RSF claims to have shot down Sudanese Air Force Il-76 transport aircraft

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claims to have to have shot down a Sudanese Air Force Ilyushin Il-76 military transport aircraft over the city of Babanusa in West Kordofan on November 4, 2025. The paramilitary group said the aircraft had carried out airstrikes that killed dozens of civilians in nearby areas before being struck by RSF air defenses. 

In a statement, the RSF said its air defense units had “successfully shot down an Ilyushin military aircraft” after it bombed the towns of Wad Banda, Aiyal Bakhit, El-Fula, and Babanusa.  

The group accused the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which it described as the “terrorist Islamic Movement’s Army,” of targeting residential areas and markets with “missiles and barrel bombs.” 

The RSF called the attacks a “blatant violation of international humanitarian law” and urged international and legal authorities to prosecute Sudanese military leaders, vowing to continue fighting “until the group of murderers and terrorists is overthrown.” 

Reports of Chinese-made system used 

Open-source defense outlet Clash Report stated that the RSF utilized a Chinese-made FK-2000 short-range air defense system to bring down the aircraft, claiming the system had been supplied by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The report has not been independently verified. 

The FK-2000, developed by China’s NORINCO, is similar to the Russian Pantsir-S system. It combines short-range missiles with twin 30 mm cannons to target aircraft, helicopters, and drones within a range of 10 to 15 kilometers. It is thought to be in limited service with a few countries in the Gulf and Africa. 

Sudanese army blames technical failure 

A spokesman for the SAF’s 22nd Infantry Division confirmed the loss of an Il-76 but offered a different explanation, stating the aircraft suffered “a sudden technical failure in the right wing, which led to a fire and loss of control.”  

According to the Sudanese governmental forces, the aircraft was conducting a supply drop mission for government troops surrounded by RSF forces in Babanusa. The army did not comment on whether the aircraft had been hit by an anti-air system. 

Second Il-76 lost in a year 

The downing would mark the second Il-76 crash in Sudan in a year. On October 21, 2024, an Il-76T freighter registered EX-76011 was shot down over Malha in North Darfur, reportedly while carrying supplies intended for the RSF. The aircraft was believed to have been operated from Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, by Russian crew members employed by Kyrgyzstan-based New Way Cargo Airlines. 

A war shaped by foreign support 

Since April 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in a bloody conflict between the army of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane, the country’s de facto ruler since his 2021 coup, and his former deputy, General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, commander of the RSF. The war has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than 13 million, creating one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. 

The conflict has drawn in external backers. The United Nations and several Western governments have accused the United Arab Emirates of supplying the RSF with weapons and equipment, including armored vehicles and drones, allegations that Abu Dhabi has repeatedly denied.  

Reports have also pointed to the presence of Colombian mercenaries fighting alongside the RSF, recruited through private military intermediaries. Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the involvement of his country’s nationals in Sudan’s war and called for legislative action. 

 “I have requested an emergency vote on a bill banning mercenarism. It is a form of human trafficking where men are turned into commodities for killing,” Petro posted on X. 

The Sudanese army, meanwhile, has received backing from Iran, including access to surveillance drones and precision-guided munitions.