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124that Loan Service could no longer address. It was this type of situation that enabled us to persuade RAFO to consider doing the Jaguar upgrade in8country. It was planned jointly by RAFO Loan Service Ops and Engineering Staffs, with strong inputs from St Athan, the Jaguar Role Office, BAE Systems and Qinetiq and was delivered within cost and almost on time. Embodiment was done at Thumrait under joint Loan Service and Omani supervision. Clearly it was a great improvement to the Jaguar%u2019s capability, including GPS/INAS integration, revised software with digital terrain mapping, a new head8up display and an AMLCD to replace the old moving map system. As important as the enhancement of the aircraft%u2019s operational capability was the boost to the confidence of the RAFO%u2019s engineering fraternity who had proved to themselves that they could address such a high8tech upgrade, albeit with a little help from their friends. I am glad to say that, even into this new millennium, the friendship is still as strong as ever. As an illustration %u2013 when the Royal Air Force of Oman acquired the F816 in 2006 %u2013 although the US had offered full technical and operational assistance, and actually insisted on an American pilot serving on the new squadron, the Omanis in their turn insisted that an RAF Loan Service pilot should join the squadron as well. Although, it is interesting to note that it took the US DOD a year to approve a British pilot to fly the aircraft, in spite of his having just completed an exchange tour in the States on a similar type. It is apparent that the next re8equipment plan includes Typhoon, so some lucky guy is going to get a tour getting his knees brown in an amazing place in an amazing aircraft. In 2005 the RAFO accepted the first of a dozen F?16s.