Illustrative image. (Turkish Ministry of National Defense)
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on October 7 shot down a Turkish-made Bayraktar Akıncı combat drone of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) over western Sudan, the fourth such confirmed aerial losses in the country since the start of the year.
The paramilitary force said in a statement that the drone was downed by its air defenses over the city of El Fasher in the North Darfur State. Earlier in the day, the SAF announced that its forces captured key military sites, including the Engineer and Signals Battalions and the Command School, in El Fasher.
The RSF has been engaged in a power struggle over Sudan for nearly a year and half now, with both drawing in support from key regional players like the United Arab Emirates and Turkey.
With a wingspan of 20 meters, the Akıncı, produced by Baykar, is one of Turkey’s largest drones. It has an operational range of 7,500 kilometers, an endurance of 25 hours and a service ceiling of over 12 kilometers. The drone was developed to carry out strategic missions, including reconnaissance, surveillance, and precision strikes.
The Akıncı made its first appearance in Sudan late last year. A report published by The Washington Post in March revealed that it was supplied to the SAF alongside smaller Bayraktar TB2 combat drones under a secret $120 million deal with Baykar.
Turkey has been aggressively promoting the Akıncı, presenting it as its most advanced drone and claiming that it was capable of carrying out missions usually preserved for manned fighter jets. However, the performance of the drone in Sudan has been subpar to say the least.
The Akıncı intercepted over El Fasher on October 7 was the fourth to be shot down by RSF air defenses since the start of the year.
The first confirmed loss of the drone was documented on July 10, also close to El Fasher, amid a fierce RSF push to capture the city. The second was shot down sometime early in September, most likely in the 4th of the month, after it bombed the Manawashi market in South Darfur. The third confirmed loss took place over Al Khoei town in West Kordofan around September 11.
It’s worth noting here that the RSF possesses very limited air defense capabilities. Aside from some Soviet and Chinese man-portable air defense systems, the force is reported to be operating a few FK-2000 and FB-10A short-range air defense systems supplied by the UAE after being indirectly purchased from China. These systems have a range of 25 and 10 kilometers, respectively.
The poor performance of Akıncı in Sudan is not surprising. The first loss of a drone of this type was documented in the northern Iraqi semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan last year, with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, more known as the PKK, claiming responsibility.
Last January, an Akıncı operated by the Government of National Accord crashed close to the the city of Ajaylat in western Libya.
Another drone of this type was shot down near the town of Tinzaouaten in the far northeast of Mali, with reports suggesting that it was shot down by the Algerian People’s National Army.
While the Akıncı is a capable combat drone, recent incidents indicate that it is not suitable at all for operations in contested airspace, even where the air defense capabilities of the other side are very limited. This is likely due to the drone’s larger size, which makes it easier to detect than the smaller Bayraktar TB2.
Even in counter-insurgency operations, like the ones Turkey regularly conducts against the PKK in Kurdistan, the Akıncı has suffered losses.
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as long as everyone is adults and everyone agrees, i’m fine. when the eight -year -old yazid girls are sold for sex and human organs i know just… nato must force turkey and russia into mutual destruction to pay for all – the supporters of jolani. russia must be broken and completely destroyed. let putler have jolani, only russia must therefore break down and disintegrate. to stop existing.
turkey is a evil country and russia is its poodle. don’t expect me to not vote for war with russia.