Oman signed a contract for the purchase of air defense systems manufactured by the company “Reyteon”
The Minister of Defense of Oman, Said Badr bin Saud al-Busaidi (Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib al-Busaidi), has signed a contract for the purchase of Raytheon’s air defense systems.
The contract was signed in accordance with the instructions of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Oman, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, in order to increase the combat capabilities of the Armed Forces of the country, the Times of Oman newspaper reported.
For the first time, US Secretary of State John Kerry reported on the ongoing negotiations with the United States on the supply to Oman of air defense systems manufactured by Raytheon in May 2013. The cost of sale at that time was estimated at 2,1 billion dollars.
As stated, the discussion began in January 2013. The purchased systems are planned to be integrated with similar complexes in service in other countries of the Persian Gulf.
These messages do not disclose the type of systems purchased. However, with high probability it can be argued that it will be a combination of AMRAAM-based SAM systems (SL-AMRAAM), as well as, possibly, Avenger SAM system.
According to Vice President of Raytheon Sanjay Kapoor, told Bloomberg in June 2013, Oman was considering the possibility of purchasing a National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (MIM-120 NASAMS). Currently, NASAMS is not adopted by the Middle Eastern states, but in September 2008, DSCA sent a notice of the possibility of selling SL-AMRAAM to the United Arab Emirates. According to the information of the French newspaper “La Tribune”, the Air Forces of Oman will receive stationary launchers NASAMS and mobile launchers SL-AMRAAM.
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In October 2011, the Defense Cooperation and Security Agency (DSCA) of the US Department of Defense notified Congress of the planned sale to Oman of the Stinger missiles and AMRAAM, as well as other equipment worth up to $ 1,248 billion, in the framework of the Foreign Military Sales program.
The Government of Oman has requested the United States to supply 18 firing units for the Avenger system, 266, Stinger-RMP, X. NUMX, six test Stinger, 1, 1 single-channel training missiles for training without unmounting, 24 single-channel SINCGARS AN / VRC-18E radio stations in export configuration, 92 kung S-20, 250 highly mobile multi-purpose armored HMMWV, 20 radar software set AN / MPQ-1F64 “Sentinel”, NIXXXXXXX, X-ray software; with ground launcher (SL-AMRAAM), 1 nav kits Denia, software SAM SL-AMRAAM to support the ground-based system of air defense of Oman, as well as other equipment and services.
Oman became the first buyer of AMRAAM air-to-air missiles in the Middle East after concluding a contract with XenumX for the supply of 50 SD in July to 2002.
In June 2013, the US Department of Defense signed a contract with XenumX million for the US Air Force Air-to-Air AIM-534,8 AMRAAM air defense contract, which included the sale of AIM-120C120 missiles as part of the Foreign Military Sales program for Air Force Saudi Arabia and Oman.
Missiles for Saudi Arabia and Oman account for 51% of the contract amount, which must be completed by January 31 2016. Most of the missiles will be delivered to Saudi Arabia, which in October 2010 sent a request for X-NUMX AIM-500C-120 to F-7SA fighters. Oman ordered the F-15 2012 UR AIM-16C-27 fighters in December for the 120 of the country.
The Oman Air Force currently has 12 F-16C / D, 12 is planned to be received before the end of 2016, under a contract signed in December of 2011.
Until recently, the Omani air defense system consisted mainly of various outdated portable air defense systems, anti-aircraft artillery systems and the Krotal short-range air defense systems. The Royal Guard is equipped with MBDA VL MICA air defense system.
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