The Royal Tank Museum (Arabic: متحف الدبابات الملكي) is a military museum in Amman, Jordan, inaugurated on January 29, 2018. Located next to the King Abdullah II Park in Al Muqabalain.Jordan inaugurates "Royal Tank Museum" | Arab48 Archived June 13, 2018, at the Wayback Machine. The Royal Tank Museum spans an area of approximately 20,000 square meters and houses around 110 tanks and armored vehicles from Jordan, Arab nations, and foreign countries, displayed in chronological order.New day: Jordan's Royal Tank Museum The story of the Arab army's struggle Al Ghad Channel Archived March 5, 2020, at the Wayback Machine. The collection includes a number of American, British, Soviet, and German-made vehicles, with a dedicated hall showcasing local military industries.A century of Middle East wars on display at Jordanian museum Times of Israel Archived February 21, 2018, at the Wayback Machine. The museum features both original and restored rare items, illustrating the historical evolution of military vehicles since 1915. The museum's design was created by Jordanian architect Zaid Daoud.King opens Royal Tank Museum The Jordan Times Archived January 31, 2018, at the Wayback Machine.
It is dedicated to Jordan's military heritage, showcasing vehicles used in Jordan and the region.Royal Tank Museum Future Newspaper Archived May 5, 2020, at the Wayback Machine. These exhibits illustrate the impact of wars on Jordan's historical transformations, offering an educational and interactive experience through audiovisual technologies. In addition to its permanent displays, the museum features a demonstration program of tanks and armored vehicles in an outdoor arena. The museum and its grounds cover 100,000 square meters. Construction took nearly ten years, and it is managed by a Board of Trustees, which includes organizations such as the Greater Amman Municipality, the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau, the Royal Special Operations, and the Royal Automobile Museum.Shawarbeh stresses on working at maximum capacity to complete the work in the squares surrounding the Royal Tank Museum Greater Amman Municipality Archived July 24, 2018, at the Wayback Machine.Towering Monuments Program – Royal Tank Museum Archived January 10, 2020, at the Wayback Machine.Royal decree to reconstitute the Board of Trustees of the Tank Museum Al-Dustour Newspaper Archived February 15, 2018, at the Wayback Machine.
History
Establishment of the museum Since 1977 Jordan had only one military museum dedicated to its military history, the Martyr's Memorial Museum, located in the Sports City of Amman. This museum showcases military vehicles and weapons in chronological order."MUSEUM – The Martyrs' Memorial and Museum, Jordan". Military History Monthly. June 18, 2013. Archived from the original on August 28, 2018. Accessed 2016-12-30.
The Royal Tank Museum was established following a transformation in the quality, size, and specialization of museums in Jordan. The idea for creating the museum dates back to 2002 when it was initially planned to be located in Aqaba, southern Jordan, specifically adjacent to the Port of Aqaba, where many military vehicles were stored. However, the construction site was later moved to the eastern part of the capital, Amman, after the Greater Amman Municipality provided the land for the project, which spans 100,000 square meters.Royal Tank Museum in Aqaba Preserved Tanks Archived July 24, 2018, at the Wayback Machine.
Construction of the Royal Tank Museum in Amman began following the issuance of an official royal decree in 2007.Royal Tank Museum Al Arabiya Net Archived June 28, 2018, at the Wayback Machine. The project took more than ten years to complete and was inaugurated by King Abdullah II of Jordan on January 29, 2018, as part of the kingdom's celebrations marking the centenary of the Arab Revolt and the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Karama.The Royal Tank Museum tells Jordan's military history Al Jazeera Mubasher Archived December 17, 2019, at the Wayback Machine.The Royal Tank Museum tells Jordan's military history Sharjah 24 Archived December 17, 2019, at the Wayback Machine.On the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Eternal Dignity – Royal Tank Museum Jordan TV Archived December 17, 2019, at the Wayback Machine.
The museum's primary objective is to preserve and showcase tanks and armored vehicles from the Jordanian Armed Forces, as well as other military heritage from around the world, for public viewing.The Royal Tank Museum is a tale of a nation Al-Rai newspaper Archived June 28, 2018, at the Wayback Machine. Each tank retains its original color and military unit number, with efforts made to restore its interior components. The restoration process was supervised by the museum's board of trustees and the Jordanian Department of Heritage, with assistance from international specialists.Surviving German WW2 Tanks Tank-Hunter Archived February 15, 2017, at the Wayback Machine.Surviving Czechoslowakian Tanks and Armored Vehicles Shadock Archived December 26, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
During its first four days of operatioweln, the museum comed over 13,000 visitors, including officials and military attaches from various countries. Since its opening, the museum has also organized educational tours for school students, employing interactive methods to explain the history of tanks. A portion of the construction and operational costs was covered through donations.Military attachés visit the Royal Tank Museum Iraq News Archived June 25, 2018, at the Wayback Machine.FAQ Royal Tank Museum Archived July 18, 2018, at the Wayback Machine.
