AMMAN [MENL] -- Jordan has accepted delivery of another batch of British
main battle tanks.Officials said the latest batch of British armored vehicles arrived over
the weekend. The tanks were shipped to the Jordanian port of Aqaba.The number of tanks in the shipment was not disclosed. The tank was
identified as the Challenger-1.Officials said that the latest shipment was comprised of new tanks.
Previous shipments were said to have included Challenger-1 tanks retired
from
service.The official Jordanian news agency Petra confirmed the tank delivery.
The agency said the Challenger-1 shipment is meant for Jordan's effort to
"modernize its military equipment and arms to strenthen its defensive
capabilities."Britain has pledged to deliver 288 surplus Challenger-1 tanks to Jordan.
So far, more than 100 tanks are said to have arrived over the last two
years.London is a leading benefactor of military aid to the Hashemite kingdom.
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