Signs of the presence of sophisticated long-haul kamikaze drones seen near a Sudanese airport under the jurisdiction of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) suggest a significant change in warfare strategies. This occurred during a massive air strike in RSF-controlled areas in May, hinting at an armentarium upgrade that could change the trajectory of the protracted martial conflict.
The altercation between the Sudanese Army and the RSF for the latter part of two-and-a-half years has led to severest humanitarian crisis worldwide. The complex politico-military struggle has pulled in multiple foreign stakeholders and poses a threat to divide the Red Sea state. Known for gold production, this strategic fissure could have global implications.
Satellite imagery and subsequent evaluations identified around a dozen ‘delta-wing’ unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with associated launching equipment in the vicinity of Nyala, an airport stationed in Sudan’s west Darfur region during the beginning of May. Engineered to collide with their targets, these drones typically offer an estimated range of about 2,000 km (1,200 miles), covering the entire stretch of Sudan and extending beyond the limits of any previously known RSF-held models.
Doubts about the origin of these UAVs remain, with two experts concurring on the estimated range but unable to identify the manufacturer. Various international companies, specifically in Russia and Iran, are known to produce similar models.
The sighting of these delta-wing UAVs and sixteen launch pads in the vicinity of Nyala airport coincided alarmingly with a chain of drone attacks on Port Sudan between the beginning of May and the ninth day. During this period, it was conjectured that the RSF, lacking demonstrable long-range capabilities, could not have triggered the attack on the military stronghold, located approximately 1,600 km away from Nyala.
Culprits behind the strikes on Port Sudan were alleged to have originated from regions east of Sudan. Simultaneously, Sudan pointed fingers at the United Arab Emirates (UAE), accusing this neighbouring nation of initiating the attacks using military aircraft and kamikaze UAVs launched from a base along the Red Sea. Countering these charges, the UAE consistently denied involvement or support for the RSF’s militaristic ventures.
In the face of losing strategic footholds in central and eastern Sudan, the RSF has shown an observable shift from ground combat towards increased dependence on aerial warfare. In supposed retaliation to military offensives against civilians in various parts of Sudan, the RSF launched UAV operations against the capital, Khartoum, this week.
While details remain hazy about the particular model of drones employed in these recent attacks, evaluative reports corroborated the sighting of long-range delta-wing kamikaze drones in the May images. These drones, mirroring the build of models constructed in several nations, possess an approximate range of 2,000 km.
The RSF maintained silence in the face of requests for comment about these developments. An earlier account from the beginning of the year reported the identification of three Chinese-manufactured CH-95 UAVs at Nyala airport, equipped with a maximum strike range of 200 km.
During that period, the RSF was frequently executing UAV-led strikes on targets within close proximity, including fuel reserves, water storage dams, and military base camps spread across regions under the Sudanese army’s control.
The Sudanese army, on the other hand, has persistently attacked the Nyala airport and its nearby areas. This includes the recent aerial attacks earlier this week.
The pathway through which these UAVs might have reached Darfur remains undetermined by the researchers. The Darfur region has been under an international arms embargo since the early 2000s, although this restriction has been repeatedly breached.
The post Long-Range Kamikaze Drones Alter Battlefield Tactics in Sudan appeared first on Real News Now.
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