The Royal Army of Oman () is the ground forces component of the Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces. It was founded in 1907 as the Muscat Garrison. It has a current strength of up to 25,000 active personnel.
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. 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, this local garrison force was developed and became the Muscat Infantry in 1921. 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. During the 1960 and 1970s, army units fought in the Dhofar Rebellion alongside British units and it relied on embedded unit-level British military advisors, who saw combat alongside the units they were very much part of. 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). 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.
Ground Forces Organisation According to the latest MoD Telephone Directory published by Omantel, RAO is structured as follows:
HQ RAO at Muaskar al Murtafa'a (MAM) near Seeb Two infantry brigades: 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 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 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 Sultan of Oman's Parachute Regiment (SOPR) based at Rustaq 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 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 Military Technical College near Seeb Airport Sultan Qaboos Military College (KSQA) including the RAO Officer Training School based at Aydem in Dhofar Sultan Armed Forces Training Regiment Battle Training Centre - Saiq, Jebel al Akhdhar
Garrison locations Based on locational evidence given in Omantel telephone directory listings (telephone number associations), historical recollections of British servicemen and analysis of Google Earth and Google Map imagery and cartographic data the following RAO garrisons have been identified:
Name Wilayat Province Type Unit association Geographic coordinates (lat/long) Headquarters locationsMuaskar Bayt al FalajBayt al FalajMuscatHeadquarters and unit accommodationOffice of the Minister Responsible For Defense Affairs23.610051N 58.544752EMuaskar al Murtafa'aAl SeebMuscatHeadquarters and unit accommodationHQ COSSAF, HQ RAO, HQ 23 Brigade23.572877N 58.250439EUmm al Ghawarif BarracksSalalahDhofarHeadquarters and unit accommodationHQ 11 Brigade and Base Hospital17.027473N 54.137078EHaima BarracksHaimaAl WustaHeadquarters and unit accommodationHQ Border Guard Force Brigade and force units19.998067N 56.358130E Combat unit locationsShafa BarracksShafaAl DakhiliyahMultiple armoured units and support unitsSultan of Oman's Armour22.733322N 57.718340EIzki BarracksIzkiAl DakhiliyahMultiple artillery units and support unitsSultan of Oman's Artillery22.954081N 57.775505EBukha BarracksBukhaMusandamLight infantry unit locationMusandam Security Force26.144753N 56.143521ERustaq BarracksRustaqAl Batinah SouthLight infantry unit locationSultan of Oman's Parachute Regiment23.411183N 57.429730EBidbid BarracksBidbidAl DakhiliyahInfantry unit locationMuscat Regiment23.438529N 58.126797EIbri BarracksIbriAl DhahirahInfantry unit locationNorthern Frontier Regiment23.241060N 56.512264EBuraimi Fort and BarracksBuraimiBuraimiInfantry unit locationNorthern Frontier Regiment24.236837N 55.790218EAl Qabil BarracksAl QabilBuraimiLight infantry unit locationWestern Border Security Force23.933569N 55.823533ENizwa BarracksNizwaAl DakhiliyahInfantry unit locationJebel Regiment22.917048N 57.537668EIbra BarracksIbraAl Sharqiyah NorthInfantry unit locationDesert Regiment22.738625N 58.505236ESur BarracksSurAl Sharqiyah SouthLight infantry unit locationCoastal Security Force22.538349N 59.476562EBait al Maamoorah Palace BarracksSalalahDhofarInfantry unit locationSouthern Oman Regiment17.046984N 54.219079ERaysut BarracksSalalahDhofarInfantry unit locationOman Reconnaissance Regiment 16.946844N 53.995651EThumrait BarracksThumraitDhofarInfantry unit locationWestern Frontier Regiment17.642156N 54.020499EMayzunah BarracksMayzunahDhofarInfantry unit locationWestern Frontier Regiment17.856471N 52.692569ESarfayt BaseSarfaytDhofarInfantry unit locationSouthern Border Security Force16.697399N 53.103528E Support unit locationsMabela CampAl SeebMuscatTransport unit accommodationSultan's Armed Forces Transport Regiment23.666388N 58.140895EArmed Forces HospitalAl KhoudhMuscatBase HospitalSultan's Armed Forces Medical Services23.574647N 58.207412E Training locationsNational Defense CollegeBayt al FalajMuscatHigher Defense Staff CollegeSAF training site23.607289N 58.543684EAydem CampAydemDhofarSultan Qaboos Military CollegeOfficer and NCO Training Academy16.990236N 53.358888ESaiq CampSaiq, Jebel AkhdarAl DakhiliyahInfantry training AreaRAO training site23.074098N 57.639172EMilitary Technical CollegeSeebMuscatMilitary CollegeSAF training site23.568452N 58.278716E Cultural and welfare locationsArmed Forces MuseumBayt al FalajMuscatHistoric site and display of military artifactsDefense Museum23.608479N 58.545949EArmed Forces Beach ClubSeebMuscatRestaurants, vacation accommodation and function roomsSAF Welfare23.605869N 58.330261E
Equipment
In 2020, Oman spent 11% of GDP on military expenditures.
