Royal Air Force of Oman

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.

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	#63
Active aircrafts	128 (as of 2024)
Aircrafts on order	0
Roundel

Number of active aircrafts by type

Aircraft type	Active
Training	45
Combat aircrafts	39
Helicopters	31
Transport	9
Special missions	4

Aircrafts most used by Omani air forces

Aircraft	Active	Type
F-16 Fighting Falcon	23	American multirole fighter, famed in late Cold War conflicts, renowned for performance in precision daytime strikes and defensive counter air operations.
Hawk	21	British trainer jet, distinguished in Red Arrows aerobatic team, extensively operational since the 1970s worldwide.
NH90	18	European multinational medium-sized military helicopter, known for deployment in various peace-keeping and combat missions since the 1990s.
WG-13 Lynx	13	British multi-purpose military helicopter, notable for naval, combat, utility roles, significantly deployed in the Falklands War.
PC-9	12	Swiss trainer aircraft, renowned for its use in aerobatics, globally employed for military flight training since the 1980s.
Typhoon	12	European multirole fighter, renowned for service in multinational military operations since late 20th century, noted for superior air-to-air and air-to-surface capabilities.
C-295 Persuader	8	Spanish tactical military transport aircraft, utilized globally in maritime patrol, surveillance, and humanitarian relief missions since the late 20th century.
MFI-15 Safari	7	Swedish utility aircraft, operational since the 1960s, frequently deployed for training and light transport roles worldwide.
429 GlobalRanger	5	Canadian light utility helicopter, recognized for emergency medical, law enforcement, and corporate transport services since 2009.
C-130 Hercules	5	American military transport aircraft, known for significant roles in Vietnam War and Desert Storm, extensively used for various cargo missions.

Full inventory in 2024