F-16 Fighting Falcon News

December 13, 2012 (by Lieven Dewitte) - U.S. Congress has been notified that there's a possible sale to Oman for a number of F-16 weapon systems, as well as equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $117 million.
The Sultanate of Oman requested the following:

• 27 AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM),
• 162 GBU-12 PAVEWAY II 500-lb Laser Guided Bombs,
• 162 FMU-152 bomb fuzes,
• 150 BLU-111B/B 500-lb Conical Fin General Purpose Bombs (Freefall Tail),
• 60 BLU-111B/B 500-lb Retarded Fin General Purpose Bombs (Ballute Tail), and
• 32 CBU-105 Wind Corrected Munitions Dispensers (WCMD).

Also included are:

• 20mm projectiles,
• Aerial Gunnery Target System (AGTS-36),
• training munitions,
• flares,
• chaff,
• containers,
• impulse cartridges,
• weapon support equipment and components,
• repair and return,
• spare and repair parts,
• publications and technical documentation,
• personnel training and training equipment,
• U.S. Government and contractor representative logistics and technical support services,
• site survey,
• and other related elements of logistics support.

The estimated cost is $117 million.

According to the DSCA report, this proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.

The proposed purchase of munitions will improve Oman’s capability to meet current and future regional threats and will provide a significant increase in the Royal Air Force of Oman’s (RAFO) capability to support both its own air defense needs as well as those of coalition operations.

The Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) currently has 12 F-16C/D block 50 aircraft (8 'C-models' & 4 'D-Models'), operated by the 18th squadron. There is also an ongoing acquisition of twelve additional F-16s.

The principal contractors will be Raytheon Company, Textron Defense Systems , General Dynamics and McAlester Army Ammunition Plant.

There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.