Royal Air Force of Oman
Key facts
Official Name | Royal Air Force of Oman |
Local Name | القوات الجوية السلطانية العمانية (Al Quwwat al Jawwiya as Sultaniyya al 'Omaniya) |
Country | 🇴🇲 Oman |
World rank | #74 |
Active aircrafts | 94 as of 2025 |
Aircrafts on order | 0 |
Roundel |
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Overview
The Oman Air Force (OAF) is the air arm of the Sultanate of Oman's military. Established in 1959 under the leadership of Sultan Said bin Taimur, the OAF has played a crucial role in safeguarding Oman's airspace and supporting ground forces. Initially equipped with a small fleet of British aircraft, it steadily expanded its capabilities. During the Dhofar Rebellion in the 1970s, the OAF played a crucial role in suppressing the insurgency, mainly by conducting airstrikes against rebel positions. Over the years, the OAF has acquired a diverse range of modern military aircraft, including fighter jets, transport planes, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Its inventory consists of various platforms such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon, Eurofighter Typhoon, AH-64 Apache, and C-130 Hercules, among others. The force has also received advanced anti-aircraft defense systems to protect its assets and combat potential threats. The OAF regularly undertakes joint exercises with friendly nations to improve interoperability and enhance its operational readiness. With a focus on maintaining a well-trained force capable of effectively protecting Oman's sovereignty, the OAF has pursued a consistent path of modernization and improvement.
Origin countries of aircrafts
Country | Active Aircraft | |
---|---|---|
🇺🇸 United States | 37 | |
🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 35 | |
🇩🇪 Germany | 30 | |
🇮🇹 Italy | 30 | |
🇫🇷 France | 18 | |
🇳🇱 Netherlands | 18 | |
🇪🇸 Spain | 16 | |
🇮🇩 Indonesia | 4 |
Evolution of Omani Air Force fleet
Aircrafts by type in 2025
Aircraft type | Active | |
---|---|---|
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40 | |
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35 | |
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10 | |
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9 |
Full inventory in 2025
Royal Air Force of Oman
Aircraft Type | Model | Origin Country | Model Year | Active | 𝚫 YoY | Ordered | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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F-16C | 🇺🇸 | 1979 | 17 | 0 |
0 |
|
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Eurofighter Typhoon | 🇩🇪 🇪🇸 🇬🇧 🇮🇹 | 2003 | 12 | 0 |
0 |
|
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F-16D | 🇺🇸 | 1979 | 6 | 0 |
0 |
|
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NH90 (TTH) | 🇩🇪 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇳🇱 | 2004 | 18 | 0 |
0 |
|
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Super Lynx 120 | 🇬🇧 | 1978 | 13 | 0 |
0 |
|
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Bell 429 | 🇺🇸 | 2009 | 5 | 0 |
0 |
|
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Bell 206 | 🇺🇸 | 1967 | 4 | 0 |
0 |
|
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C295 | 🇪🇸 🇮🇩 | 2001 | 4 | 0 |
0 |
|
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C-130H | 🇺🇸 | 1956 | 3 | 0 |
0 |
|
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C-130J | 🇺🇸 | 1956 | 2 | 0 |
0 |
|
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Hawk 203 | 🇬🇧 | 1976 | 10 | 0 |
0 |