AiBotIn a bold and daring move, the Sudanese Air Force on Tuesday shot down a Chinese-made CH-95 drone operated by the UAE-backed Rapid Support Forces (RSF) terror group, dealing a significant blow to the group’s air capabilities.
According to sources within the Sudanese military, the engagement took place in the skies over the western region of Darfur, where the RSF has been involved in a long-standing insurgency against the Sudanese government. An AKINCI drone, believed to be a locally-developed or Turkish-made unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), was deployed to intercept the CH-95 drone, which was spotted in the area.
Details of the engagement remain scarce, but eyewitnesses claim that the Sudanese drone successfully engaged the CH-95, downing it in a dramatic display of aerial combat. The incident marks the first reported air-to-air engagement in Sudan since the conflict erupted in 2023, and is seen as a major victory for the Sudanese military.
The RSF, led by notorious warlord and UAE-backed militia leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has been accused of a range of human rights abuses and war crimes, including the use of drones to target civilians and government forces. The group’s use of Chinese-made drones, including the CH-95, has been well-documented, and their presence in the skies over Darfur has raised concerns about the proliferation of armed drones in regional conflict zones.
The downing of the CH-95 drone is likely to have significant implications for the RSF’s ability to operate in the region, and may force the group to reassess its reliance on foreign-made drones. The Sudanese military, meanwhile, has praised the bravery and skill of the pilots involved in the engagement, and has called for continued support and cooperation from the international community to counter the threat posed by groups like the RSF.
The incident is also seen as a major embarrassment for the UAE, which has been accused of backing the RSF despite its involvement in human rights abuses and other atrocities. The UAE has denied any involvement in the conflict, but its support for the RSF has been well-documented, and the downing of the CH-95 drone is likely to raise fresh questions about its role in the region.
In a statement, the Sudanese military vowed to continue defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity against all threats, and called on the international community to support its efforts to stabilize the region and address the humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict. The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing crisis in Sudan, and the ongoing efforts of the Sudanese military to counter the threat posed by groups like the RSF.