Royal Army of Oman

The Royal Army of Oman (Arabic: الجيش العماني, transliterated: al-Jaīsh al-'Umānī) is the ground forces component of the Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces. It was founded in 1907 as the Muscat Garrison.[3] It has a current strength of 35,000 personnel.[4]

Royal Army of Oman
قوات السلطان المسلحة
Founded1907
Country Oman
AllegianceSultan of Oman
TypeLand force
RoleLand warfare
Size100,000
Garrison/HQMuaskar al Murtafaa
WebsiteRoyal Army of Oman
Commanders
Current
commander		Major General Matar bin Salim bin Rashid al Balushi[1][2]
Notable
commanders		Sultan bin Saif
Saif bin Sultan
Nasir bin Murshid
Said bin Sultan
Abushiri
Insignia
Flag of Royal Army of Oman

History

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.[5] 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,[6] this local garrison force was developed and became the Muscat Infantry in 1921.[7] 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.[8] During the 1960 and 1970s, army units fought in the Dhofar Rebellion alongside British units and[3] it relied on embedded unit-level British military advisors, who saw combat alongside the units they were very much part of.[9] 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).[10] 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.[11]

Ground Forces Organisation

According to the latest MoD Telephone Directory published by Omantel,[12] RAO is structured as follows:

Sultan Qaboos in the field observing an army exercise in 1980
Omani Army positions at Sarfayt in 1972, during the Dhofar Rebellion
A British military advisor with Omani soldiers in 1980
Oregon National Guard Training in Oman alongside the Omani Army (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Cory Grogan, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)
Omani soldiers and US Marines exercising in 2017
  • HQ RAO at Muaskar al Murtafa'a (MAM) near Seeb[13][14]
  • Two infantry brigades:[15]
    • 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[16]
  • The Border Guard Brigade with a base in Haima in the Al Wusta Governate[17][18]
  • Infantry
  • 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[21]
    • 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[22]
    • Military Technical College near Seeb Airport[23]
    • Sultan Qaboos Military College (KSQA) including the RAO Officer Training School based at Aydem in Dhofar[24]
    • Sultan Armed Forces Training Regiment[25]
    • Battle Training Centre - Saiq, Jebel al Akhdhar[26]

Garrison locations

Based on locational evidence given in Omantel telephone directory listings (telephone number associations),[12][27] historical recollections of British servicemen[28] and analysis of Google Earth and Google Map imagery and cartographic data[29] the following RAO garrisons have been identified:

