The ongoing civil war in Sudan, which erupted on April 15, 2023, has transformed the capital city of Khartoum and the surrounding regions into a complex theatre of urban and conventional warfare. In this protracted struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces, commanded by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces, led by Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the Sudanese Air Force has emerged as a key factor in preventing the total collapse of the state’s military structure. It is a near certainty that all major army bases in the capital would have fallen to the Rapid Support Forces militia long ago if aerial assets had not held the paramilitary units at bay. This air cover provided the essential window of time for the first echelons of army reinforcements to arrive from Central and Eastern Sudan, bolstering the defence of the state. As the conflict continues into January 2026, the Sudanese Air Force remains the most potent tool for the Sudanese Armed Forces to project power across a country where ground mobility is frequently contested by mobile, well-armed rebel contingents.
The tactical utility of airpower in this conflict is demonstrated by the frequent deployment of Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter jets for low-level interdiction missions. Footage emerging from various frontlines showcases these aircraft conducting precision strikes against Rapid Support Forces formations that have amassed near the edges of government-held territory. The Sudanese Armed Forces have utilised a combination of intensive air and ground attacks to disrupt the momentum of the rebel group, focusing particularly on regions where the militia has attempted to consolidate control. Just recently, the General Command of the Sudanese Armed Forces confirmed a series of expansive air and ground raids targeting positions in the Darfur and Kordofan regions. These operations were specifically designed to sever supply routes originating from southern Libya, which have served as a vital artery for the Rapid Support Forces’ logistics.
In a notable series of victories in Kordofan during late 2025, the Sudanese military reported that airstrikes successfully destroyed 240 combat vehicles belonging to the Rapid Support Forces. This operation resulted in the expulsion of rebel forces from substantial sectors of the province and included the destruction of strategic drone assets stationed at Nyala Airport. The ability to neutralise unmanned aerial vehicles on the ground illustrates the Sudanese Air Force’s intent to maintain air superiority by targeting the burgeoning technical capabilities of the militia. Further strikes in western Kordofan, specifically near Abu Zabad, resulted in the deaths of twenty militants and the destruction of several technicals. The Sudanese Armed Forces have also ramped up the use of drones for reconnaissance and strike missions, recently targeting militia gatherings in North Darfur. These strikes, documented in early January 2026, hit locations in Damra Ghurir and Zarq, with reports indicating the loss of family members of the Rapid Support Forces commander during these precision engagements.
The Sudanese Air Force typically serves as the first responder to rebel movements, utilising an inventory composed largely of Russian and Chinese-origin aircraft to interdict advances before ground forces can achieve a tactical position. This reliance is necessitated by the fact that while the army maintains a larger fleet of tanks and traditional heavy weaponry, these assets often struggle in the urban landscape of Khartoum. The Rapid Support Forces have grown into a force of approximately 100,000 fighters who are specialised in street fighting and urban manoeuvres. In the narrow, congested streets of the capital, the effectiveness of the T-54 or T-55 tanks is diminished. These older platforms suffer from limited mobility and are vulnerable to modern anti-tank weaponry. The militia has reportedly acquired advanced Anti-Tank Guided Missiles and portable rocket launchers that can disable older armour with relative ease. Consequently, the Sudanese Armed Forces rely on the air force to provide the heavy firepower that tanks cannot safely deliver in built-up areas.
The technical backbone of the Sudanese Air Force includes a diverse, albeit ageing, fleet. The inventory features Soviet-era MiG-21 and MiG-23 fighters, alongside Chinese-made Nanchang Q-5, Shenyang J-6, and Chengdu J-7 aircraft. For specialised ground attack and interdiction, the air force operates the Sukhoi Su-24 and Su-25. The MiG-29 remains the most advanced fighter in the fleet, with Sudan having acquired these airframes between 2003 and 2004. This makes Sudan one of the few African nations, alongside Egypt, Libya, Algeria, and Eritrea, to operate this specific platform. To augment this force, Sudan ordered six FTC-2000 Shanying, or Mountain Eagle, jet trainers from the Chinese Guizhou Aircraft Industries Corporation in 2016. These aircraft, which are export versions of the JL-9 trainer, were delivered in desert camouflage and provide a light combat capability that bridges the gap between basic trainers and high-performance fighters.
