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Royal Oman Air Force (ROAF) Eurofighter Typhoon

Oman’s most high-profile requirement was for a replacement for its ageing Jaguars after more than 30 years of service, and to provide a more robust air defence and air superiority capability than can be guaranteed by Block 50 F-16s. The front runner to provide a new generation fighter was widely believed to be the Eurofighter Typhoon. It was reported that Oman would eventually receive as many as 18-24 Eurofighter Typhoons, perhaps refurbished and upgraded ex-RAF aircraft. Saab’s JAS 39 Gripen was also reported to be under consideration, though this fighter faded from view.

In early 2009 Oman appeared to be close to reaching a decision on the purchase of a squadron (or more) of advanced military fighter aircraft. While unconfirmed, some reports suggested that the Omani government could be leaning towards purchasing Eurofighter Typhoons, rather than a second squadron of US F-16 aircraft. Delivery of Oman's current squadron of 12 Block 50 F-16s was completed in 2006.

French offers to sell the Dassault Rafale to Oman, made by French president Nicolas Sarkozy during a meeting with Sultan Qaboos bin Said in February 2009, also went nowhere. In April 2009 the Omani government walked back from what seemed an imminent decision to buy a squadron of Eurofighter Typhoons to help replace its aging Jaguar fighters. Due to concerns over the high price tag for the Typhoons in conjunction with a fall in government revenues related to lower oil prices, Oman was accordingly exploring other options for new fighter aircraft, he claimed. These options include U.S.-made F-16s and French Rafale aircraft, which French President Sarkozy heavily promoted during his February 2009 visit to Muscat.

BAE Systems was not trying to salvage the Typhoon deal as it had already made its money. Rather, it was the British government that was directly trying to offload to the Omanis a squadron of Tranche III Eurofighters it had previously committed to purchase -- the last twelve from the RAF production run.

BAE Systems announced on 21 December 2012 a £2.5 billion ($4.1 billion, 3.1 billion-euro) deal to supply 12 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft and eight Hawk trainer jets to Oman. The deal, which will help sustain thousands of jobs in Britain, is the first major order since BAE Systems failed to merge with European aerospace giant EADS earlier in the year. The contract, valued at approximately £2.5 billion, provided for the delivery of 12 Typhoon and 8 Hawk aircraft starting in 2017.

Delivery of the aircraft is slated to begin in 2017. BAE said the contract covers the supply of the aircraft and in-service support. The move will safeguard thousands of jobs in Britain. The deal made Oman the seventh nation to use the Eurofighter Typhoon, which is built by a consortium of European aerospace companies, joining the air forces of the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria and Saudi Arabia. This order of Hawk AJT's follows an order from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in May of this year. This order took the total number of Hawk aircraft sold, or on order, to 998.