
- Not disclosed: delivery schedule, funding method, Jordanian launch platforms, exact final quantity/value after negotiation.
Sources
- US Department of State / Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Foreign Military Sales congressional notification, Transmittal No. 26-95 (announced 2 November 2026; text as reproduced by defence trade press including Al Defaiya and ASDNews)
- US State Department Foreign Military Sales page
