The first of the 12 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighters and eight Hawk Mk 166 advanced jet trainers ordered by Oman were “formally presented” to the customer on 15 May, BAE Systems announced. The event was held at the company’s Warton production and testing facility in the United Kingdom and attended by Sayyid Badr bin Saud […]

AECOM Technical Services Inc., Los Angeles, California, was awarded a $9,000,000 firm-fixed-price Foreign Military Sales (Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, and United Arab Emirates) contract to furnish all necessary labor, materials, supplies, and equipment required for a full range of professional architecture and engineering services. Bids were solicited via the Internet with one received. […]

Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is being awarded $78,723,292 for modification P00022 to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00019-15-D-0028).  This modification provides for support and sustainment of the AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II tactical missiles in support of the Navy,  Air Force and the governments of Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Israel, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Oman, Malaysia, […]

A Saudi-led coalition force of 41 countries is now taking shape and has found a focus: protecting member nations against the threat from Islamic State as the militant group’s strongholds in Iraq and Syria disintegrate. The coalition, sometimes referred to as the “Muslim NATO,” is expected to have its first substantive meeting over the next […]

Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was awarded a $15,080,369 firm-fixed-price, foreign military sales (Jordan and Oman) contract for M1070A1 Heavy Equipment Transporters, with associated testing, spare parts, and training. Bids were solicited via the Internet with one received. Work will be performed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2018. Fiscal […]

The Omani Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed on 20 March that the sultanate’s military is now operating at least one Bell 429 GlobalRanger helicopter. The helicopter was seen in a photograph that the MoD released showing Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs Badr bin Saud bin Harib al-Busaidi visiting units in the Dhofar region. When contacted […]

Gulf Arab states are poised to continue to spend billions of dollars on defense despite low oil prices causing severe budget deficits forcing Gulf States to introduce austerity measures and cut spending. Saudi Arabia’s total defense budget is forecast at $82 billion in 2016, steadily rising to $87 billion in 2020 while that of UAE […]

Oman, traditionally on friendly terms with Iran, confirmed on Thursday that it had joined a Saudi-led coalition of Muslim countries fighting terrorism, a move praised by other Gulf Arab states as closing ranks with them against Iran. Saudi and Gulf sources reported the development on Wednesday, saying Omani Minister for Defence Affairs Badr bin Saud […]

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is being awarded a $207,534,768 not-to-exceed, firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of 51 full rate production Lot 90 Harpoon weapon systems, components, and spares for the governments of Egypt (20); Korea (19); and Brazil (12).  In addition, this contract provides for components and spares for the Navy; and the […]

Iran has stepped up weapons transfers to the Houthis, the militia fighting the Saudi-backed government in Yemen, U.S., Western and Iranian officials tell Reuters, a development that threatens to prolong and intensify the 19-month-old war. The increased pace of transfers in recent months, which officials said include missiles and small arms, could exacerbate a security […]