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
Founded	1907
Country	Oman
Allegiance	Sultan of Oman
Type	Land force
Role	Land warfare
Size	100,000
Garrison/HQ	Muaskar al Murtafaa
Website	Royal Army of Oman
Commanders
Current commander	Major General Matar bin Salim bin Rashid al Balushi[1][2]
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]
  • 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^[17][18]
• 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^[19]
  • Sultan of Oman's Parachute Regiment (SOPR) based at Rustaq^[20]
  • 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^[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

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 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 MP7[33]		4.6×30mm	Submachine gun	Germany
Rifles
SKS[34]		7.62×39mm	Semi-automatic rifle	Soviet Union
M16A1[35]		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[36]		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
SIG SG 540[33]		7.62×51mm	Battle rifle	Switzerland
Lee-Enfield		.303 British	Bolt-action rifle	United Kingdom
Sniper and anti-materiel rifles
Barrett M82[37]		.50 BMG	Anti-materiel rifle	United States
Machine guns
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
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[38]		Anti-tank missile	France  Germany		370 in service.
BGM-71 TOW[39]		Anti-tank missile	United States		44 in service.
FGM-148 Javelin[40]		Anti-tank missile	United States		30 in service.

Vehicles

Tanks

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
Challenger 2		Main battle tank	United Kingdom	38[41]
M60A1/A3		Main battle tank	United States	79[42]		6 M60A1, 70 M60A3
FV101 Scorpion		Light tank	United Kingdom	37[43]

Reconnaissance

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
B1 Centauro		Tank destroyer	Italy	9[44]		With 120mm gun.

Reconnaissance

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

Scout cars

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
Panhard VBL		Scout car	France	132[44]		8 equipped with BGM-71 TOW.

Armored personnel carriers

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
Cadillacc V-100		Armored personnel carrier	United States	15[47]
FV103 Spartan		Armored personnel carrier	United Kingdom	34
AT105 Saxon		Armored personnel carrier	United Kingdom	15[48]
VAB		Armored personnel carrier	France	56		4x4 & 6x6 versions. 6 with 2RM 120mm heavy mortar, 6 VAB-VCI, and 8 VAB-VTT
WZ-551		Armored personnel carrier	China	50[44]
Fahd		Armored personnel carrier	Egypt	31[49][50]

Engineering vehicles

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
CRARRV		Armoured Recovery Vehicle	United Kingdom	4
M728 CEV		Military engineering vehicle	United States	3[47]
FV106 Samson		Armoured recovery vehicle	United Kingdom	3

Utility vehicles

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
Humvee		Light utility vehicle	United States	Unknown		Vehicles sold via the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program.
Land Rover Defender		Utility vehicle	United Kingdom	Unknown
Volkswagen Iltis		Utility vehicle	Germany	Unknown
Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer		Utility vehicle	Switzerland	Unknown
KrAZ-255		Utility truck	Soviet Union	Unknown

Artillery

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
Self-propelled artillery
G6 Rhino		Self-propelled artillery	South Africa	24[51]
Mortars
L16		Mortar	United Kingdom	Unknown[52]
M30		Mortar	United States	20[53]
Brandt АМ-50		Mortar	France	12 [54]
Field artillery
M-46		Field gun	Soviet Union  China	24[38]		12 M-46, 12 Type 59-1
L118		Field gun	United Kingdom	42[55]
BL 5.5		Howitzer	United Kingdom	Unknown
D-30		Howitzer	Soviet Union	30[54]
FH70		Howitzer	Germany  United Kingdom	12
M102		Howitzer	United States	36

Air defense

Man-portable air-defense systems

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
9K32 Strela-2		MANPADS	Soviet Union	[56]
Blowpipe		MANPADS	United Kingdom

Towed anti-aircraft guns

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
ZU-23-2		Autocannon	Soviet Union	4[57]
Bofors L/60		Autocannon	Sweden	12[54]
Oerlikon GDF		Autocannon	Switzerland	10

Surface-to-air missile systems

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Status	Notes
Rapier		Surface-to-air missile	United Kingdom	5		600 Rapier-1+ 800 Rapier-2 missiles.
Crotale NG		Surface-to-air missile	France	Unknown
Mistral		Surface-to-air missile	France	54[58]
NASAMS		Surface-to-air missile	Norway  United States	Unknown[59][60][61]
Alvis Stormer		Surface-to-air missile	United Kingdom	4[62][63]