Oman unveils UAV
A photograph released on 7 January 2026 shows a UAV behind Sultan Haitham bin Tariq (centre) during a visit to Al-Musannah Air Base. (Oman News Agency)
The Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) is operating a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); it was revealed when Sultan Haitham bin Tariq visited Al-Musannah Air Base to the west of Muscat on 7 January.
The Oman News Agency released a photograph that partially showed the UAV behind the sultan and senior RAFO officers as they toured a hangar where a C295 maritime patrol aircraft was undergoing maintenance. Its undercarriage matched the seemingly unique one used on the Chinese CH-4.
Omani television coverage of the visit showed the sultan and crown prince inspecting the facilities of 2 Squadron, which operates the C295s, where he was shown a CAE 700 series flight simulator for the aircraft and a mission simulation room.
He was then taken outside to inspect a C295, an NH90 helicopter, a Super Lynx helicopter, and a C-130 transport on the apron. He then went into the hangar where the C295 was undergoing maintenance but the footage did not show the UAV.
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