Joint Stand Off Weapons Deal Cleared for Oman

The U.S. State Department has given the nod for Oman to buy Joint Stand Off Weapons (JSOW) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $385 million.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

Oman wants to acquire 48 Raytheon-produced AGM-154C JSOWs. The estimated total cost of these weapons along with Dummy Air Training Missiles and Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs), as well as related support and equipment is $385 million.

Recent attacks on ships in the Gulf of Oman have increased Oman’s need for weapons that enable it to defend its territorial waters and ensure freedom of navigation. Oman will have no difficulty absorbing these articles into its armed forces, the Department of Defense said in an official release.

The JSOW uses a GPS navigation system with an imaging infrared seeker that can identify and track targets autonomously. The air-to-surface JSOW missile weighs 1,000 Pounds and is effective against high-value land targets at ranges greater than 70 nautical miles.

JSOW has been integrated on the F/A-18C/D/E/F, F-16, B-52, F-15E, F-35, B-1B and B-2 aircraft.