Oman requests a possible $3.5 billion Foreign Millitary Sale of F-16 Block 50/52 aircraft and associated equipment, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency DSCA notified Congress Aug. 3.
Oman requests 18 F-16 Block 50/52 aircraft, 20 F100-PW-229 or F110-GE-129 Increased Performance Engines, 36 LAU-129/A Common Rail Launchers, 24 APG-68(V)9 radar sets, and 20 M61 20mm Vulcan Cannons. The potential sale would also include 22 AN/ARC-238 Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio Systems with HAVE QUICK I/II, 40 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems, 36 LAU-117 MAVERICK Launchers, 22 ALQ-211 Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suites (AIDEWS) or Advanced Countermeasures Electronic Systems (ACES) (ACES includes the ALQ-187 Electronic Warfare System and AN/ALR-93 Radar Warning Receiver), Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF) Systems with Mode IV, 34 Global Positioning Systems and Embedded-GPS/Inertial Navigation Systems (INS). Also, 18 AN/AAQ-33 SNIPER Targeting Pods or similarly capable system, 4 DB-110 Reconnaissance Pods (RECCE), 22 AN/ALE- 47 Countermeasures Dispensing Systems, and 35 ALE-50 Towed Decoys.
Also included is the upgrade of Oman’s existing 12 F-16 Block 50/52 aircraft, site survey, support equipment, tanker support, ferry services, Cartridge Actuated Devices/Propellant Actuated Devices (CAD/PAD), conformal fuel tanks, construction, modification kits, repair and return, modification kits, spares and repair parts. Other support includes construction, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. government and contractor technical, engineering, and logistics support services, ground based flight simulator, and other related elements of logistics support.
The proposed sale would provide a significant increase in the Royal Air Force of Oman’s (RAFO) ability to train with U.S. and coalition forces and augment coalition forces in a regional conflict.
The F-16 Block 50/52 would enable Oman to support both its own air defense needs and coalition operations.
Principal contractors for the potential sale would be: BAE Systems, Boeing [BA], Raytheon [RTN], Lockheed Martin [LMT], Northrop Grumman [NOC], Pratt & Whitney [UTX], General Electric Aircraft Engines [GE], Goodrich [GR], L3 Communications [LLL], ITT [ITT], and Symetrics Industries.