! Aircraft !! Origin !! Type !! Versions !! In service !! Notes
! Aircraft !! Origin !! Type !! Versions !! In service !! Notes
|-
|-
| [[Bell 204/205|Agusta‑Bell AB205A‑1]] || Italy || search and rescue helicopter || AB205A‑1 || 21 || To be retired and replaced with NH90 and Lynx Mk 120. A total of 37 delivered and 3 on loan from Iran. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
| [[Bell 204/205| ]] || Italy || search and rescue helicopter || || 21 || To be retired and replaced with NH90 and Lynx . A total of 37 delivered and 3 on loan from Iran.
|-
|-
| [[AgustaWestland AW139]] || Italy || helicopter || AW139 || 10 || 10 purchased for Royal Oman Police aviation wing. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
| [[AgustaWestland AW139]] || Italy || helicopter || AW139 || 10 || 10 purchased for Royal Oman Police aviation wing.
|-
|-
| [[Airbus A320CJ]] || || transport || A320CJ || 2 ||
| [[Airbus A320CJ]] || || transport || A320CJ || 2 ||
|-
|-
| [[BAe Hawk]]|BAe Hawk 103 || UK || trainer || Hawk 103 || 4 || A total of 5 delivered, including 1 ex-Canadian. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
| [[BAe Hawk|BAe Hawk 103 || UK || trainer || Hawk 103 || 4 || A total of 5 delivered, including 1 ex-Canadian.
|-
|-
| [[BAe Hawk]]|BAe Hawk 203 || UK || fighter || Hawk 203 || 11 || :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
| [[BAe Hawk|BAe Hawk 203 || UK || fighter || Hawk 203 || 11 ||
|-
|-
| [[Bell 206]]|Bell 206B JetRanger || USA || helicopter || Bell 206 || 5 || 7 delivered. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
| [[Bell 206|Bell 206B JetRanger || USA || helicopter || Bell 206 || 5 || 7 delivered.
|-
|-
| [[Bell 214]] / [[Bell 214ST]] || USA || utility helicopter || Bell 214 / Bell 214ST || 6 || :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
| [[Bell 214]] / [[Bell 214ST]] || USA || utility helicopter || Bell 214 / Bell 214ST || 6 ||
|-
|-
| [[Bell 204/205|Bell HH‑1H Iroquois]] || USA || helicopter || HH‑1H || 20 || :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
| [[Bell 204/205|Bell Iroquois]] || USA || helicopter || || 20 ||
|-
|-
| [[Dornier Do 228]]|Dornier Do 228‑100 || Germany || light transport || Do 228‑100 || 2 || :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
| [[Dornier Do 228|Dornier Do || Germany || light transport || Do || 2 ||
|-
|-
| [[Eurocopter Fennec|Eurocopter AS 550 Fennec]] || || helicopter || AS 550 || 3 || Delivered to Omani Royal Flight. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
| [[Eurocopter AS 550 Fennec]] || || helicopter || AS 550 || 3 || Delivered to Omani Royal Flight.
|-
|-
| [[Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma]] || || helicopter || EC 225 || 6 || Delivered to Omani Royal Flight. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
| [[Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma]] || || helicopter || EC 225 || 6 || Delivered to Omani Royal Flight.
|-
|-
| [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules]] || USA || tactical transport || C‑130H / C‑130J‑30 || 10 || 2 more ordered in August 2010. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
| [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules]] || USA || tactical transport || / || 10 || 2 more ordered in August 2010.
|-
|-
| [[F-16 Fighting Falcon|Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Fighting Falcon]] || USA || fighter || F-16C/D || 12 || 12 more on order. One lost to crash on 22 September 2013; aircraft believed damaged beyond repair. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
| [[F-16 Fighting Falcon|Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Fighting Falcon]] || USA || fighter || F-16C/D || 12 || 12 more on order. One lost to crash on 22 September 2013; aircraft believed damaged beyond repair.
|-
|-
| [[BAe Hawk|Hawk 128 (Hawk T2)]] || UK || Advanced Jet Trainer || Hawk 128 || || 8 on order. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
| [[BAe Hawk|Hawk 128 (Hawk T2)]] || UK || Advanced Jet Trainer || Hawk 128 || || 8 on order.
|-
|-
| [[Eurofighter Typhoon]] || UK || fighter || Eurofighter Typhoon || || 12 on order. Manufacturing will begin in 2014 with delivery expected in 2017. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
| [[Eurofighter Typhoon]] || UK || fighter || Eurofighter Typhoon || || 12 on order. Manufacturing will begin in 2014 with delivery expected in 2017.
|-
|-
| [[NHI NH90]] || || helicopter || NH90 TTH || 11 || 8 to be delivered. RAFO ordered 20 NH90 TTH to replace aging AB205/206/212/214 fleet. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
| [[NHI NH90]] || || helicopter || NH90 TTH || 11 || 8 to be delivered. RAFO ordered 20 NH90 TTH to replace aging AB205/206/212/214 fleet.
|-
|-
| [[PAC Super MFI‑17 Mushshak]] || Pakistan || trainer || MFI‑17 Mushshak || 7 || 8 delivered. :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
| [[PAC Super Mushshak]] || Pakistan || trainer || Mushshak || 7 || 8 delivered.
