Sudanese Air Force

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Sudanese Air Force


caption= Sudanese Air Force Roundel
start_date= 1956
country= Sudan
allegiance=
branch=
type=
role=
size= around 3,000 men [http://www.angelfire.com/ab/mazin/SudanAirForce.html]
command_structure= Sudanese Armed Forces
garrison=
garrison_label=
equipment=
equipment_label=
nickname=
motto=
colors=
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march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=
current_commander= Abbas Yusuf Ahmed Al-Badri [http://www.angelfire.com/ab/mazin/SudanAirForce.html]
current_commander_label= Air Force Commander
ceremonial_chief=
ceremonial_chief_label=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
colonel_of_the_regiment_label=
notable_commanders=

identification_symbol=
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identification_symbol_2=
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aircraft_attack=
aircraft_bomber=
aircraft_electronic=
aircraft_fighter=
aircraft_interceptor=
aircraft_recon=
aircraft_patrol=
aircraft_trainer=
aircraft_transport=

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.

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. [http://www.angelfire.com/ab/mazin/SudanAirForce.html]

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. [http://www.angelfire.com/ab/mazin/SudanAirForce.html]

The Sudanese Air force operates around 200 aircraft.

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. There are a few air force bases in Sudan including one at the capital Khartoum.

! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
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Antonov An-24 Coke
USSR / UKR
Transport
An-24RV
5|
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Antonov An-26 Curl
USSR
Transport
An-26
1
May be in use as an improvised bomber.
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CASA C.212 Aviocar
ESP
Transport
CASA C.212-200 Aviocar
2|
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de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo
CAN
Transport
DHC-5D
3|
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de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
CAN
Surveillance
DHC-6 Twin Otter 300
1|
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Fokker F.27 Friendship
NLD
Transport
F.27 Mk 100
1
VIP flights only
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Dassault Falcon 20
FRA
Transport
Dassault Falcon 20F
1
VIP flights only
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Dassault Falcon 50
FRA
Transport
Dassault Falcon 50
1
VIP flights only
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Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum
USSR
Fighter
MiG 29S/UB
24 purchased
Numbers in operational condition not confirmed. One shot down by heavy machine guns on May 10th 2008 [http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article27350]
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Lockheed C-130 Hercules
USA
Transport
C-130H
9
Numbers in operational condition not confirmed.
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Chengdu F-7 Airguard
PRC
Fighter
F-7M
22
Numbers in operational condition not confirmed.
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IAR 330 Puma
ROM
Transport/search and rescue
ICA IAR-330L PUMA
24
Numbers in operational condition not confirmed.
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Shenyang F-5 Fresco
PRC
Fighter
F-5/FT-5 Fresco
19
Numbers in operational condition not confirmed.
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Agusta-Bell AB212 Twin Huey
USA
Transport
AB212
10
Numbers in operational condition not confirmed.
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MBB Bo 105
GER
Transport/ attack/search and rescue
Bo 105CB
20
Numbers in operational condition not confirmed.
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Mil Mi-8 Hip
USSR
Transport
Mi-8T
6 (plus unknown number of Mil Mi-171 variants. 3 Confirmed)
Numbers in operational condition not confirmed.
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Mil Mi-24 Hind
USSR
Helicopter gunship
Mi-24V/Mi-24P
12-16
Numbers in operational condition not confirmed. 8 Mil Mi-24 Helicopters rumoured to be in Dafur region operating from Nyala airport.|
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Nanchang A-5 Fantan
PRC
Ground attack
A-5
15-20
Delivered to Sudan by China 2003, although allegedly financed by Iran. Rumoured to be in Dafur region based at Nyala airport.|
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Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23
USSR
Fighter
MiG-23BN
3
Numbers in operational condition not confirmed.|
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Hongdu JL-8
PRC
Trainer/light attack

12
Numbers in operational condition |
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References

* [http://www.angelfire.com/ab/mazin/SudanAirForce.html Inventory of the Sudanese Air Force]
* [http://sudaninside.com/2008/01/01/sudan-air-force-mig-29-on-display Mig 29 in Khartoum sky]

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