#1568 F-16C Fighting Falcon 810
Description
Squadron Prints Lithograph No, 1568 - 810, F-16C Fighting Falcon, 18 squadron and 20 squadron, RAF Thumrait.
In 1983, an order for twelve SEPECAT Jaguars was placed which resulted in the formation of no. 20 Squadron at RAFO Masirah. The Squadron was moved to RAFO Thumrait in 1993 where its primary role was ground attack with a secondary air defence capability. In 2005, no. 18 Squadron was established when the first Omani Block 50 F-16s came off the Lockheed Martin production line. By the end of 2006, the Squadron was fully operational at RAFO Thumrait together with the Jaguars of no. 20 Squadron. In 2011, Oman ordered an additional number of F-16C/D to join those already in service. In addition to the new fighters, the contract included upgrading the existing RAFO F-16s. By the end of 2014, the new fleet of F-16s began to arrive at RAFO Thumrait to replace the Jaguars of no. 20 Squadron which were being phased out. Today, no. 18 and 20 Squadrons integrate together to fulfill their operational tasks and duties. The Omani F-16 is powered by a General Electric F110-GE-129 engine and features AN/APG-68 radars. It is armed with AIM-120C AMRAAM and AIM-9X/M Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, AGM-65D/G Maverick air-to-surface missiles, AGM-84D Harpoon anti-ship missiles, enhanced GBU-10/12 laser-guided bombs, GBU-31/38 JDAMs, and CBU-97/105 sensor-fused weapons. In addition, the aircraft were supplied with the DB-110 airborne reconnaissance system and Sniper targeting pods, providing a full spectrum multi-role capability. Due to the wide range of air-to-air and air-to-ground loads which the F-16 is capable of delivering, no. 18 and 20 Squadrons are proudly playing a crucial role in protecting the skies over Oman and supporting the country’s ground forces. Its versatility enables the Squadrons to conduct and support various missions such as air defence and superiority, reconnaissance, ground attack and sea operations. The first single seat F-16 to arrive Oman was serial no. 810, depicted here configured with CFTs, Centerline tank, Sniper targeting pod, two AMRAAM, two AIM-9X, two JDAMs and two laser guided bombs.
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