We welcome the decision by the Sultanate of Oman to purchase 12 Typhoon and 8 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) aircraft.

This contract is further recognition that both Typhoon and Hawk are leading aircraft in their class, providing the best capabilities available.

As well as supplying aircraft, we will provide in-service support to the Royal Air Force of Oman's (RAFO) operational tasks.

Deliveries are expected to commence in 2017.

Responding to the announcement Guy Griffiths, Group Managing Director for BAE Systems' International business said: “Receiving this contract is an honour and is excellent news for both BAE Systems and the Eurofighter Typhoon consortium. BAE Systems has a long history of working in Oman and we are delighted this contract will enable us to continue to work together. We believe that Oman has now added the most advanced fighter jet and proven training aircraft, available in the world, to its military portfolio.”

“We look forward to working in partnership with Oman's Ministry of Defence, and the Royal Air Force of Oman, to ensure this is a highly successful program that maximises the potential of both Hawk and Typhoon,” he added.

Oman becomes the seventh country in the world, and the second in the Middle East, to operate the Typhoon, 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 takes the total number of Hawk aircraft sold, or on order, to 998.

This announcement also strengthens the long standing relationship between ourselves and the Sultanate of Oman. Oman currently operates Jaguar fighter aircraft and trains pilots on an earlier variant of the BAE Systems Hawk.