AMMAN — Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Yousef Ahmed Huneiti on Tuesday inaugurated the Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) Conference and Exhibition, organised by the Jordan Design and Development Bureau (JODDB) in cooperation with UK-based SAE Media Group and supported by the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF).

 

Held for the first time in the Middle East and Africa, the two-day event at the St Regis Hotel in Amman brought together delegations from 44 countries, over 500 participants, 25 international speakers and eight exhibiting companies.

 

The gathering, according to organisers, seeks to highlight the latest advances in drone detection and interception technologies, debate ethical issues and assess future threats.

 

JODDB Director General retired Maj. Gen. Ayman Batran said the conference comes at a time of mounting global challenges from unmanned systems. He stressed the need for specialised countermeasures while ensuring responsible use of the technology. Batran added that the partnership with SAE Media Group created a “unique platform” to exchange expertise and display advanced systems.

 

SAE Media Group Managing Director Miles Dixon said the event provides a vital forum for regional and international stakeholders to share strategies in counter-drone operations.

 

The conference also highlights Jordan’s emerging role in defence innovation. Officials noted that the JAF and JODDB have fielded indigenous systems capable of detecting, jamming and neutralising drones, including successful deployments in anti-smuggling operations along the borders.

 

Security and strategic expert Bashir Dajeh told The Jordan Times that the timing of the event was significant amid regional turbulence , including the Gaza war, cross-border militias and intensified smuggling.

 

He described drones as “low-cost, high-impact weapons” and said the conference sends a strategic message that Jordan is prepared to safeguard its skies and assume a leadership role.

 

Military strategist Nidal Abu Zeid said that the sponsorship by the armed forces underscores a doctrinal shift within the Jordanian Armed Forces.

 

He argued that drones have become central to sixth-generation warfare and that Jordan’s focus reflects a move to modernise tools, rules of engagement and border security.

 

Abu Zeid noted that demonstrations of advanced laser interceptors highlight the pace of innovation, adding that Jordan is taking steps to stay ahead of adversaries and smugglers.

 

Market projections place the drone industry at $163.6 billion by 2030, while the counter-drone market is expected to grow from $4.48 billion in 2025 to $14.51 billion by 2030. Organisers said the conference aims not only to address immediate challenges but also to promote regulatory frameworks, industrial cooperation and public awareness on the responsible use of drones.

 

Huneiti toured the exhibition and was briefed on JODDB’s locally developed systems. The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Investment, senior security officials, diplomats, military attachés and international experts