RAF, Royal Air Force of Oman and Qatar Emiri Air Force Typhoon pilots exercise over Oman

Magic Carpet 21 saw the deployment of Typhoons from both Lossiemouth-based No.II (Army Co-operation) Squadron and from No.12 Squadron at Coningsby, supported by a Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft and more than 300 RAF support personnel. No.12 Squadron is the joint UK-Qatari Typhoon squadron, and includes a number of QEAF pilots who are gaining experience on the type prior to the delivery of their own aircraft.

The RAF detachment completed a busy two-week flying programme which included more than 112 sorties in missions involving British and Omani Typhoons, Omani F-16s and the RAF Voyager. The Air Exercise area was located in Dhofar Governorate, Oman

The multi-domain exercise showcased the RAF’s ability to deploy advanced capabilities and to deliver high-quality training opportunities, demonstrating the UK’s integrated approach to defence. It also demonstrated the UK’s commitment towards promoting regional security by working with Oman and other Gulf partners.

During the two-week exercise, the RAF and RAFO worked together to train British and Omani pilots and to improve their air-to-ground and air-to-air refuelling skills. Air-to-ground is a relatively new discipline for the Omani Typhoon force, which began dropping what appeared to be 2,000-lb GBU-10 LGBs in late 2020. The GBU-10 is a weapon cleared for use on the (Tranche 1) Typhoon back in 2006-7, and notionally also part of the P1Eb software release for later aircraft, but it is not in use by the British Royal Air Force, or indeed by any of the original partner nations. The RAF Typhoons used strafe (air to ground gunnery) and the Paveway IV dual mode weapon during the exercise, and used their Litening targeting pods.

Wing Commander Chris Wright, the RAF Detachment Commander and Officer Commanding No.II (AC) Squadron said: “We are delighted to be invited to Exercise Magic Carpet. The exercise is all about integrating with our Omani colleagues, practicing different scenarios in the skies over Oman. 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. We are working together very much as equal partners in the relationship, 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.”