The Royal Navy of Oman, abbreviated RNO, is the maritime component of the Royal Armed Forces of the Sultanate of Oman. Given its long coastline and strategic location along the Indian Ocean, as well as being close to the Strait of Hormuz, the Royal Navy is one of the priorities of the government of Oman. It has a fleet of gunboats, fast missile boats and support, training, cargo and hydro-graphical survey vessels, which can be deployed to defend the territorial waters and coastline of Oman as well as protect tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The Royal Navy's headquarters are in Seeb, near the Muscat International Airport. A modernization program is ongoing, with the objective of creating a first-rate fleet. Similarly, the Royal Oman Police's fleet, which operates smaller range boats and patrol crafts, is being updated due to raising tensions in the region.
RNOV Al-Shamikh, (nearest) a modern corvette and RNOV Al-Seeb, a fast attack craft moored in Goa harbour in 2016
The RNO's sail training ship Shebab Oman
Image: ONS Al Rahmani 10a
Image: RNOV Al Seeb in Goa
Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces
The Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces are the Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of Oman, Royal Air Force of Oman, Sultan's Special Force and other defense forces of the Sultanate of Oman. Since their formal establishment in the early 1950s, with British assistance SAF has twice overcome insurgencies which have threatened the integrity or social structure of the state, and more recently have contributed contingents or facilities to coalitions formed to protect Arab states of the Persian Gulf.
Anti-aircraft missiles of the Oman Artillery (Land Rovers towing Rapier missile wheeled launchers)
American Oregon National Guard training in Oman alongside the Omani Army
Royal Air Force of Oman BAC One-Eleven on display at RAF Fairford, England