In recent months, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have made significant strides in their conflict against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), reclaiming key territories with the help of Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones.
These unmanned aerial vehicles have proven instrumental in shifting the battlefield dynamics, providing the SAF with a decisive edge. In October 2023, the SAF received two additional Bayraktar TB2 drones, increasing their total to eight, and immediately deployed them in critical operations across Sudan.
The SAF has utilized these drones to target RSF supply convoys, artillery units, and response teams, with notable strikes in el-Gezira State, including an attack on the Baka Bridge near Wad Madani. In late 2024, the drones supported the SAF’s assault on Khartoum State, aiding efforts to recapture parts of the capital region from RSF control.
Beyond Khartoum, the TB2s have accelerated the army’s advance into territories north of the capital and into el-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan State. El-Obeid, a strategic hub connecting the RSF’s Darfur stronghold to its forces in Khartoum, has been a prime target, showcasing the drones’ role in disrupting RSF logistics.
The effectiveness of the Bayraktar TB2 stems from its affordability, long flight duration, and capacity to carry explosive payloads, qualities that have made it increasingly popular among African militaries. Sudanese military officials have credited the drones with reversing early setbacks in the war, which began in April 2023. “At the beginning of the war, we lost many military bases and faced significant challenges,” one official told Middle East Eye. “With the arrival of the drones, the RSF’s superiority ended. Now we have air support that matches our strength on the ground.”
This air support has been vital in operations like the large-scale artillery and airstrikes launched in Khartoum in September, marking the SAF’s most extensive push to reclaim territory in the 20-month conflict.
Sudanese Finance Minister Gibril Ibrahim, in a statement on his social media account, stated that the siege of the city of Al-Ubayd had been broken, and said, “Today’s strategic victory is an important stage on the way to a great victory. The Al-Ubayd victory is also a critical step for the liberation of Al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur, which has been under siege by the RSF since May.”
Since late 2023, Turkey has supplied the SAF with over $120 million worth of drones, including eight TB2s and hundreds of warheads, as reported by The Washington Post. This arsenal complements the Iranian Mohajer-6 drones the SAF has employed since the same period.
The deal, part of a €110.7 million contract signed on November 16, 2023, by Mirghani Idris Suleiman, director-general of Sudan’s Defense Industries System (DIS), included six TB2 drones, three ground control stations, 600 warheads, and in-country technical support, with 48 Baykar employees facilitating delivery. Shipments began arriving at Port Sudan in August of that year, with additional deliveries in September, October, and November.
Sudanese officials reportedly praised Turkey as their greatest supporter, according to an internal Baykar memo cited by The Washington Post. However, these arms transfers have sparked controversy, with allegations that Turkey’s Baykar violated EU and US sanctions by supplying Sudan’s military, further fueling the civil war.
The RSF has struggled to counter the TB2 drones, with one fighter admitting to the media that defending against them is “incredibly difficult.” In response, the RSF has ramped up its own drone operations, often targeting civilian sites like hospitals, while employing anti-drone technologies such as the Belarusian Groza-S Electronic Warfare system and Russian-made surface-to-air systems.
These defenses have downed Sudanese Air Force aircraft, including MiG-29s and transport planes, though their impact on the TB2s remains limited. The SAF, in turn, has deployed systems like the Chinese Ching Kong and SkyFend Hunter Anti-Drone technology to protect its operations.
The conflict has drawn in regional powers, with Turkey and Egypt backing SAF leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, while the United Arab Emirates supports RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemeti. This rivalry persists despite recent improvements in Turkey-UAE relations.
In December 2024, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered to mediate between Sudan and the UAE, leveraging Turkey’s recent diplomatic success in brokering talks between Somalia and Ethiopia. Erdogan emphasized Turkey’s commitment to Sudan’s peace, stability, and territorial integrity, opposing external interventions.
Evidence of the TB2’s impact continues to emerge. A video published by Sudan Nabaa news on January 16 purportedly shows a Bayraktar TB2 striking the Baka Bridge west of Wad Madani, highlighting its operational reach. The drone strikes, which began in el-Gezira province in late 2024 and expanded to Khartoum and surrounding areas, have targeted RSF logistics convoys, artillery batteries, and rapid-response units, crippling their ability to sustain operations.
As the SAF presses its advantage, the Turkish Bayraktar TB2 remains a cornerstone of its strategy, reshaping the war and highlighting the growing role of drone technology in modern conflicts.
