Sudanese Air Force
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| Sudanese Air Force | |
|---|---|
 Sudanese Air Force Roundel |
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| Founded | 1956 |
| Country | Sudan |
| Size | around 3,000 men around 200 Aircraft(total) |
| Part of | Sudanese Armed Forces |
| Commanders | |
| Air Force Commander | Abbas Yusuf Ahmed Al-Badri |
The Sudanese Air Force (Arabic: Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya As-Sudaniya) is the air force operated by the Republic of the Sudan. As such it is part of the Sudanese Armed Forces.
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[edit] History
The Sudanese Air Force was founded immediately after the Sudan gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1956. The British assisted in the Air Force's establishment, providing equipment and training. Four new Hunting Provost T Mk 53s were delivered for jet training in 1957. The following year, the Sudanese Air Force's transport wing acquired its first aircraft, a single Hunting President. In 1960 the Sudanese Air Force received an additional four re-furbished RAF Provosts and two more Hunting Presidents. Also in 1960, the transport wing's capability was increased by the addition of two Pembroke C Mk 54s.
In the 1960s Soviet and Chinese started supplying the Sudanese Air Force with aircraft. The Air Force also gained its first combat aircraft when 12 Jet Provosts with a close air support capability were delivered in 1962.[1]
[edit] Inventory
The air force flies a mixture of transport planes, fighter jets and helicopters sourced from nations including the European Union, Russia, and the United States. However, not all the aircraft are in a fully functioning condition and the availability of spare parts is limited. In 1991, the two main air bases were at the capital Khartoum and Wadi Sayyidna near Omdurman.[2]
Sudan has also made a successful deal to buy two different batches of 12 MiG-29 Russian fighter jets each.[3] There are 23 MiG-29s in active service as of late 2008.[4]
Sudan is currently planning to modernize its fleet and is planning to induct 10-20 JF-17 Thunder multirole jet fighters from China, for which it is negotiating with the Pakistani Air Force.[citation needed]
[edit] Safat Aviation Complex
Safat aviation complex is the aircraft maintenance and construction unit of Sudan's Military Industry cooperation it has recently Succeded in producing its first localy made aircraft the Safat 01 and is working on completing its first Helicopter the Safat 02,serial production of the Safat 01 Aircraft was launched on the 5th of july 2009, where the first home-manufactured aircraft has been unveiled.[5][6]
The Sudanese Air Forces inventory currently consists of over 200 aircraft
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chengdu F-7 Airguard |  People's Republic of China |
Fighter | F-7M | 22 | Numbers in operational condition not confirmed. | |
| Hongdu JL-8 or K-8 | People's Republic of China/ Pakistan |
Trainer/light attack | 12 | Active | ||
| Nanchang A-5 | People's Republic of China |
Ground attack | A-5 | 15-20 | Delivered to Sudan by China 2003, although allegedly financed by Iran. Sighted in the South Dafur region based at Nyala Airport. | |
| Shaanxi Y-8 | People's Republic of China |
Transport / multipurpose | 2 | |||
| Antonov An-24 |  Soviet Union /  Ukraine |
Transport | An-24RV | 5 | ||
| Antonov An-26 | Soviet Union |
Transport | An-26 | 1 | May be in use as an improvised bomber. | |
| CASA C.212 Aviocar |  Spain |
Transport | CASA C.212-200 Aviocar | 2 | ||
| de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo |  Canada |
Transport | DHC-5D | 3 | ||
| de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter | Canada |
Surveillance | DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 | 1 | ||
| Ilyushin IL-62M | Soviet Union |
Transport | Ilyushin IL-62M | 1 | VIP flights only | |
| Fokker F.27 Friendship |  Netherlands |
Transport | F.27 Mk 100 | 1 | VIP flights only | |
| Dassault Falcon 20 |  France |
Transport | Dassault Falcon 20F | 1 | VIP flights only | |
| Dassault Falcon 50 | France |
Transport | Dassault Falcon 50 | 1 | VIP flights only | |
| Mikoyan MiG-29 |  Russia |
Fighter | MiG-29 | 23[4] | Active | |
| Lockheed C-130 Hercules |  United States |
Transport | C-130H | 9 | Numbers in operational condition not confirmed. | |
| IAR 330 Puma |  Romania |
Transport/search and rescue | ICA IAR-330L PUMA | 24 | Numbers in operational condition not confirmed. | |
| Shenyang F-5 | People's Republic of China |
Fighter | F-5/FT-5 | 19 | Numbers in operational condition not confirmed. | |
| Agusta-Bell AB212 Twin Huey | United States |
Transport | AB212 | 10 | Numbers in operational condition not confirmed. | |
| MBB Bo 105 |  Germany |
Transport/ attack/search and rescue | Bo 105CB | 20 | Numbers in operational condition not confirmed. | |
| Mil Mi-8 | Soviet Union |
Transport | Mi-8T | 6 (plus unknown number of Mil Mi-171 variants. 3 Confirmed) | Numbers in operational condition not confirmed. | |
| Mil Mi-24 | Soviet Union |
Helicopter gunship | Mi-24V/Mi-24P | 24-30 | Numbers in operational condition not confirmed. 8 Mil Mi-24 Helicopters rumoured to be in Dafur region operating from Nyala Airport. | |
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 | Soviet Union |
Fighter | MiG-23BN | 3 | Numbers in operational condition not confirmed. | |
| Sukhoi Su-25 | Russia |
Air Support | at least 12 | Active | ||
| Safat 01 |  Sudan |
Trainer | atleast 3, Sudan Aims to produce 50 of the Safat aircraft with in the coming 5 years. | |||
| F-5E/F Tiger II | United States |
Fighter Jet | F-5E and F-5F | at least 12 | Active. 10 F-5Es and two F-5F were bought in 1978, One of the F-5Fs was sold to Jordan. further two F-5s defected to Sudan from Ethiopia during the Ogaden crisis. |
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.angelfire.com/ab/mazin/SudanAirForce.html
- ^ Library of Congress Sudan Country Study, 1991, accessed March 2009
- ^ http://www.sudan.net/news/posted/16168.html
- ^ a b "Directory: World Air Forces", Flight International, 11-17 November 2008.
- ^ "Sudan to begin aircraft production in July". Sudan Tribune. 2009-06-23. http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article31601. Retrieved on 2009-06-23.
- ^ "Sudan's Bashir says new plane defies sanctions". Reuters AlertNet. 2009-07-05. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/HEA566547.htm. Retrieved on 2009-07-05.
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