Sudan strikes Chinese-made FK-2000 air defense system

Sudan’s army said it destroyed a Chinese-made FK-2000 air defense system operated by the Rapid Support Forces in the Ed Dubeibat area of South Kordofan.

The FK-2000 system was neutralized during ongoing combat operations around Ed Dubeibat. The military said the system had been used by RSF units to contest Sudanese Air Force operations over central and southern parts of the country.

The FK-2000 is a combined gun-and-missile air defense system developed by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation. The system is mounted on an 8×8 wheeled chassis and integrates a turret equipped with surface-to-air missiles and two six-barrel 30 mm cannons designed for close-in defense against aerial threats.

According to publicly available specifications, the missile component of the FK-2000 can engage aircraft at ranges of roughly 1.2 to 25 kilometers, with shorter effective ranges against cruise missiles. The system relies on a combination of radar and optical tracking to detect, track, and engage targets and is intended to provide short-to-medium-range air defense coverage for maneuvering forces and fixed positions.

Sudanese military sources said the FK-2000 systems had been supplied to the Rapid Support Forces from the United Arab Emirates, with transfers routed through Chad.

The RSF units previously used the FK-2000 to shoot down several Sudanese Air Force aircraft. Military officials stated that losses attributed to RSF air defenses included transport aircraft such as the Il-76 and multiple unmanned aerial vehicles, including Bayraktar Akıncı strike drones.

The conflict in Sudan has increasingly featured advanced military hardware, including unmanned systems and imported air defense equipment, raising concerns among regional and international observers about arms proliferation and escalation.