Khartoum, September 12 – More than a dozen long-range kamikaze drones spotted near an airport controlled by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during a major air assault in May suggest the paramilitary group has acquired advanced weaponry that could significantly shift the dynamics of Sudan’s protracted civil war.
The nearly three-year conflict between the RSF and Sudan’s army has already triggered the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, destabilizing the Red Sea region and exposing Sudan—a key gold producer—to competing foreign interests.
Images and analysis released by the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab, and independently verified by Reuters, revealed 13 delta-wing drones and launch equipment at Nyala airport in western Darfur on May 6. These drones, designed to crash into targets, typically have a range of up to 2,000 km (1,200 miles)—far exceeding any systems the RSF was previously believed to possess.
Yale’s assessment pointed to two possible Chinese-manufactured models. While Reuters’ defense experts could not confirm the origin, they agreed on the estimated range. Similar systems are also produced by Russia and Iran.
China’s foreign ministry dismissed any knowledge of the drones. “China has always maintained a prudent and responsible approach to military exports and consistently fulfills international obligations,” a spokesperson said. The Chinese defence ministry did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
The drone sightings coincided with a wave of attacks on Port Sudan between May 3 and May 9. Satellite imagery showed the drones were removed by May 9, although 16 launch platforms remained visible until early September. Analysts had initially speculated that the Port Sudan strikes were launched from eastern Sudan, as the RSF was not thought to possess such long-range capabilities.
Sudan’s government accused the United Arab Emirates of conducting the strikes using drones and warplanes from an Emirati Red Sea base—allegations the UAE has repeatedly denied.
After suffering territorial losses in central and eastern Sudan earlier this year, the RSF has increasingly leaned on aerial warfare, particularly drone operations. This week, the group claimed responsibility for fresh drone strikes on the capital, Khartoum, in retaliation for alleged army attacks on civilians, though the models used remain unverified.
Independent analyses by defence intelligence firm Janes and Wim Zwijnenburg of the Dutch peace organization PAX confirmed that the May imagery depicted long-range delta-wing suicide drones, comparable to models manufactured in several countries, with operational ranges of roughly 2,000 km.
The development underscores a dangerous escalation, raising fears that Sudan’s conflict could deepen and further entangle regional and global powers.
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