Royal Army of Oman

Oman has a military history which dates back to the seventh century, when troops from the Alozd tribe were strong enough to help Abu Bakr, companion of the Islamic prophet Mohammed. At the beginning of the seventeenth century there were local forces associated with Ya'ariba dynasty.^[6] It was this dynasty, which forced the expulsion of Portuguese from the country in 1650. The Ya'ariba dynasty were responsible for most of the fortified site across what is now the Sultanate of Oman from Musandam in the north to the southern province of Dhofar.

The Royal Army of Oman officially traces its origins back to the formation of the Muscat Garrison in 1907,^[7] this local garrison force was developed and became the Muscat Infantry in 1921.^[8] An agreement between the Omani and the British governments in 1958 led to the creation of the Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF) and the creation of formally structured Omani army units. At the same time the United Kingdom promised to provide direct assistance in the development of the SAF and its land forces.^[9] During the 1960 and 1970s, army units fought in the Dhofar Rebellion alongside British units and^[10] it relied on embedded unit-level British military advisors, who saw combat alongside the units they were very much part of.^[11] At the end of the Dhofar Rebellion the Omani army became an independent service known as the Sultan of Oman Land Forces in 1976. In 1990, Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said renamed his land forces the Royal Army of Oman (RAO).^[12] The RAO frequently exercises with the armed forces of fellow Gulf Cooperation Council nations and other strategic defense partners such as the US and UK.^[13]

According to the latest MoD Telephone Directory published by Omantel,^[14] RAO is structured as follows:

• HQ RAO at Muaskar al Murtafa'a (MAM) near Seeb^[15][16]
• Two infantry brigades:^[17]
  • 11 Brigade (the southern brigade) based in Salalah
  • 23 Brigade (the northern brigade) based at MAM
• The Sultan's Armour Units (MSO) based at Sultan bin Safy Camp at Shafa, near Izki^[18]
  • Two regiments of main battle tanks (Challenger 2 and M60A3)
  • Medium Reconnaissance Regiment (FV101 Scorpion)
• The Border Guard Brigade with a base in Haima in the Al Wusta Governate^[19][20]
• Infantry
  • Muscat Regiment (MR) based at Bidbid - Mowag Piranha-equipped Mechanised Infantry
  • Northern Frontier Regiment (NFR) based at Ibri and Buraimi
  • Desert Regiment (DR) based at Ibra - Mowag Piranha-equipped Mechanised Infantry
  • Jebel Regiment (JR) based at Nizwa
  • Southern Regiment (KJ) one battalion based at Salalah near the Royal Palace on the Taqah Road
  • Western Frontier Regiment (WFR) based at Thumrait^[21]
  • Sultan of Oman's Parachute Regiment (SOPR) based at Rustaq^[22]
  • Oman Reconnaissance Regiment based in Dhofar
• Border and Local Security Forces (light infantry role)
  • Western Border Security Force based at Al Qabil
  • Coastal Security Force based at Sur
  • Musandam Security Force (MSF) based at Bukha^[23]
  • Rural Security Forces based in Salalah (replaced Firqat Forces)
• Sultan of Oman's Artillery
  • Northern artillery units based at Izki
  • Southern artillery units based at Thumrait in Dhofar
• SAF Signals based in MAM (with units supporting 11 Brigade)
• SAF Engineers based in MAM (with units supporting 11 Brigade)
• SAF Transport based in Mabela (with units supporting 11 Brigade)
• SAF Electrical & Mechanical Engineers based in MAM (with units supporting 11 Brigade)
• SAF Ordnance based in MAM (with units supporting 11 Brigade)
• SAF Medical Services main hospitals at Al Khoudh (north) and Umm al Ghawarif (south) and other base locations
• Training Establishments
  • National Defence College Bayt al Falaj, Ruwi, Muscat^[24]
  • Military Technical College near Seeb Airport^[25]
  • Sultan Qaboos Military College (KSQA) including the RAO Officer Training School based at Aydem in Dhofar^[26]
  • Sultan Armed Forces Training Regiment^[27]
  • Battle Training Centre - Saiq, Jebel al Akhdhar^[28]

Based on locational evidence given in Omantel telephone directory listings (telephone number associations),^[14][29] historical recollections of British servicemen^[30] and analysis of Google Earth and Google Map imagery and cartographic data^[31] the following RAO garrisons have been identified:

In 2020, Oman spent 11% of GDP on military expenditures.^[32]

Oman has one armored brigade (MSO) equipped with the Challenger 2 and the M60A1 and M60A3 tanks.

Between 2001 and 2004 Oman received 174 amphibious light armored vehicles and more than 80 armored VBL from France.^[33]

In 2010, Oman started using the INSAS rifles as the official standard rifle, as per a defence agreement signed in 2003 between India and Oman. These rifles have since been replaced and kept in storage.

In May 2013 the United States announced a deal with Oman valued at $2.1 billion to supply a ground-based air defense system.^[34]

172 FNSS Pars armoured combat vehicle were ordered for delivery from 2017, with the total amount reaching $500 million.

Oman was reportedly looking to acquire K2 main battle tanks from South Korea. South Korean Defense Company Hyundai Rotem Co. could sell 76 K2 Black Panther Main Battle Tanks to Oman, a deal that could reach an amount up to $884.6 million.