|-
|-
| [[Pilatus PC-9]]|Pilatus PC‑9M || Switzerland || trainer || PC‑9M || 12 || :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}
| [[Pilatus PC-9|Pilatus || Switzerland || trainer || || 12 ||
|-
|-
| [[SEPECAT Jaguar]]|SEPECAT Jaguar S/B || || ground attack || Jaguar S/B || 22 || A total of 27 delivered. Two lost to mid‑air collision on 11 September 2013; one pilot killed, one ejected with injuries. :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}
| [[SEPECAT Jaguar|SEPECAT Jaguar S/B || || ground attack || Jaguar S/B || 22 || A total of 27 delivered. Two lost to collision on 11 September 2013; one pilot killed, one ejected with injuries.
|-
|-
| [[Short SC.7 Skyvan]] || UK || light transport || Skyvan 3M || 12 || 1 lost to crash on 17 September 1973. :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}
| [[Short SC.7 Skyvan]] || UK || light transport || Skyvan 3M || 12 || 1 lost to crash on 17 September 1973.
|-
|-
| [[Westland Super Lynx]] || UK || helicopter || Super Lynx Mk. 120 || 15 || 16 delivered. One lost to crash on 18 August 2006. :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}
| [[Westland Super Lynx]] || UK || helicopter || Super Lynx Mk 120 || 15 || 16 delivered. One lost to crash on 18 August 2006.
|}
|}
Air warfare branch of Oman’s military
Military unit
The Royal Air Force of Oman (Arabic: سلاح الجو السلطاني عمان, romanized: Silāḥ al-Jaww as-Sulṭāniy ‘Umān or RAFO) is the air arm of the Armed Forces of Oman.
Sultan of Oman’s Air Force era
[edit]
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.[1]
In 1968 the SOAF received the first of 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 VC10 and 32 Hawker Hunter ground attack aircraft. In 1977 Jaguar International joined the SOAF, followed in the 1980s by the BAE Hawk.[1]
Royal Air Force of Oman era
[edit]
In 1990 the SOAF was renamed the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO).[1] In 1993 and 1994 the RAFO replaced its Hawker Hunters with four BAE Hawk Mk 103 fighter-trainers and 12 single-seat Hawk Mk 203s, equipped with Westinghouse APG-66H radar, as light ground attack aircraft/interceptors. In September 1997, after the evaluation of new combat aircraft, the RAFO decided to upgrade and extend the service lives of its remaining 17 SEPECAT Jaguar ground attack aircraft until the second decade of the 21st century. A contract was placed with the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence to upgrade the avionics of the Jaguar aircraft for $40 million. In 2005, deliveries of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 50 aircraft began, equipped with improved GPS/INS. The aircraft can carry a further batch of advanced missiles; the AGM-88 HARM missile, JDAM, JSOW and WCMD.
On 3 August 2010, the USA Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified the Congress of a possible sale of 18 F-16 Block 50/52 to Oman in a contract worth US$3.5 Billion. In addition to the new fighters, the contract included upgrading existing 12 F-16 C/D in the RAFO inventory.[2] On 14 December 2011, it was announced that Oman had agreed to buy an additional 12 F-16C/D Block 50s to join the 12 F-16C/Ds already in service.[3]
Oman was considering the purchase of either the Eurofighter Typhoon or the JAS 39 Gripen,[4] but on 21 December 2012 a £2.5 billion deal was signed in Muscat to supply RAFO with 12 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets and eight BAE Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft. The deliveries were completed in 2018.[5]
| Installation | Unit with aircraft type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| RAFO Adam | No. 8 Squadron with Eurofighter Typhoon | |
| RAFO Khasab | No. 14 Squadron (det) with NH90-TTH | |
| RAFO Musannah | No. 14 Squadron (det) with NH90-TTH | |
| No. 15 Squadron with NH90-TTH & Super Lynx Mk.120 | ||
| RAFO Masirah | No. 1 Squadron with Super Mushshak & PC-9(M) | |
| No. 6 Squadron with Hawk 103, Hawk 103A & Hawk 203 | ||
| No. 15 Squadron (det) with Super Lynx Mk.120 | ||
| RAFO Muscat | No. 2 Squadron with SC7-3M-4022 Seavan | Air base co-located within Muscat International Airport. Shifted to Mussanah. |
| No. 4 Squadron with A320-214CJ | ||
| No. 14 Squadron with NH90-TTH & SA330J | ||
| No. 16 Squadron with C-130H & C-130J | ||
| RAFO Salalah | No. 3 Squadron with NH90-TTH, Bell 206B3, Bell 429 & Super Lynx Mk.120 | |
| No. 5 Squadron with C295M | ||
| RAFO Thumrait | No. 18 Squadron with F-16C-50-CF & F-16D-50-CF | |
| No. 20 Squadron with F-16C-50-CF & F-16D-50-CF |
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Previous aircraft flown by the Air Force included the SEPECAT Jaguar S/B, Hawker Hunter, BAC Strikemaster, Douglas DC-8,
Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander, Skyvan 3M, BAe BAC-1-11, Scheibe Super-Falke, and the Bell 214B helicopter[6][7]
The first Omani to command the Air Force was Air Vice-Marshal Talib bin Meran bin Zaman Al-Raeesi who was appointed in June 1990.[8]
Air Vice-Marshal Erik Bennett (Royal Air Force officer) appears to have commanded SOAF from 1974 to 1990.
Commissioned officer ranks
[edit]
The rank insignia of commissioned officers.
The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
