Turkey has supplied combat drones to Sudan’s military to aid in its battle against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to sources familiar with the matter. This move underscores Ankara’s growing support for Sudan’s armed forces amid the ongoing civil war.
The drones, reportedly delivered in October 2024, have played a pivotal role in Sudanese military offensives and counteroffensives against the RSF, with sources noting their increasing effectiveness. The Bayraktar TB2 drones have been used to target RSF logistics convoys, artillery units, and response teams. These strikes began in Al-Jazirah province in late 2024, when the Sudanese military began regaining ground, and continued in the capital, Khartoum, and its surrounding areas.
A senior Sudanese military officer confirmed the impact of the drones, stating, “At the beginning of the war, we lost many military bases and faced significant challenges. With the arrival of the drones, the RSF’s superiority ended. Now we have air support that matches our strength on the ground.”
An RSF fighter shared his frustration with the drones, commenting on their stealth and effectiveness: “You can’t see it. You can’t shoot it. And suddenly you find that you have died.”
The deployment of Turkish drones in Sudan adds to a growing list of conflict zones where the UAVs have proven their value, including Libya, Syria, and Nagorno-Karabakh. This marks Turkey’s most direct military support for Sudan’s forces since the conflict erupted in April 2023, potentially shifting the balance of power in the ongoing civil war.
