Sudan Military Forces

Strategic Position

Sudan’s defense posture is defined by an internal conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This conflict has restructured the country's security priorities toward internal territorial control and the protection of logistical corridors. The fall of El Fasher to the RSF in October 2025, after a siege of about 18 months, left the SAF without a major stronghold in Darfur, and the RSF-aligned Tasis coalition declared a rival government in Nyala in July 2025, raising the prospect of a de facto partition; RSF drones have struck Port Sudan, the army's wartime seat, since May 2025. Geopolitically, Sudan occupies a position on the Red Sea, making its coastline a focal point for international maritime security and foreign basing interests.

Sudan is a member of the United Nations, the African Union (currently suspended), and the Arab League. Defense relations are fragmented due to the internal war. The SAF maintains a bilateral security relationship with Egypt, which provides training and intelligence support. Engagement with Iran has increased in 2025, specifically regarding the procurement of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Discussions with Russia regarding a naval logistics center on the Red Sea coast persist, though active construction is tied to the stabilization of the central government.

Primary security concerns include the Fashaga border dispute with Ethiopia and the spillover of instability from Libya, Chad, and South Sudan. Control over the Nile River resources remains a long-term strategic priority, influencing relations with downstream and upstream neighbors.

Military Forces

The Sudanese military architecture is split between the regular Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary organization that evolved from the Janjaweed militias.

Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) The SAF is organized into the Army, Navy, and Air Force, under the command of the Transitional Sovereignty Council.

• Army: The primary land force operates main battle tanks including T-72, T-54/55, and Chinese-made Type 59 and Type 96 models. Armored infantry units utilize BMP-1 and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, along with BTR-series and Chinese-manufactured WZ-551 armored personnel carriers. Artillery capabilities consist of D-30 howitzers and BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers.

• Air Force: Operates a mix of Soviet and Chinese airframes. The fighter and ground-attack fleet includes MiG-29, Su-24, Su-25, and Nanchang Q-5 aircraft. The transport fleet utilizes An-26 and Il-76 aircraft. Rotary-wing assets include Mi-24 attack helicopters and Mi-8/17 transport helicopters. Since 2024, the Air Force has integrated Iranian-designed Mohajer-6 and Zagil-3 UAVs for reconnaissance and strike missions.

• Navy: A coastal defense force based primarily at Port Sudan and Flamingo Bay. It operates a fleet of patrol boats and fast attack craft intended for littoral monitoring and anti-smuggling operations.

Rapid Support Forces (RSF) The RSF functions as a highly mobile light infantry force. It does not operate a traditional naval or air branch but utilizes captured SAF equipment. Its primary inventory consists of thousands of "technicals"—pickup trucks mounted with heavy machine guns, anti-aircraft guns (ZU-23-2), and recoilless rifles. The RSF also operates MANPADS and has deployed commercial and tactical drones for urban surveillance and targeted strikes in 2025 operations.

Defense Industry

Sudan maintains a domestic arms production capability through the Military Industry Corporation (MIC). The MIC operates several complexes, such as the Al-Shajara Industrial Complex and the Al-Zarqā Engineering Complex.

Domestic production focuses on the refurbishment and assembly of foreign designs under license, primarily from China and Russia. The MIC produces the "Al-Bashir" (a variant of the Type 85 tank) and the "Khatim" (a variant of the BMP-1). The industry also manufactures small arms, including "Terab" assault rifles (based on the CQ-5.56), light machine guns, and various calibers of mortar and small arms ammunition. While Sudan achieved a degree of self-sufficiency in basic munitions and small arms before the current conflict, the industry is currently constrained by damage to manufacturing facilities in Khartoum and a heavy reliance on imported electronic components and high-grade steel.

Strategic Trends

The primary trend in 2025 and 2026 is the transition toward asymmetric warfare and the integration of low-cost technology. The SAF has shifted procurement toward loitering munitions and FPV (First Person View) drones to counter the RSF’s mobility. This shift reflects a move away from traditional large-scale armored maneuvers toward precision urban strikes.

Defense spending is difficult to quantify due to the fragmentation of the state and the use of off-budget gold mining revenue to fund military operations. The RSF maintains control over significant gold-producing regions, providing it with independent financial streams for arms procurement through regional black markets.

Future force structure depends on the outcome of the current conflict. If the SAF maintains control, the military likely faces a long-term reconstruction phase to replace airframes and heavy armor lost during the war. If the conflict remains a stalemate, the military posture will continue to evolve into localized, militia-integrated defense zones with a focus on securing the Red Sea trade routes and the administrative capital in Port Sudan. Constraints include a collapse in the formal economy, international sanctions on key commanders, and the mass displacement of technical personnel.