Oman buys 20 British Challenger tanks

Oman signed a contract with the British Vickers company to buy 20 Challenger-2 tanks. The contract will also supply Oman with the accompanying support, spare parts and training of personnel.

The Omani side was represented by Minister of Defense Badrin Bin Rehab Al Busaidi and the British side was represented by the head of the Department of Operations in Vickers, Chris Woodwork, the British Ambassador in Oman also attended the signing of the contract.

After signing the contract, Al Busaidi stated that the agreement came within the Omani attempt to strengthen the capabilities of its armed forces and to help it cope with technological progress. He added that the Omani army tested this type of tank and knew its competence in various geographical and climatic circumstances.

On the other hand, Woodwork stated that the agreement includes spare parts and training from the British company. He expressed his happiness with Oman's decision to buy more Challenger tanks. Oman had bought some of these tanks in 1993. Oman had also signed an agreement to modernize its Jaguar planes during the visit of the British Secretary of Defense to Oman.