Watan-High-ranking Western officials have revealed that Iran has supplied the Sudanese army with drones, according to Bloomberg. The agency quoted three anonymous Western officials stating that Sudan received shipments of the “Muhajer 6” drone, a single-engine UAV manufactured in Iran by the Jerusalem Aerospace Industries, equipped with precision-guided munitions.
Analysts who examined satellite images confirmed the presence of the UAV in Sudan. Dutch drone expert Wim Zwijnenburg pointed to satellite images taken on the ninth of this month, showing the drone at the Wadi Seidna Airbase north of the capital, Khartoum. He noted that the visible wings in the image match those of the “Muhajer 6.”
Zwijnenburg also highlighted the presence of a wireless antenna from a control center inside a truck on the runway, a common scene when operating the “Muhajer 6.”
According to the expert, social media footage of wreckage from a small drone shot down by Rapid Support Forces in January clearly showed remnants of the tail of the UAV.
Intelligence analyst Jakub Janovsky confirmed that the characteristics of the drone seen in satellite images precisely match those of the “Muhajer 6.”
Warnings of Iranian Intervention Risks
Bloomberg reported that Iran’s intervention in the ongoing conflict in Sudan, alongside the army, which has lost significant territories to the Rapid Support Forces, increases risks for the North African state already on the brink of famine. The report emphasized the strategic importance of Sudan’s Red Sea coast, where countries like China, Russia, and Turkey compete for access.
Arming Sudan would also enhance Iran’s military influence in the Middle East. Tehran supports various groups, from Hamas in Gaza to Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels in Yemen, in addition to its growing drone program, as stated in the report.
What are Shahed 6 drones?
The “Shahed 6” drones are used for reconnaissance strikes and are equipped with four laser-guided missiles with a total weight of 40 kilograms. Their attacks are specifically directed against armored vehicles or weapons depots.
Iran announced the introduction of the drone into its UAV arsenal in 2017 and has delivered several to Ethiopia, Venezuela, and Russia.
The fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023, continues, reaching locations in the northern part of the country.