Name Wilayat Province Type Unit association Geographic coordinates (lat/long)
Headquarters locations
Muaskar Bayt al Falaj Bayt al Falaj Muscat Headquarters and unit accommodation Office of the Minister Responsible For Defense Affairs 23.610051N 58.544752E
Muaskar al Murtafa'a Al Seeb Muscat Headquarters and unit accommodation HQ COSSAF, HQ RAO, HQ 23 Brigade 23.572877N 58.250439E
Umm al Ghawarif Barracks Salalah Dhofar Headquarters and unit accommodation HQ 11 Brigade and Base Hospital 17.027473N 54.137078E
Haima Barracks Haima Al Wusta Headquarters and unit accommodation HQ Border Guard Force Brigade and force units 19.998067N 56.358130E
Combat unit locations
Shafa Barracks Shafa Al Dakhiliyah Multiple armoured units and support units Sultan of Oman's Armour 22.733322N 57.718340E
Izki Barracks Izki Al Dakhiliyah Multiple artillery units and support units Sultan of Oman's Artillery 22.954081N 57.775505E
Bukha Barracks Bukha Musandam Light infantry unit location Musandam Security Force 26.144753N 56.143521E
Rustaq Barracks Rustaq Al Batinah South Light infantry unit location Sultan of Oman's Parachute Regiment 23.411183N 57.429730E
Bidbid Barracks Bidbid Al Dakhiliyah Infantry unit location Muscat Regiment 23.438529N 58.126797E
Ibri Barracks Ibri Al Dhahirah Infantry unit location Northern Frontier Regiment 23.241060N 56.512264E
Buraimi Fort and Barracks Buraimi Buraimi Infantry unit location Northern Frontier Regiment 24.236837N 55.790218E
Al Qabil Barracks Al Qabil Buraimi Light infantry unit location Western Border Security Force 23.933569N 55.823533E
Nizwa Barracks Nizwa Al Dakhiliyah Infantry unit location Jebel Regiment 22.917048N 57.537668E
Ibra Barracks Ibra Al Sharqiyah North Infantry unit location Desert Regiment 22.738625N 58.505236E
Sur Barracks Sur Al Sharqiyah South Light infantry unit location Coastal Security Force 22.538349N 59.476562E
Bait al Maamoorah Palace Barracks Salalah Dhofar Infantry unit location Southern Oman Regiment 17.046984N 54.219079E
Raysut Barracks Salalah Dhofar Infantry unit location Oman Reconnaissance Regiment 16.946844N 53.995651E
Thumrait Barracks Thumrait Dhofar Infantry unit location Western Frontier Regiment 17.642156N 54.020499E
Mayzunah Barracks Mayzunah Dhofar Infantry unit location Western Frontier Regiment 17.856471N 52.692569E
Sarfayt Base Sarfayt Dhofar Infantry unit location Southern Border Security Force 16.697399N 53.103528E
Support unit locations
Mabela Camp Al Seeb Muscat Transport unit accommodation Sultan's Armed Forces Transport Regiment 23.666388N 58.140895E
Armed Forces Hospital Al Khoudh Muscat Base Hospital Sultan's Armed Forces Medical Services 23.574647N 58.207412E
Training locations
National Defense College Bayt al Falaj Muscat Higher Defense Staff College SAF training site 23.607289N 58.543684E
Aydem Camp Aydem Dhofar Sultan Qaboos Military College Officer and NCO Training Academy 16.990236N 53.358888E
Saiq Camp Saiq, Jebel Akhdar Al Dakhiliyah Infantry training Area RAO training site 23.074098N 57.639172E
Military Technical College Seeb Muscat Military College SAF training site 23.568452N 58.278716E
Cultural and welfare locations
Armed Forces Museum Bayt al Falaj Muscat Historic site and display of military artifacts Defense Museum 23.608479N 58.545949E
Armed Forces Beach Club Seeb Muscat Restaurants, vacation accommodation and function rooms SAF Welfare 23.605869N 58.330261E

Equipment
Challenger 2 main battle tanks in the deserts of Oman

In 2020 Oman spent 11% of GDP on military expenditures.[30]

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

Between 2001 and 2004 Oman received 174 amphibious light armored vehicles and more than 80 armored VBL from France.[31]

In May 2013 the United States announced a deal with Oman valued at $2.1 billion to supply a ground-based air defense system.[32]

172 FNSS Pars armoured combat vehicle ordered for delivery from 2017, total cost $500m

Oman looks 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
Name Image Caliber Type Origin Notes
Pistols
Browning Hi-Power[33] 9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol  Belgium
Submachine guns
Sterling L2A3[33] 9×19mm Submachine gun  United Kingdom
Heckler & Koch MP5[33] 9×19mm Submachine gun  West Germany
Heckler & Koch MP7[33] 4.6×30mm Submachine gun  Germany
Rifles
SKS[34] 7.62×39mm Semi-automatic rifle  Soviet Union
INSAS[35] 5.56×45mm Assault rifle  India
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
 Germany
Steyr AUG[33] 5.56×45mm Bullpup
Assault rifle		  Austria
FN FAL[33] 7.62×51mm Battle rifle  Belgium
Heckler & Koch G3[33] 7.62×51mm Battle rifle  West Germany
SIG SG 540[33] 7.62×51mm Battle rifle   Switzerland
Lee-Enfield .303 British Bolt-action rifle  British Empire
Sniper and anti-materiel rifles
L96A1[33] 7.62×51mm Sniper rifle  United Kingdom
Barrett M82[38] .50 BMG Anti-materiel rifle  United States
Machine guns
L110A1[33] 7.62×51mm Squad automatic weapon  Belgium
 United Kingdom
FN MAG[33] 7.62×51mm General-purpose machine gun  Belgium
Browning M2[33] .50 BMG Heavy machine gun  United States
Rocket propelled grenade launchers
RPG-7[33] 40mm Rocket-propelled grenade  Soviet Union
LAW 80[33] 94mm Rocket-propelled grenade  United Kingdom
Grenade launchers
M203[33] 40×46mm SR Grenade launcher  United States
M79[33] 40×46mm Grenade launcher  United States