This museum is the second of its kind in the Middle East; Israel opened a tank and armored vehicle museum in Latrun in 1982, following its occupation of the West Bank in the 1967 war, which had been under Jordanian administration prior to that.King inaugurates the Royal Tank Museum in Mqabalain area in Amman Al-Rai Newspaper Archived February 6, 2018, at the Wayback Machine. Most other tank museums worldwide are located in countries such as Germany, Spain, Australia, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Poland, the Czech Republic, Russia, Slovakia, Switzerland, China, France, Finland, Canada, India, the Netherlands, and the United States.Tank Museum & Collections Tank Encyclopedia Archived July 3, 2018, at the Wayback Machine. Several international tank museums, including the Tank Museum in Dorset and the Imperial War Museum in London, contributed to the organization of this project.Tank museum displaying 110 battle-worn tanks opens in Jordan Washington's Top News Archived June 19, 2018, at the Wayback Machine.
Ground Force history
The Royal Tank Museum displays a wide array of weapons used by the Royal Jordanian Army since its establishment in 1920. The collection features a total of 46 types of tanks, armored vehicles, and other military vehicles, some of which remain in active service while others have been retired. As of 2018,Tank Strength by Country Global Fire Power Archived June 13, 2018, at the Wayback Machine.Self-Propelled Artillery Strength by Country Global Fire Power Archived September 2, 2017, at the Wayback Machine.Armored Fighting Vehicle Strength by Country Global Fire Power Archived February 5, 2018, at the Wayback Machine. Jordan possesses a diverse inventory of 1,321 tanks, 2,547 armored vehicles, and 461 self-propelled guns, placing it 18th globally in terms of tank strength, 30th in armored vehicle strength, and 15th in self-propelled artillery strength.2018 Jordan Military Strength Global Fire Power Archived September 2, 2017, at the Wayback Machine.
Additionally, the Jordanian military has acquired various other assets, including wheeled and tracked tank destroyers, artillery pieces, infantry fighting vehicles, and rocket launchers. Notably, the Bofors 40mm was the first anti-aircraft artillery to serve in the Jordanian forces, while the South African Marmon-Herrington was the first armored vehicle. The American M4 Sherman was the first tank in the Jordanian arsenal, followed by the British Centurion, American M47 Patton, American M48 Patton, American M60, British Chieftain, and British Challenger 1.Jordan Land Systems List (Current and Former Types) Global Fire Power Archived September 2, 2017, at the Wayback Machine.
The Jordanian Armed Forces have implemented modifications to some of these tanks, enhancing their operational range, increasing payload capacity, and reducing operational costs related to spare parts and repairs.The Jordanian Tariq Tank TankNutdave.com Archived November 8, 2017, at the Wayback Machine.
Diversity in presentation
Several countries have contributed to the Royal Tank Museum by providing tanks, armored vehicles, and supporting machinery. Israeli media reported that Israel gifted the museum a Merkava tank; however, Jordanian official sources denied these claims.Israel gives Jordan an IDF Merkava tank, for a museum Jerusalem Post Archived July 18, 2018, at the Wayback Machine.An informed source denies that Israel gifted a Merkava tank to Jordan Al-Rai newspaper Archived August 17, 2018, at the Wayback Machine.
Jordan's strong diplomatic relations with various governments have facilitated the acquisition of a diverse and rare collection of military vehicles, many of which served in NATO forces, while others were part of the Warsaw Pact. The museum features a wide range of exhibits that encompass various time periods and conflicts, dividing its display halls into sections that guide visitors through different military histories.Jordan showcases its arsenal in a new tank museum Al-Monitor Archived June 13, 2018, at the Wayback Machine.Jordan displays military tech Israel faced in early wars Jerusalem Post Archived March 4, 2018, at the Wayback Machine.
In addition to showcasing weapons from regional and global conflicts—ranging from World War I and World War II to the Arab-Israeli wars and the Gulf War—the museum provides a detailed account of Jordan's military history. It emphasizes the role of tanks within the Jordanian Armed Forces and Jordan's involvement in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Despite this variety, the majority of the tanks on display are of American and British manufacture, reflecting the historical alliance between Jordan and these nations.
Location
The Royal Tank Museum is located within the King Abdullah II Gardens, which span approximately 550 dunams in the Al-Muqabalain area of eastern Amman. Specifically, it is situated at the intersection of Al-Sakhra Al-Musharrafah Street and Jamal Badran Street. The building is adjacent to several landmarks, including Jordan Media City, the Jordan Radio and Television Corporation, the Jordan Post Office, the Border Guards Center, and the South Amman Police Directorate. It is also located just 5 kilometers south of the city center.One thousand square meters of vegetation for the third phase of King Abdullah II Gardens Al-Rai newspaper Archived December 17, 2019, at the Wayback Machine.Google Earth
Access to the museum can be achieved via public transportation, specifically through bus line 103, as well as neighboring routes 144 and 145; however, a supplementary means of transport may be required.Public Transport Lines – Popular Map of Amman Transportation Ma'an Nasl Archived July 23, 2018, at the Wayback Machine. Photography is permitted within the museum, and entry requires a ticket priced between 2 and 5 Jordanian dinars, depending on the visitor's age and residency status (children under 12 years of age are admitted free of charge). The museum is open every day except Tuesday and features ample parking for both cars and buses, with facilities accommodating individuals with special needs.Tickets Royal Tank Museum Archived June 24, 2018, at the Wayback Machine.
Design and construction