The conflict has not been without serious setbacks for the air force. During the initial hours of the uprising in April 2023, several aircraft were destroyed at Merowe Air Base and Khartoum International Airport. These losses included transport planes and at least one helicopter, as well as a number of Egyptian MiG-29s that were present for joint exercises. Despite these early losses and the subsequent downing of a MiG-29 over Khartoum in May 2023, the Sudanese Air Force has maintained its operational tempo. The downing of the MiG-29 served as a stark reminder that the Rapid Support Forces have bolstered their anti-aircraft capabilities, potentially altering the risk calculus for Sudanese pilots. To compensate for airframe losses and the need for increased payload, the air force has resorted to utilising Antonov transport aircraft as makeshift bombers.
This practice of converting transport aircraft for offensive missions involves the use of the An-12, An-26, and An-30. By installing removable roller conveyors on the guide rails within the cargo bay, the air force can load four 500-pound bombs that are manually rolled out of the rear hatch during flight. While these unguided munitions have a high margin of error and have been criticised for their potential for collateral damage, they provide a cost-effective way to drop heavy ordnance. The Sudanese Air Force has even mounted bombs on the external wing pylons of these transports, though this substantially reduces their manoeuvrability and makes them easier targets for ground-based fire. This is not a new tactic for Khartoum; similar improvised “barrel bombers” were used during the Darfur conflict in 2003 to target rebel-held villages.
The air supremacy currently enjoyed by the Sudanese Armed Forces is increasingly threatened by the introduction of sophisticated Short-Range Air Defence systems. Recent intelligence reports from August 2025 indicated that the United Arab Emirates has facilitated the transfer of Chinese-manufactured FK-2000 air defence systems and FB-10A missiles to the Rapid Support Forces. These systems, reportedly routed through Chad to bypass international scrutiny, provide the militia with a mobile, modern defence against fast jets. The FK-2000 is particularly notable as it combines a high-fire-rate cannon with surface-to-air missiles, offering a defensive envelope similar to contemporary Russian systems. Additionally, the Wagner Group has been implicated in supplying short-range air defence equipment to the militia earlier in the conflict. These developments have forced Sudanese pilots to fly more cautiously and have emphasised the need for more advanced electronic countermeasures.
To counter the momentum of the Rapid Support Forces and the loss of key territory such as El Fasher, the Sudanese Armed Forces are pursuing a major modernisation effort. Reports suggest that Sudan is in the final stages of a $1.5 billion deal with Pakistan to acquire new fighter jets and munitions, which would provide a substantial boost to their strike capabilities. Simultaneously, Khartoum is attempting to procure advanced Russian fighter jets to obtain a long-range strike capacity that is currently missing from its repertoire. These potential acquisitions represent an effort to transition from a reactive force to one capable of sustained, high-intensity offensive operations across all provinces. The successful integration of these new platforms will be crucial if the Sudanese Armed Forces intend to liberate all territory currently held by the militia.
The struggle for the skies over Sudan is a battle of attrition and adaptation. While the Sudanese Air Force has managed to maintain the state’s integrity through improvised bombing and persistent fighter patrols, the arrival of advanced Short-Range Air Defence systems among the rebel ranks marks a new phase in the war. The Sudanese military’s ability to modernise its fleet while managing the maintenance requirements of its older Soviet and Chinese aircraft will determine the outcome of the next year of fighting. For now, the air force remains the primary shield for the army, providing a heavy firepower advantage that the Rapid Support Forces cannot yet match in a head-to-head engagement.