Introduction

The Royal Air Force of Oman ordered 12 F-16C/Dblock 50 aircraft, becoming the 23rd F-16 customer world-wide and the 5th Arab F-16 customer.

Inventory

Peace A'sama A'safiya I

On October 4th, 2001, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale of F-16C/D fighters and associated weapons, equipment and technical and logistical support to Oman. The Government of Oman wanted to purchase 12 F-16C/D Block 50 aircraft. The estimated cost of the total deal is $1.1 billion, if all options are taken.

In May 2002, the Sultanate of Oman signed an agreement with the U.S.government to purchase 12 Advanced Block 50 F-16s in the Peace A'sama A'safiya(Clear Skies) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The agreement includeseight single-seat F-16Cs and four two-seat F-16Ds, powered by the GeneralElectric F110-GE-129 engine.

On August 4th, 2005, the the Royal Air Force of Oman accepted the first F-16 at Lockheed's Fort Worth facilities. The first Oman F-16 is a two-seat F-16D model and was accepted by the U.S.government (as agent for Oman in the FMS process) on July 19, 2005, one month aheadof schedule. The first single-seat F-16C version flew in August 2005 and was accepted in September. These two aircraft were ferried to Oman in mid-October 2005 to support the 35th National Day celebrations on November 18th. Theremainder of the aircraft will be ferried to Oman during 2006.

RAFO F-16D block 50#801 is being spotted during its first official flight at Fort Worth. [LMTAS photo]

Peace A'sama A'safiya II

On August 3rd, 2010 a new order for another 18 F-16s was announced. Final contract negotiations have to be concluded before this order gets a green light. Eventually on December 14th, 2011 it was announced that a further order of 12 F-16s was imminent, compromising 10 C-models and 2 D-models. The program is worth $600 million and will be concluded by 2016.

Modifications & Armament

Engines & Avionics

The aircraft delivered to Oman under the FMS deal would be equiped with General Electric F110-GE-129 engines and AN/APG-68(V)XM radars. Also included are 14 SNIPER pods with Terrain Following Radar. This means these F-16s have the most powerful hardware package available at this moment. Latest news is that these SNIPER pods were going to be replaced by 7 advanced PANTERA pods.

Armament

The deal also included a comprehensive weapons package, consisting of 50 AIM-120CAMRAAM missiles, 10 AMRAAM training missiles, 100 AIM-9M-8/9Sidewinder missiles, 10 Sidewinder training missiles, 80 AGM-65D/GMaverick missiles, 10 Maverick training missiles, 20 AGM-84D Harpoon Anti-ship missiles, 100 Enhanced GBU-10 and 100 Enhanced GBU-12 500 lb laser guided bombs, 50GBU-31(v)3/BJDAM's, 50CBU-97/105 sensor fuzed weapons, 50,000 20mm high explosive projectiles, 50,000 20mm training projectiles, 300 MK-82 500 lb general purpose bombs, 200 MK-83 1,000 lb general purpose bombs, 20,000 RR-170 self-protection chaff and 20,000 MJU-7B self-protection flares.

Goodrich DB-110 airborne reconnaissance system

Oman has selected Goodrich Corporation's DB-110 airborne reconnaissance system for use on F-16 fighters. A total of 4 systems was ordered in 2012 in a $34.3 million program.

The DB-110 digital, real-time, tactical reconnaissance system allows pilots to capture images day or night using electro-optical sensor technology.The camera is enclosed in a 19ft (6m) pod mounted on the underside of an aircraft. Images are fed in real time into a ground station. The camera itself can be easily directed via receiver units situated within the pod to focus in on a particular area.

Imagery is viewed on the F-16's cockpit video display, enabling the navigator to verify targets and conduct tasks such as battle damage assessment. The Polish F-16s will be the first Fighting Falcons to be outfitted with this technology.

Operational Service

Units