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.
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.
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 Name Image Caliber Type Origin Notes Pistol Browning Hi-PowerJones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). . 9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol Submachine guns Sterling L2A3 9×19mm SMG Heckler & Koch MP7 4.6×30mm SMGPDW Rifles M16A1Jane's Special Forces Recognition Guide, Ewen Southby-Tailyour (2005) p. 446. 5.56×45 mm Assault rifle M4 5.56×45mm CarbineAssault rifle Carbon 15 5.56×45mm CarbineAssault rifle SIG Sauer SIGM400 5.56×45mm Semi-automatic rifleAssault rifle Steyr AUG 5.56×45mm BullpupAssault rifle FN FAL 7.62×51mm Battle rifle SIG SG 540 7.62×51mm Battle rifle SKSMiller, David (2001). The Illustrated Directory of 20th Century Guns. Salamander Books Ltd. . 7.62×39mm Semi-automatic rifle Mostly limited to use as a ceremonial weapon Lee-Enfield .303 British Bolt-action rifle Mostly limited to use as a ceremonial weapon Sniper and anti-materiel rifles Barrett M82 .50 BMG AMR Machine guns FN MAG 7.62×51mm GPMG Browning M2 .50 BMG HMG Rocket propelled grenade launchers LAW 80 94mm RPG Grenade launchers M203 40×46mm SR Grenade launcher M79 40×46mm Grenade launcher
Anti-tank weapons Name Image Type Origin Caliber Notes MILAN ATGM 370 in service BGM-71 TOW ATGM 44 in service FGM-148 Javelin ATGM 30 in service
Vehicles Tanks Name Image Type Origin Quantity Notes Challenger 2 MBT 38 FV4201 Chieftain, (Search UK to Oman, 1950–2008) MBT 27 Delivered by United Kingdom from 1981 to 1985 M60A1/A3The Military Balance, 2023, p.346 MBT 79 6 M60A1 73 M60A3 FV101 Scorpion Light tank 120
Reconnaissance Name Image Type Origin Quantity Notes B1 Centauro Tank destroyer 9 With 120mm gun
Reconnaissance Name Image Type Origin Quantity Notes FNSS Pars AFV 172 Delivered by Turkey from 2017 to 2020 Mowag Piranha II AFV 174
Scout cars Name Image Type Origin Quantity Notes Panhard VBL Scout car 124 8 equipped with BGM-71 TOW
Armored personnel carriers Name Image Type Origin Quantity Notes Cadillac V-100 APC 15 Fahd APC 31 AT105 Saxon APC 15 VAB APC 56 4x4 & 6x6 version, 6 VAB-VCI, and 8 VAB-VTT WZ-551 APC 50 FV103 Spartan APC 34
Engineering vehicles Name Image Type Origin Quantity Notes CRARRV ARV 4 M728 CEV CEV 3 FV106 Samson ARV 3
Utility vehicles Name Image Type Origin Quantity Notes Humvee LUV Unknown Vehicles sold via the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program URO VAMTAC LUV Unknown Land Rover Defender Utility vehicle Unknown Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer Utility vehicle Unknown KrAZ-255 Utility truck Unknown
Artillery Name Image Type Origin Quantity Notes Self-propelled artillery M109A0 Self-propelled artillery 15 G6 Rhino Self-propelled artillery 24 Field artillery M-46 Field gun 24 12 M-46 12 Type 59–1 L118The Military Balance 2018 p354 Field gun 42 D-30 Howitzer 30 FH70 Howitzer 12 M102 Howitzer 36 Mortar carriers 2R2M Mortar carrier 6 Based on VAB 6×6 chassic Mortars L16 Mortar 69 M30 Mortar 20 Brandt АМ-50 Mortar 12
Air defense Man-portable air-defense systems Name Image Type Origin Quantity Notes 9K32 Strela-2 MANPADS Blowpipe MANPADS JavelinThe Military Balance 2010 p267 MANPADS 34 Delivered by United Kingdom from 1984
Towed anti-aircraft guns Name Image Type Origin Quantity Notes ZU-23-2 Autocannon 4 Bofors L/60 Autocannon 12 Oerlikon GDF Autocannon 10
Self-propelled anti-aircraft guns