US Navy Helicopter With 5 Crew Crashes in Oman

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - A U.S. Navy helicopter crashed Thursday in the Gulf nation of Oman with five crew members aboard, according to the U.S. military.
Lt. Greg Raelson, a spokesman for the Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, gave no immediate word on the fate of the crew. But an Omani air force official said three of them have been found so far and are being treated in a hospital.
The Omani official was not authorized to release the information and spoke on condition of anonymity.
No hostile activity was suspected.
Raelson said an investigation is under way into crash of the MH-53E Sea Dragon. He said the helicopter was involved in heavy lift operations when it crashed on land some 58 miles (93 kilometers) southwest of the capital Muscat.
A similar helicopter from the same squadron was on the scene carrying out search and rescue operations.


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Lockheed's Sniper hits target with Oman F-16 deal

Oman is to acquire a further batch of Sniper advanced targeting pods from Lockheed Martin under a $23 million deal with the US contractor.
To be carried by the Royal Air Force of Oman's future expanded fleet of Lockheed F-16C/D fighters, the equipment will provide pilots with "critical long-range, positive target identification", the company says.
Lockheed says its contract also includes work to upgrade earlier Sniper pods delivered for integration with the air force's 12 F-16C/Ds. Muscat ordered a follow-on batch of 12 Block 50-standard aircraft last December, with deliveries to conclude by November 2016.

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Oman orders additional Sniper ATPs from Lockheed

Lockheed Martin has been awarded a contract for the delivery of additional Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP) to the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO), for integration on its fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft.
The $23m contract, announced at the 2012 Farnborough International Airshow in the UK, involves the company performing upgrades and supporting the RAFO's existing pods, in addition to delivering an unspecified number of new sniper pods.
Hugh Woods, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control business sniper international programme manager, said the Sniper ATP has protected aircrews worldwide by rapid target detection and identification, while maintaining safe standoff ranges.
''The outstanding reliability and performance of the sniper pods delivered to Oman under the first contract was a key factor in their decision to acquire these additional pods,'' Woods added.
Designated as an AN/AAQ-33, the Sniper ATP helps in positive target identification, autonomous tracking, coordinate generation, precise weapons guidance and non-traditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (NTISR) in all weather conditions.

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Oman On A Procurement Spree; Plans To Buy 55 Block II Sidewinder Missiles

The Government of Oman is looking to acquire a rather large bulk of missiles from the U.S. through a possible foreign military sale worth $86 million in addition to the recently acquired F-16 fighter aircraft and C295 maritime patrol aircraft.

Oman is requesting 55 AIM-9X Block II SIDEWINDER All-Up-Round Missiles, 36 AIM-9X Block II SIDEWINDER Captive Air Training Missiles, 6 AIM-9X Block II Tactical Guidance Units, 4 AIM-9X Block II Captive Air Training Missile Guidance Units, 1 Dummy Air Training Missile, and other related equipment.

The oil-rich country is modernizing its F-16 fighter aircraft fleet and the proposed sale of AIM-9X Block II missiles will allow Oman to increase its defensive capability.

Raytheon Missile Systems is the prime contractors and there are no offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Just recently, Oman became the first gulf state to acquire eight C295 medium transport and maritime patrol aircraft to the Royal Air Force of Oman from Airbus Military.

And in December 2011, awarded Lockheed Martin a $600M fixed-price contract for a Foreign Military Sales program that will provide the government of Oman 12 additional F-16 C/D block 50 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft.

Source : www.defenseworld.net