Royal Air Force of Oman
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| Royal Air Force of Oman | |
|---|---|
| Founded | March 1959 |
| Country | Oman |
| Commanders | |
| Commander of the RAFO | Air Vice-Marshal Yahya Rasheed Al-Juma |
The Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) is the air arm of the Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces
[edit] History
The Sultan of Oman's Air Force (SOAF) was formed with British personnel and aircraft in March 1959. The first aircraft were two Scottish Aviation Pioneers transferred from the Royal Air Force. The first armed aircraft was the Percival Provost T52.
In 1968 the SOAF received the first (of eventually 24) BAC Strikemaster jet trainer and light strike aircraft for operation against insurgents in the Dhofar region. In 1974 the SOAF was expanded with orders for the Britten Norman Defender, BAC One-Eleven, BAC VC-10 and 32 Hawker Hunter ground attack aircraft. The next increase in capability was the arrival of the Jaguar International in 1977 followed in the 1980s by the BAe Hawk.
In 1990 the SOAF was renamed the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO).
In 2005 deliveries started of F-16, the aircraft are equipped with improved GPS/INS. The aircraft can carry a further batch of advanced missiles; the AGM-88 HARM missile, JDAM, JSOW and WCMD. Block 50 aircraft are powered by the F110-GE-129 while the Block 52 jets use the F100-PW-229.
[edit] Equipment
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agusta-Bell AB205 |  Italy |
Search and Rescue Helicopter | AB205A-1 | 21 | to be retired and replaced with NH90 and Lynx Mk 120 |
| Agusta-Bell AB212 Twin Huey | Italy |
Helicopter | AB212 | 3 | |
| AgustaWestland AW139 | Italy |
Helicopter | AW139 | 1 | 4 delivered of total ten. All for Royal Oman police aviation wing. |
| Airbus A320CJ |  France |
Transport | A320CJ | 0 | 2 on order |
| BAC One-Eleven |  United Kingdom |
Transport | 485 | 4 | to be retired and replaced with A320s |
| Dornier Do 228 |  Germany |
Light Transport | Do 228-100 | ||
| Eurocopter AS 332 Super Puma | France Germany Spain |
Helicopter | AS 332C AS 332L-1 |
3 | |
| BAe Hawk 103 | United Kingdom |
Trainer | Hawk 103 | 4 | |
| BAe Hawk 203 | United Kingdom |
Fighter | Hawk 203 | 12 | one lost in accident. |
| Bell 206B JetRanger |  United States |
Helicopter | Bell 206 | 3 | |
| Bell HH-1H Iroquois | United States |
Helicopter | HH-1H | 20 | |
| Lockheed C-130 Hercules | United States |
Tactical Transport | C-130H | 3 | |
| Lockheed Martin F-16C/D | United States |
Fighter | F-16C F-16D |
12 | |
| NHI NH90 | France |
Helicopter | 0 | 20 on order | |
| PAC Super MFI-17 Mushshak |  Pakistan |
Trainer | 8 | one lost in accident. | |
| Pilatus PC-9 |  Switzerland |
Trainer | PC-9M | 12 | |
| SEPECAT Jaguar | United Kingdom |
Ground Attack | Jaguar S Jaguar B |
2/16 | |
| Super Falke | Germany |
Trainer | 2 | ||
| Short SC.7 Skyvan | United Kingdom |
Light Transport | Skyvan 3M | 2/10 | |
| Westland Lynx Mk 120 | United Kingdom |
Helicopter | Lynx 120 | 16 | one lost in accident. |
