| Sudanese Air Force | |
|---|---|
Sudanese Air Force Roundel |
|
| Founded | 1956 |
| Country | Sudan |
| Size | around 3,000 men around 240 Aircraft(total) |
| Part of | Sudanese Armed Forces |
| Commanders | |
| Air Force Commander | Abbas Yusuf Ahmed Al-Badri |
The Sudanese Air Force (Arabic: القوّات الجوّيّة السودانيّة Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya As-Sudaniya) is the air force operated by the Republic of the Sudan. As such it is part of the Sudanese Armed Forces.
The Sudanese Air Force was founded immediately after Sudan gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1956. The British assisted in the Air Force's establishment, providing equipment and training. Four new Hunting Provost T Mk 53s were delivered for jet training in 1957. The following year, the Sudanese Air Force's transport wing acquired its first aircraft, a single Hunting President. In 1960 the Sudanese Air Force received an additional four re-furbished RAF Provosts and two more Hunting Presidents. Also in 1960, the transport wing's capability was increased by the addition of two Pembroke C Mk 54s.
The Air Force gained its first combat aircraft when 12 Jet Provosts with a close air support capability were delivered in 1962.[1] In the 1960s Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and People's Republic of China started supplying the Sudanese Air Force with aircraft. This included supply of Shenyang F-5 fighters (F-5/FT-5 variants) of which 70, after being retired from the air force later, were sold to Jordan.
The air force flies a mixture of transport planes, fighter jets and helicopters sourced from places including the European Union, Russia, and the United States. However, not all the aircraft are in a fully functioning condition and the availability of spare parts is limited. In 1991, the two main air bases were at the capital Khartoum and Wadi Sayyidna near Omdurman.[2]
Sudan has also made a successful deal to buy two different batches of 12 MiG-29 Russian fighter jets each.[3] There are 23 MiG-29s in active service as of late 2008.[4] However, the rebel Justice and Equality Movement claimed to have shot down one MiG-29 with large-caliber machine-gun fire on 10 May 2008, killing the pilot of the plane, a retired Russian Air Force fighter pilot; the Sudanese government denied the allegation.[5]
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mikoyan MiG-29 | Russia | Fighter | MiG-29 | 23[4] | Active (One lost to anti-aircraft fire) |
| Chengdu F-7 Airguard | People's Republic of China | Fighter | F-7M | 10[6] | Numbers in operational condition not confirmed. |
| Sukhoi Su-25 | Soviet Union | Ground attack | Su-25 | 16 | 15 delivered to Sudan by Belarus 2008 |
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 | Soviet Union | Fighter-bomber | MiG-23BN | 3[6] | Active. |
| Hongdu JL-8 or K-8 | People's Republic of China/ Pakistan | Trainer/light attack | 6 | Active | |
| Nanchang A-5 | People's Republic of China | Ground attack | A-5 | 15[6] | Delivered 2003. Possibly up to 20 may be in service. Sighted in the South Darfur region based at Nyala Airport. |
| Shaanxi Y-8 | People's Republic of China | Transport / multipurpose | 20 | ||
| Antonov An-24 | Soviet Union / Ukraine | Transport | An-24RV | 15 | |
| Antonov An-26 | Soviet Union | Transport | An-26 | 10 | In use as an improvised bomber.[7] |
| CASA C.212 Aviocar | Spain | Transport | CASA C.212-200 Aviocar | 20 | |
| de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo | Canada | Transport | DHC-5D | 3 | |
| Fokker F.27 Friendship | Netherlands | Transport | F.27 Mk 100 | 1[6] | VIP flights only |
| Dassault Falcon 20 | France | Transport | Dassault Falcon 20F | 1 | VIP flights only |
| Dassault Falcon 50 | France | Transport | Dassault Falcon 50 | 1 | VIP flights only |
| Lockheed C-130 Hercules | United States | Transport | C-130H | 4 (IISS 2009) | Active. |
| IAR 330 Puma | Romania | Transport/search and rescue | ICA IAR-330L PUMA | 24 | Active. |
| Agusta-Bell AB212 Twin Huey | United States | Transport | AB212 | 48 | Active. |
| MBB Bo 105 | Germany | Transport/ attack/search and rescue | Bo 105CB | 20 | Active. |
| Mil Mi-8 | Soviet Union | Transport | Mi-8T | ~20 (plus unknown number of Mil Mi-171 variants. 3 Confirmed) | Active. |
| Mil Mi-24 | Soviet Union | Helicopter gunship | Mi-24D/Mi-24V/Mi-24P | ~54 | Active. 8 Mil Mi-24 Helicopters rumoured to be in Dafur region operating from Nyala Airport |
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