Key Points
- RSF claims it shot down a Sudanese Air Force Il-76 transport aircraft near Babanusa on November 4.
- Clash Report stated the RSF used a Chinese-made FK-2000 air defense system reportedly supplied by the UAE.
Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) say they shot down a Sudanese Air Force Il-76 Candid transport aircraft near the town of Babanusa on November 4, claiming that all personnel aboard were killed.
The group published the claim during ongoing fighting against Sudan’s military, which continues more than a year into the country’s internal conflict.
Footage and statements circulating on social media show what RSF describes as the remains of the large transport aircraft. The Il-76 is used by Sudan’s Air Force to move troops, equipment and supplies between bases.
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The outlet Clash Report stated that the RSF used a Chinese-made FK-2000 air defense system to strike the aircraft. The system, according to the post, was supplied to the RSF by the United Arab Emirates. The RSF has not issued a detailed description of the engagement method, and the Sudanese military has not commented on whether an anti-air system was involved.
The location, Babanusa, sits at a key transportation corridor in West Kordofan. Control of transport routes has been a major factor in the ongoing conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces, as both sides attempt to move supplies and reinforce forward positions.
The Il-76, designed for heavy airlift missions, has been used throughout the conflict to ferry personnel and logistics support to Sudanese bases isolated by fighting or inaccessible by road. The destruction of such an aircraft, if confirmed, would represent a loss of a strategic asset for the Sudanese Air Force, as the fleet of large transport aircraft is limited and difficult to replace under current conditions.
The RSF has released statements in recent months claiming the downing of helicopters, drones and other aircraft. In each case, independent confirmation remains limited due to the restricted access environment surrounding active battle zones. Airspace over contested areas continues to be a central point of confrontation, with the Sudanese Armed Forces relying on aircraft for mobility and strike capability, while the RSF works to deny that advantage.
