Rebels Destroy Sudanese Su-24M Bomber

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), opposing the pro-government forces in Sudan, carried out an airstrike on a Sudanese Su-24M bomber.

The footage of the strike was shared on the social media accounts of the RSF.

The Russian-backed rebels targeted the aircraft parking lot at the Wadi Seidna airbase, located in the north of the capital, Khartoum.

The strike was conducted using a guided aerial bomb launched from an unknown drone, which performed objective control and corrected the targeting. The drone struck three times, completely destroying the target.

The airstrike is believed to have been carried out by a strike version of the Chinese FH-95 drone, the presence of which the militants had previously reported.

Based on the ignition of fuel, it appears the bomber was destroyed while parked on the airfield, suggesting that a fully combat-ready aircraft has been removed from the Sudanese air fleet.

This represents a significant blow to the capabilities of Sudan’s government forces, as the country has a limited number of bombers at its disposal. Between 2013 and 2016, Sudan received at least eight Su-24Ms from the Belarusian Air Force, though some reports suggest the final number could reach 12 aircraft.

Satellite images from December 2024 indicate that at least four aircraft were stationed on open parking lots at the Wadi Seidna airbase, alongside MiG-29 fighters and other planes.

Additional bombers may also be housed in airfield hangars, though no precise information is available about the air group at the facility.

Even before the loss of this bomber during the civil war, the Sudanese military faced a shortage of full-fledged bomber aircraft, leading to the unconventional use of other aircraft.

Last September, pro-government forces used an Il-76 military transport aircraft as a bomber, dropping free-falling FAB-250/FAB-500 bombs on enemy positions.

Such desperate tactics are possible due to the lack of high-altitude air defense systems in the country.