His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday inaugurated the JADARA Equipment and Defence Systems Company’s factory in a ceremony attended by Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Al Hussein and Prince Feisal.

JADARA is a Jordanian-Russian project established for the assembling, manufacturing and development of RPGs. Its first product will be the “Nashab” RPG-32, a portable short range weapon with unique qualities and accurate precision.

King Abdullah unveiled a commemorative plaque, toured the assembly line of the “Nashab” and attended a live firing of JADARA’s RPG-32 to illustrate the weapon’s features, including capacity to penetrate armoured vehicles and destroy bunkers, improving combat capabilities.

 “Nashab” is expected to be favoured by regional armies as an upgraded version with highly advanced features of previous models of RPGs. Export procedures will guarantee total compliance with UN rules and transparency.

JIDARA is a subsidiary of the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau’s (KADDB) Investment Group (KIG), the investment arm of the bureau. KADDB’s Chairman and CEO and KIG Chairman Shadi Al Majali and Sergey Chemezov, director general of Russian Technologies State Corporation, and JADARA’s general manager Brig. Gen. Bassam Issa (rtd) all presented the project and its potential at the inauguration ceremony.

KIG seeks to establish partnerships in the defence and security industries along with complementary supporting services. KIG’s scope of work includes heavy industries, the manufacture of heavy-duty vehicles and equipment, army equipment, arms and ammunition, in addition to back-office services.

KADDB is an independent entity within the Jordan Armed Forces, established in 1999 by Royal Decree for the supply of high quality, efficient and cost-effective scientific and technical research and development services in defence, security and automotive industries.

The opening ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, King’s Office Director Imad Fakhoury and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mishaal Zaben, in addition to ministers, chiefs of security bodies, senior officials and officers, Russia’s Ambassador to Jordan Alexander Kalugin and embassy staff.