Small arms

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Name	Image	Caliber	Type	Origin	Notes
Pistol
Browning Hi-Power[35]		9×19mm	Semi-automatic pistol	Belgium
Submachine guns
Sterling L2A3[35]		9×19mm	Submachine gun	United Kingdom
Heckler & Koch MP7[35]		4.6×30mm	Submachine gun	Germany
Rifles
M16A1[36]		5.56×45 mm	Assault rifle	United States
M4		5.56×45mm	Carbine Assault rifle	United States
Carbon 15		5.56×45mm	Carbine Assault rifle	United States
SIG Sauer SIGM400[37]		5.56×45mm	Semi-automatic rifle Assault rifle	United States
Steyr AUG[35]		5.56×45mm	Bullpup Assault rifle	Austria
FN FAL[35]		7.62×51mm	Battle rifle	Belgium
SIG SG 540[35]		7.62×51mm	Battle rifle	Switzerland
SKS[38]		7.62×39mm	Semi-automatic rifle	Soviet Union	Mostly limited to use as a ceremonial weapon
Lee-Enfield		.303 British	Bolt-action rifle	United Kingdom	Mostly limited to use as a ceremonial weapon
Sniper and anti-materiel rifles
Barrett M82[39]		.50 BMG	Anti-materiel rifle	United States
Machine guns
FN MAG[35]		7.62×51mm	General-purpose machine gun	Belgium
Browning M2[35]		.50 BMG	Heavy machine gun	United States
Rocket propelled grenade launchers
LAW 80[35]		94mm	Rocket-propelled grenade	United Kingdom
Grenade launchers
M203[35]		40×46mm SR	Grenade launcher	United States
M79[35]		40×46mm	Grenade launcher	United States

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Anti-tank weapons

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Name	Image	Type	Origin	Caliber	Notes
MILAN[40]		Anti-tank missile	France Germany		370 in service
BGM-71 TOW[41]		Anti-tank missile	United States		44 in service
FGM-148 Javelin[42]		Anti-tank missile	United States		30 in service

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Vehicles

Tanks

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Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
Challenger 2[43]		Main battle tank	United Kingdom	38
FV4201 Chieftain[44]		Main battle tank	United Kingdom	27	Delivered by United Kingdom from 1981 to 1985
M60A1/A3[45]		Main battle tank	United States	79	6 M60A1 73 M60A3
FV101 Scorpion[46]		Light tank	United Kingdom	120

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Reconnaissance

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Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
B1 Centauro[47]		Tank destroyer	Italy	9	With 120mm gun

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Reconnaissance

More information Name, Image ...

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
FNSS Pars[48][49]		Armoured combat vehicle	Turkey	172	Delivered by Turkey from 2017 to 2020
Mowag Piranha II		Armoured fighting vehicle	United Kingdom  Switzerland	174

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Scout cars

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Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
Panhard VBL[47]		Scout car	France	124	8 equipped with BGM-71 TOW

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Armored personnel carriers

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Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
Cadillac V-100[50]		Armored personnel carrier	United States	15
Fahd[51][52]		Armored personnel carrier	Egypt	31
AT105 Saxon[53]		Armored personnel carrier	United Kingdom	15
VAB		Armored personnel carrier	France	56	4x4 & 6x6 versions. 6 with 2RM 120mm heavy mortar, 6 VAB-VCI, and 8 VAB-VTT
WZ-551[47]		Armored personnel carrier	China	50
FV103 Spartan		Armored personnel carrier	United Kingdom	34

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Engineering vehicles

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Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
CRARRV		Armoured Recovery Vehicle	United Kingdom	4
M728 CEV[50]		Military engineering vehicle	United States	3
FV106 Samson		Armoured recovery vehicle	United Kingdom	3

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Utility vehicles

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Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
Humvee		LUV	United States	Unknown	Vehicles sold via the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program
URO VAMTAC		LUV	Spain	Unknown
Land Rover Defender		Utility vehicle	United Kingdom	Unknown
Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer		Utility vehicle	Switzerland	Unknown
KrAZ-255		Utility truck	Soviet Union	Unknown

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Artillery

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Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
Self-propelled artillery
G6 Rhino[54]		Self-propelled artillery	South Africa	24
Field artillery
M-46[40]		Field gun	Soviet Union China	24	12 M-46 12 Type 59–1
L118[55]		Field gun	United Kingdom	42
D-30[56]		Howitzer	Soviet Union	30
FH70		Howitzer	Germany United Kingdom	12
M102		Howitzer	United States	36
Mortars
L16[57]		Mortar	United Kingdom	69
M30[58]		Mortar	United States	20
Brandt АМ-50[56]		Mortar	France	12
2R2M[59]		Heavy Mortar	France	6	Based on VAB 6×6chassic

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Air defense

Man-portable air-defense systems

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Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
9K32 Strela-2[60]		MANPADS	Soviet Union
Blowpipe		MANPADS	United Kingdom
Javelin[61]		MANPADS	United Kingdom	34	Delivered by United Kingdom from 1984

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Towed anti-aircraft guns

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Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
ZU-23-2[62]		Autocannon	Soviet Union	4
Bofors L/60[56]		Autocannon	Sweden	12
Oerlikon GDF		Autocannon	Switzerland	10

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Surface-to-air missile systems

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Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
Rapier		Surface-to-air missile	United Kingdom	28	600 Rapier-1+ 800 Rapier-2 missiles
Crotale NG		Surface-to-air missile	France	Unknown
Mistral[63]		Surface-to-air missile	France	54
NASAMS[64][65][66]		Surface-to-air missile	Norway United States	Unknown
Alvis Stormer[67][68]		Surface-to-air missile	United Kingdom	4

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Historical equipment

Rifles

• India: INSAS (Former Standard Rifle)^[69]

Tanks

• Soviet Union: 4 T-72M1M

Armored personnel carriers

• UK: 38 Alvis Saladin
• UK: 17 FV105 Sultan

Utility vehicles

• Germany: Volkswagen Iltis

Field artillery

• US: M116^[70]
• UK: BL 5.5
• UK: 40 QF-25 Pounder^[71]
• Soviet Union: 24 M-30