Oman's air force has launched initial flying operations with its first three of 16 AgustaWestland Super Lynx 300 shipborne helicopters, following their arrival in the Gulf state late last month. The aircraft left RNAS Yeovilton inSomerset on 23 June aboard a chartered Antonov An-124 transport, which refuelled at London Stansted airport before flying on to Oman.
Manufactured at AgustaWestland's Yeovil site, Oman's Super Lynx 300s are powered by two LHTEC CTS800-4Ns and have glass-cockpit displays. Details of the aircraft's armaments package will be made public during the Farnborough International air show this month, where another of the service's aircraft will be on display. The aircraft will perform anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare tasks from the Omani navy's Qahir-class corvettes, in addition to undertaking a range of utility tasks from air force bases.
The first aircraft to be delivered were numbers 3-5 on the Omani production run, with its first two examples currently supporting development flying activities. Deliveries of the 16-aircraft fleet will continue through 2004 and conclude next year.
The ongoing modernisation of the Omani air force also includes its introduction of 12 Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 50 multirole fighters under a procurement worth more than $1 billion. Deliveries of the F-16s will start next year.
Source: Flight International
