MUSCAT: The Royal Army of Oman (RAO) on Thursday celebrated the centenary of the establishment of the Sultan of Oman’s Artillery, during a ceremony held under the auspices of HH Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs.
HH Sayyid Shihab was received upon his arrival at the headquarters of the Sultan of Oman’s Artillery by Maj Gen Matar bin Salim al Balushi, RAO Commander, Brigadier Saif bin Said al Rashidi, Commander of the Sultan of Oman’s Artillery and senior officers.
The ceremony began with playing the Royal Anthem. The Guard of Honour saluted HH Sayyid Shihab. Then, personnel of the Sultan of Oman’s Artillery staged a military infantry parade, while the RAO band performed various musical performances in celebration of the centenary of the Sultan of Oman’s Artillery.
After that, the Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs watched a visual presentation on the inception and history of the Sultan of Oman’s Artillery since 1924, the course of its development and modernisation plans, its military equipment and advanced defence systems, and the qualification and training enjoyed by its valiant personnel to carry out the national tasks and duties.
Then, the Sultan of Oman's Artillery performed a field and air show by staging historical and modern weapons and equipment, which included pieces of cannons, vehicles and artillery equipment that embodied the national roles and duties undertaken by the Sultan of Oman's Artillery to keep pace with modern technologies in military preparations.
After that, the Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs and the attendees watched the formation of the closing tableau on the field, symbolising the centenary of the establishment of the Sultan of Oman’s Artillery. Then, the participants in the ceremony chanted thrice, “Long live His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the Supreme Commander”.
HH Sayyid Shihab and the attendees toured the permanent exhibition held on this occasion. The exhibition embodies the successive eras and the defensive military equipment that highlight historical glimpses of the journey of the Sultan of Oman’s artillery since its establishment and stages of development, as well as its most prominent achievements and national contribution.
The ceremony was attended by the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Defence, the Chief of Staff of the Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF), commanders of SAF and other military and security services, senior officers and retired officers of SAF and other military and security services, government officials in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate and personnel of the RAO Sultan of Oman’s Artillery.
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