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 aircrafts94 as of 2025
Aircrafts on order0
Roundel

Roundel of Oman air force

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
Helicopter Helicopter 40
Combat Combat 35
Training Training 10
Transport Transport 9

Full inventory in 2025

Royal Air Force of Oman

Aircraft Type Model Origin Country Model Year Active 𝚫 YoY Ordered
CombatCombat F-16C 🇺🇸 1979 17
0
0
CombatCombat Eurofighter Typhoon 🇩🇪 🇪🇸 🇬🇧 🇮🇹 2003 12
0
0
CombatCombat F-16D 🇺🇸 1979 6
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter NH90 (TTH) 🇩🇪 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇳🇱 2004 18
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter Super Lynx 120 🇬🇧 1978 13
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter Bell 429 🇺🇸 2009 5
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter Bell 206 🇺🇸 1967 4
0
0
TransportTransport C295 🇪🇸 🇮🇩 2001 4
0
0
TransportTransport C-130H 🇺🇸 1956 3
0
0
TransportTransport C-130J 🇺🇸 1956 2
0
0
TrainingTraining Hawk 203 🇬🇧 1976 10
0
0
Various public data, including Wikipedia, Flightglobal.com, SIPRI Arms Transfer and official government websites.