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Sudan's Skies: Drone Dogfights Rage
21 Aug
Summary
- Sudan's army has destroyed at least six Chinese-made drones.
- Armed drones are now the leading cause of civilian deaths.
- A Turkish drone intercepted a Chinese drone in mid-air.
Drone warfare has intensified in Sudan, extending beyond Ukraine and Iran. Since June 2026, the Sudanese army has claimed the destruction of at least six Chinese-made CH-95 drones.
A Turkish Bayraktar Akıncı drone was observed intercepting a CH-95 in mid-air, a significant development in the ongoing aerial contest. The CH-95 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone, while the Akıncı is substantially larger and more capable.
This drone conflict is proving extremely costly. The Akıncı is estimated to cost around $25 million, significantly more than the CH-95's estimated $2 million price tag.
Beyond the financial toll, armed drones have become the leading cause of civilian deaths in Sudan. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights noted that drone strikes were responsible for at least 880 civilian deaths between January and April 2026, representing over 80% of conflict-related civilian fatalities.
