Squadron Service - Royal Air Force of Oman
Omani Jaguar squadrons
| 8 Sqd | Thumrait | 1977 - |
| 20 Sqd | Thumrait | 1982 - |
In August 1974 the Sultanate of Oman's Air Force (refered to as the Royal Air Force of Oman after 1990) ordered a batch of twelve Jaguar Internationals: ten single-seaters designated Jaguar S(O).1 and two two-seaters designated Jaguar B(O).2. These aircraft were fitted with the Adour Mk804 engine. They were equipped with the RAF-style LRMTS nose and the Marconi 920ATC NAVWASS.
The initial delivery of aircraft to the SOAF occured on March 4th 1977, when one S(O).1 and one B(O).2 were handed over at Warton. These aircraft left for Oman on March 7th. Deliveries were complete by the spring of 1978.
The aircraft equipped No. 8 Squadron based at Thumrait; it later moved to Al Masirah. The squadron performed strike and air defence duties, roles that up to then had been carried out by aircraft borrowed from the Imperial Iranian Air Force. For the air defence role the Batch 1 Jaguars were fitted with two over-wing launchers for the Matra Magic AAM.
In 1980 the SOAF placed a second order for another batch of twelve aircraft. As before this comprised ten single-seaters and two two-seaters. A further two-seater was acquired as an attrition replacement from the UK via India. These aircraft were fitted with the improved Adour Mk811-26 engine. The two-seaters in the second batch had two unusual features: firstly, they had the fin-mounted ARI 18233 RWR, and secondly they had a fixed in-flight refuelling probe in place of the nose pitot tube. The second batch aircraft also had their outer wing pylons modified to carry the AIM-9P Sidewinder.
The SOAF formed No. 20 Squadron at Al Masirah to operate these aircraft. The unit was fully equipped by the end of 1983.
In 1986 Ferranti was contracted to upgrade the SOAF Jaguars with the FIN1064 nav/attack system, to being them broadly in line with the RAF's Jaguar GR.1A. The work was carried out at BAe Warton, and the 21st and final upgraded aircraft was delivered in October 1989.
In the late 1980s both Jaguar squadrons at Al Masirah relocated to Thumrait AB, allowing RAFO Hawks to occupy Al Masirah.
When RAF Jaguars were deployed to the Middle East in August 1990, they initially took up residence alongside the RAFO Jaguars at Thumrait. However, distances in the theatre eventually caused the RAF Jaguars to relocate to Muharraq International Airport in Bahrain in mid-October, where they needed less tanker support. It has been reported that the RAF Jaguars acquired their overwing missile pylons from the RAFO. RAFO Jaguars played no part in Operation Desert Storm.
Single-seater 207, operated by No 20 squadron, crashed west of the Jebel range on December 17th 1991. The pilot ejected successfully.
In September 1997 the Sultanate of Oman signed an agreement with the UK Government to upgrade Oman's surviving Jaguars (sixteen single-seaters and three two-seaters) to the latest RAF Jaguar 97 standard, including TIALD. The £40 million upgrade was completed at the end of 2000.
Ex-RAF Jaguar GR.1A XX719 departed St Athan for Oman on August 11th 1998. Presumably this aicraft had been upgraded to Jaguar 97 standard. It was coded 226 in RAFO service.
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