Il-76 With Russian Crew Shot Down In Sudan: What Mission The Plane Was Carrying Out
- 6.11.2025, 18:07
New details of the incident have emerged.
A group of the Rapid Reaction Force (RFS), which was already operating with the support of mercenaries of the private military company Wagner, shot down a Sudanese Air Force Il-76 military transport plane near the town of Babanusa, West Kordofan state. Presumably, the plane's crew were citizens of the Russian Federation.
The reasons for the crash of the Sudanese transport plane were reported on November 4 by the local news agency Sudan Tribune. Journalists quoted the military as saying that the vehicle had a "sudden malfunction of the right wing" during a cargo delivery mission, which led to the crash.
The Clash Report, however, reported that the plane was shot down by RSF fighters allegedly using a Chinese-made FK-2000 anti-aircraft system, which was supplied to the rebels by the United Arab Emirates.
Defense Express columnists noted that the footage published online suggests that the group may indeed have used an FK-2000 SAM. This is indicated by a characteristic detail found at the site - a launch booster that matches the missiles used in this complex.
And the delivery of FK-2000, presumably, was carried out in the spring of 2025 through the UAE. This way allowed to bypass international restrictions that prohibit China from directly exporting weapons to active conflict zones.
In the meantime, the exact identity of the downed aircraft remains unidentified. Russian sources claim that the Russian crew that died in the crash was allegedly working under contract. And the plane itself was purchased from Kyrgyzstan, although the machine was painted white - similar to one of the Il-76s in service with the Sudanese Air Force.
Observers drew attention to another detail. The Sudan Air Force used the IL-76 in exotic missions, namely to drop aerial bombs on RFS positions.
"Given the above facts, this IL-76 was shot down, could perform tasks not only to transport certain cargoes, but could well have attempted to bomb RFS positions, during which it was hit by a Chinese SAM. But right now, this is only speculation," Defense Express concluded.
IL-76 in Sudan - details of the incident
The website Charter97.org reported on the incident of an IL-76 crashing in Sudan. A video of footage of the plane crashing has surfaced online, and the video was probably recorded by an FRS fighter. The event took place on November 4 in a key transportation corridor used by the rebels to get weapons and ammunition.