BAE Systems celebrates 30 successful years in Oman

The company's first customer in the Gulf region, Oman remains one of its most important clients. Around 70% of the Sultan's Armed Forces military equipment, in the air and on land and sea, has been supplied by BAE Systems.

'The Sultanate of Oman is an extremely important customer to BAE Systems,' said Simon Keith, BAE Systems' Regional Managing Director Middle East.

'We operate a regional office in Muscat and we are in the process of establishing a joint venture with an Omani partner to strengthen our local presence and demonstrate our commitment to the Sultanate and our desire to work in partnership with the Sultan's armed forces.'

'We are committed to delivering world-class support of our supplied equipment, to deliver new value-for-money equipment and to continue to develop our relationship on the basis of trust and partnership,' added Keith.

BAE Systems' relationship with the Sultanate began when the Oman air force placed a contract for three BAC1-11 400 aircraft. Most recently, in 2003 the company was awarded a contract to supply two Advanced Reconnaissance Systems, a ground station, training and spares for the Royal Air Force of Oman's F-16 Block 50 aircraft.

Other equipment which BAE Systems has delivered to Oman includes Jaguar fighter bombers, the Rapier air defence missile system and Rapier radar trackers, Scorpion tanks, Piranha armoured personnel carriers, Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers and Challenger 2 tanks.

In addition, BAE Systems operates the Oman College, a regional centre of excellence for aviation training. The college is the company's first Partnership for Development project in the Sultanate.

Training includes civil and military air traffic control, air defence, electronic warfare and C4I. The courses are recognized and approved by international aviation authorities and meet the rigorous standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

Oman was also chosen by BAE Systems for its first overseas Customer Voice review, a process that helps it understand its customers' priorities and reshape its services.

Simon Keith, BAE Systems' Managing Director Middle East, Africa and India, said: 'Customers are central to the future success of BAE Systems. It's essential we grow with our customers and align with their needs.

'The review was genuinely customer focused and the findings will help us better understand our customers' priorities. Resultant changes impact the whole business and can include customer-driven reshaping of ways of working together,' explained Keith.

'We wanted to demonstrate the Sultan's Armed Forces is central to our decision making process and that we aim to promote change in alignment with its aspirations. Customer Voice is a key tool in achieving this.'