Before the Sudanese Fencers were
deployed on the Saudi peninsula,
in May 2014 they reportedly
conducted long-range bombing
raids in the Nuba Mountains at
dusk or dawn, flying from their
home base at Wadi Sayyidna. The
Su-24s were never seen over Darfur.
Order of battle
Wadi Sayyidna remains the SAF’s
main air base. It is located 12
miles (20km) north of Omdurman
on the west bank of the Nile.
‘Wadi’ is home to A-5, MiG-29,
Su-24 and Su-25 aircraft. The
MiG-21/F-7s and MiG-23s are
also reportedly stored there.
Fixed-wing transport aircraft fleets
for the armed forces are resident
at Khartoum International Airport.
K-8 trainers can be found
at Port Sudan and a newly
formed facility at Port Sudan
International, just south of the city.
In 2014 the SAF moved its
helicopter fleet – consisting
of Mi-8/17/171s and Mi-24s –
from Khartoum IAP to a new
heliport at Jebel Aulia, 9 miles
(15km) south of Khartoum.
Future
Ever since the US imposed
sanctions on Sudan in 1996, the
country has sought to rid itself of
its outcast status and reconnect
to the region and the broader
international community. A brief
period of good relations with Iran
in 2013 reportedly led to two
stored C-130s being brought
back to active service as well as
construction of the heliport at
Jebel Aulia, south of Khartoum.
Not long after, Sudan severed
ties with Tehran in favour of Saudi
Arabia and the Gulf states. In
April last year, a joint Saudi-
Sudanese exercise, Blue Shield-1,
was held in Sudan for the first
time. Saudi F-15Cs and Typhoons
flew sorties against Sudanese
Su-24s, Su-25s and MiG-29s.
Early last October, the US
announced that most of its
unilateral sanctions imposed on
Sudan would be lifted. A month
later, various sources reported
that Sudan had taken delivery
of Sukhoi Su-35 fighters. It’s
unclear how many aircraft
have been ordered, and if any
have been delivered. Such an
expensive and advanced aircraft
would considerably strengthen
the SAF. Perhaps Blue Shield-2,
planned for this year, will see
Sudanese Su-35s performing mock
dogfights against Saudi F-15s.
http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #365 AUGUST 2018 // 79
Airforces
Intelligence‘In association with ....’Sudanese Air Force – current types (estimated)
Type Delivered/
operationalSerial
blockService
entryBase RemarksSu-24MK ~5/~4 1** 2013 Wadi Sayyidna Some deployed in Saudi Arabia; at least
one crashed
MiG-29SEh ~11/~8 6** 2003 Wadi Sayyidna Sometimes deployed to El Obeid or
Nyala; one, possibly two, crashed
MiG-29UB 3/~2 6** 2003 Wadi Sayyidna At least one crashed
MiG-23MS ~10/~0 *** 1990s Wadi Sayyidna Several crashed, three placed in long-
term storage and reconditioned in 2016
MiG-23UB 2/~0 *** 1990s Wadi Sayyidna One crashed, one placed in long-term
storage and reconditioned in 2016
Su-25 ~14/~10 2** 2008 Wadi Sayyidna At least two lost in accidents;
deployments in El Fasher, Nyala and El
Obeid
Su-25UB 3/~2 2** 2008 Wadi Sayyidna
A-5II ~8/~5 4** 1990s Wadi Sayyidna Sometimes deployed to El Obeid
JJ-6/F-6 ~10/~3 7** 1990s Wadi Sayyidna
FT-6 ~4/~2 2** Unconfirmed Wadi Sayyidna
An-12(BK) ~9/~6 99** 1990s Khartoum IAP #
An-24(B) ~8/~4 7**, 9**,
77**1970s Khartoum IAP Most, probably all, An-24s broken up and
parked at SAFAT #
An-26(B) ~20/~8 77** 1990s Khartoum IAP Several crashed or derelict #
An-30 2/2 77** 2000s Khartoum IAP VIP aircraft
An-32 ~6/~4 77** 1990s Khartoum IAP At least one crashed #
Il-76TD 2/2 11** 2000s Khartoum IAP ST-AZZ and ST-APS; CofA expired on
both aircraft
C-130H Hercules 4/2 11**, 19** 1980s Khartoum IAP Overhauled by Iran; two stored at
Khartoum IAP
FTC-2000 6/6 12** 2017 Wadi Sayyidna
K-8S ~12/~10 8** 2000s Port Sudan At least one in Sudanese Navy blue
colours
Mi-24V/24P/35 ~50/~25 9** 1990s Jebel Aulia Deployed at various locations in Sudan;
many examples crashed or derelict
Mi-8(MT)(PS)
(MTV)/17(V5)/171(E)(Sh)~45/~20 4**, 5**,
6**1980s Jebel Aulia Deployed at various locations in Sudan;
many examples crashed or derelict
Mi-2 ~15/~10 3** 1980s Unknown At least one in Sudanese Navy blue
colours
SA330 Puma 4/0 6** 1970s Khartoum IAP All four withdrawn and now derelict
SAFAT-03 6/6 *** 2016 Port Sudan
Yak-52 ~10/~4 2** ~2003 Port Sudan
Rapid Support Forces
An-12 1 unmarked Khartoum IAP
An-74 1 ST-GFF,
-BDTKhartoum IAPIl-76TD 1 ST-EWX Khartoum IAP
Bo 105 ~6/~2 6** 1980s Unknown In long-term storage, at least two
reconditioned in 2015
Police
An-32B 1 203/ST-
PAWKhartoum IAPAn-72-100D 1 ST-PRM Khartoum IAP
Mi-171 1 101 Khartoum IAP
Mi-17V-5 1 100 Khartoum IAP
SOCATA Rallye 1 200 Khartoum IAP
Government
An-74 1 ST-PRB Khartoum IAP
An-74D 1 ST-PRC Khartoum IAP
An-74-200 1 ST-PRD Khartoum IAP
An-72-100 1 ST-PRK Khartoum IAP
Dassault 900 Falcon 1 ST-PSA Khartoum IAP
Dassault 50 Falcon 1 ST-PSR Khartoum IAP
Il-62M 1 ST-PRA Khartoum IAP
Mi-172 1 ST-GFK Khartoum IAP
Mi-17 1 ST-PRL Khartoum IAP
Mi-8P 1 ST-PRZ Khartoum IAP
AFM # Some aircraft also wear ST- registrations. CofA = Certificate of Airworthiness