A few weeks before the military defeat in El Fasher, the SAF high command had launched consultations to acquire Sukhoi fighter jets. Since the fall of the Darfurian city, the objective has been to halt the advance of the Rapid Support Forces using long-range aircraft.
Since the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) raised their flag over El Fasher on 26 October, confusion has been spreading within the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) general staff. Commanded by General Mohamed Osman al-Hussein, who himself reports to Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the regular army in Port Sudan is trying to find a way to stem the advance of the RSF. After conquering the capital of North Darfur, the RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as “Hemeti”, are now focusing their efforts on Kordofan, where they hope to take control of El-Obeid, a strategic hub that blocks the road to Khartoum.
This situation should accelerate the low-key negotiations over the potential purchase of several dozen aircraft by the SAF. Since the end of August, the Sudanese military command has been in contact with Russian intermediaries to quickly procure Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jets and their Su-30 variant.
The high command is keenly interested in their endurance and long range. With the Su-27s, the SAF hopes to secure air superiority, primarily against drones deployed by the RSF. The Su-30s, meanwhile, are intended to carry out bombing and air-to-ground strikes.
Unavailable stock
However, due to a lack of available stocks in Russia, engaged in its high-intensity conflict with Ukraine, the idea of using arsenals from Central Asia, such as Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan, is gaining ground. Negotiations are also focusing on the engines to be installed on the aircraft. In this regard, mention has been made of engines from Su-24s or K-8s, Chinese Pakistani aircraft.
The search for Sukhoi aircraft has been driving discussions between Khartoum and Moscow for several years. In 2017, Omar al-Bashir, the then-incumbent Sudanese president, visited Russia to meet with Vladimir Putin and announced that he was seeking to acquire Su-30 and Su-35 aircraft to upgrade the SAF’s equipment. Until now, the SAF has mainly used Soviet or Chinese equipment.
After the fall of El Fasher and in the midst of negotiations for a ceasefire, Burhan is attempting to intensify discussions with his partners beyond Russia. On 30 October, Egyptian Chief of Staff Ahmed Fathi Ibrahim Khalifa travelled to Port Sudan to discuss the situation on the front with the head of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council. Potential military assistance is also expected from Eritrea and Turkey (AI, 04/11/25).
Lastly, according to Pakistani sources, a contract worth $230m has been signed between Islamabad and the authorities in Port Sudan for the delivery of K-8 aircraft, drones and armored vehicles to the SAF.
