Royal Air Force Typhoon jets and a Voyager air-to-air refueler arrived at the air exercise area in Dhofar Governorate, Oman, this week to prepare for exercise Magic Carpet, an annual bilateral exercise with the Omani Air Force.
The Typhoons of II (AC) Squadron RAF Lossiemouth and 12 Squadron RAF Coningsby, and a Voyager from RAF Brize Norton with over 300 RAF support personnel have now started the two-week exercise.
The two services will work together to deliver air-to-ground and air-to-air refueling training for UK and Omani pilots.
“During the two-week exercise we will be conducting challenging flying missions together with our Omani colleagues, continuing to build on our close longstanding relationship with Oman. Integrating every element of our operations from planning to briefing, flying and debriefing. There are many opportunities to learn and develop from our collective experience,” the UK Detachment Commander and Officer Commanding II (AC) Squadron said.
Exercise Magic Carpet is scheduled to run until November 18.
The engagement between the air forces of UK and Oman follows the visit of a delegation of Omani commanders at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) in the UK. Oman’s Sultan Qaboos Military Academy (KSQA) is currently developing its curriculum, and has already teamed with British forces for exercise Khanjar Oman in early November.