Anti-tank weapons
Name Image Type Origin Caliber Notes
MILAN[39] Anti-tank missile  France
 West Germany		 370 in service.
BGM-71 TOW[40] Anti-tank missile  United States 44 in service.
FGM-148 Javelin[41] Anti-tank missile  United States

Tanks
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Challenger 2 Main battle tank  United Kingdom 38[42] INS
M60A1/A3 Main battle tank  United States 79[43] INS 6 M60A1, 70 M60A3
FV101 Scorpion Light tank  United Kingdom 37[44] INS

Reconnaissance
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
B1 Centauro Tank destroyer  Italy 9[45] INS With 120mm gun.

Reconnaissance
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
FNSS Pars Armoured combat vehicle  Turkey 172[46][47] INS
Mowag Piranha II Armoured fighting vehicle  United Kingdom  Switzerland 174 INS Swiss origin, made in UK by Alvis Inc.
Alvis Saladin Armored car  United Kingdom 10[45] INS

Scout cars
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Panhard VBL Scout car  France 132[45] INS 8 equipped with BGM-71 TOW.
Daimler Ferret Armored car Scout car  United Kingdom 15[45] INS

Armored personnel carriers
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Cadillacc V-100 Armored personnel carrier  United States 15[48] INS
FV103 Spartan Armored personnel carrier  United Kingdom 34 INS
AT105 Saxon Armored personnel carrier  United Kingdom 15[49] INS
VAB Armored personnel carrier  France 56 INS 4x4 & 6x6 versions. 6 with 2RM 120mm heavy mortar, 6 VAB-VCI, and 8 VAB-VTT
WZ-551 Armored personnel carrier  China 50[45] INS
Fahd Armored personnel carrier  Egypt 31[50][51] INS

Engineering vehicles
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
CRARRV Armoured Recovery Vehicle  United Kingdom 4 INS
M728 CEV Military engineering vehicle  United States 3[48] INS
FV106 Samson Armoured recovery vehicle  United Kingdom 3 INS

Utility vehicles
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Humvee Light utility vehicle  United States Unknown INS Vehicles sold via the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program.
Land Rover Defender Utility vehicle  United Kingdom Unknown INS
ACMAT VLRA Utility vehicle  France Unknown INS

Artillery
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Self-propelled artillery
G6 Rhino Self-propelled artillery  South Africa 24[52] INS
Mortars
L16 Mortar  United Kingdom Unknown[53] INS
M30 Mortar  United States 20[54] INS
Field artillery
M-46 Field gun  Soviet Union
 China		 24[39] INS 12 M-46, 12 Type 59-1
L118 Field gun  United Kingdom 39[55] INS
D-30 Howitzer  Soviet Union 30[56] INS
FH70 Howitzer  NATO 12 INS
M102 Howitzer  United States 36 INS

Man-portable air-defense systems
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
9K32 Strela-2 MANPADS  Soviet Union [57] INS
Blowpipe MANPADS  United Kingdom INS

Towed anti-aircraft guns
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
ZU-23-2 Autocannon  Soviet Union 4[58] INS
Bofors L/60 Autocannon  Sweden Unknown INS
Oerlikon GDF Autocannon   Switzerland 10 INS

Surface-to-air missile systems
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Rapier Surface-to-air missile  United Kingdom 5 INS 600 Rapier-1+ 800 Rapier-2 missiles.
Crotale NG Surface-to-air missile  France Unknown INS
Mistral Surface-to-air missile  France 54[59] INS
NASAMS Surface-to-air missile  Norway
 United States		 Unknown[60][61][62] INS
Alvis Stormer Surface-to-air missile  United Kingdom 4[63][64] INS

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