The paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has reported that its units shot down an Il-76 Candid military transport aircraft operated by the Sudanese Air Force. The incident occurred near the city of Babanusa in West Kordofan province. According to the RSF, all crew members and military personnel on board were killed. In a statement on the group’s website, the aircraft was said to have been downed “after carrying out airstrikes that killed dozens of innocent civilians in the Wad Banda and Ayal Bakhit areas, as well as in the cities of El-Fula and Babanusa.”
Images and videos circulating on social media show aircraft debris that the RSF claims as evidence of the destruction of a large military transport. The Il-76 is widely used by the Sudanese Air Force to move troops, equipment, and ammunition between bases, particularly when ground routes are cut off due to ongoing fighting.
The Clash Report Twitter page suggested that the RSF may have used a Chinese FK-2000 surface-to-air missile system to bring down the aircraft, alleging that the system was supplied to the group by the United Arab Emirates. The FK-2000 combines short-range missiles with twin 30 mm cannons and is designed to engage aircraft, helicopters, and drones at distances of roughly 10 to 15 kilometres. However, the RSF has not provided details on how the aircraft was targeted, and the Sudanese military has not commented on the incident, neither confirming nor denying the use of this air-defence system.
The city of Babanusa lies along a key transport corridor in West Kordofan, an area of strategic importance for both sides of the conflict. Control over supply routes remains a critical factor in the fighting between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces, as each side seeks to secure the movement of resources and reinforcements to frontline positions.
Il-76 military transport aircraft, designed to carry heavy cargo and personnel, play a critical role in the Sudanese army’s logistics network. If the loss of the aircraft is confirmed, it would represent a significant setback for the Sudanese Air Force, as its fleet of such transports is limited and difficult to replenish under wartime conditions.
This incident marks the second loss of an Il-76 in Sudan within the past year. In late October 2024, an Il-76T cargo aircraft was shot down in North Darfur. At the time, reports indicated that it was carrying supplies for the RSF and was operated by a Russian crew working for the Kyrgyz company New Way Cargo Airlines.
In recent months, the RSF has repeatedly claimed the downing of government helicopters, drones, and other aircraft. These statements remain unverified, as access to areas of active fighting is severely restricted. Control of the airspace continues to be a central element of the conflict: government forces rely on air power for mobility and strike operations, while the RSF aims to undermine this advantage by strengthening its own air-defence capabilities.
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Source: defence-blog
