Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have dramatically escalated their air campaign, using advanced foreign drones to strike deep into Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) territory, including the strategic coastal city of Port Sudan. The RSF, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemeti), has leveraged Chinese and UAE-supplied drones to hit critical infrastructure and military targets, dramatically altering the battlefield dynamics in the two-year conflict.

Drone Strikes Turn the Tide in Darfur and Beyond

The RSF’s recent attacks included strikes on a hydroelectric dam in Merowe and multiple military bases in Port Sudan, previously considered secure strongholds of the SAF. The SAF’s air superiority, once a critical advantage, has been significantly reduced as the RSF gains access to long-range UAVs, including Chinese-made Ch-95 and FH-95 models capable of delivering precision-guided missiles.

Satellite imagery and battlefield remnants analyzed by defense experts have confirmed the presence of Chinese and UAE drones in RSF hands, despite a UN arms embargo. Amnesty International reported finding Chinese-made GB50A guided missiles and 155mm AH-4 howitzers in RSF-controlled areas, further implicating foreign actors in the conflict. Sudan has responded by severing diplomatic ties with the UAE, accusing it of directly supporting the RSF, a claim Abu Dhabi has denied.