Egypt has delivered drones to the Sudanese military, a potential escalation of a conflict that is drawing in more regional players
The Sudanese army has deployed a limited number of Turkish-made Bayraktar drones in combat for the first time. The Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones were delivered to Sudan’s Army in October 2023.
Following SAF chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s visit to Turkey in late 2023, Cairo reportedly delivered Bayraktar TB2 drones to the SAF. These deliveries, partly enabled by the rapprochement between Egypt and Turkey, included training for Sudanese personnel in Egypt to operate the drones.
The drones have been operational for about a month and are currently being used only in Khartoum state, where the army has been battling the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group.
The SAF used the drones to attack RSF supply convoys and artillery units in el-Gezira State, including an attack on the Baka Bridge near Wad Madani. The drones joined the assault on Khartoum State in late 2024 as the military pushed to retake parts of the capital region.
The deployment marks an escalation in the arms race between the two sides, which has seen both acquire increasingly sophisticated weaponry, including drones and jamming systems.
The source said the Bayraktar TB2 drones have proven effective in targeting RSF artillery positions, destroying more than half of them in Khartoum.
“The drones have proven their effectiveness in accurately identifying targets,” the source said.
The Bayraktar TB2 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicle capable of carrying a payload of up to 150 kg (330 lb). It has a maximum speed of 220 km/h (137 mph) and a range of up to 150 km (93 miles).
The Bayraktar TB2 drones have been used effectively in several conflicts, including the war in Ukraine and the civil war in Libya. Africans militaries are fond of the Bayraktar TB2s for various reasons.
The Sudanese army’s acquisition of the Bayraktar TB2 drones will to give it a significant advantage in the fight against the RSF, which has relied heavily on its fleet of drones.