Advanced drone linked to UAE state company spotted at Nyala airport: Report
June 2, Khartoum — The Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) revealed on Tuesday that an advanced drone, previously promoted by a defense corporation owned by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government, has been detected at Nyala International Airport in South Darfur State.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which the Sudanese government accuses of receiving advanced weaponry from the UAE, reactivated Nyala International Airport in September 2024. The paramilitary group heavily fortified the facility using signal-jamming systems, even as the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) continued to target the installation with frequent airstrikes.
According to the HRL report, satellite imagery captured starting May 6, 2026, exposed an aircraft with a wingspan of approximately 19 meters and a length of nearly 10 meters inside Nyala airport. The shape and physical dimensions of the drone directly match the Chinese-designed BZK-005 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
The lab reported a high degree of confidence that the aircraft is a BZK-005E model. This specific export variant was previously showcased by the International Golden Group (IGG)—a subsidiary of the UAE government-owned EDGE Group—during defense exhibitions in Abu Dhabi.
The HRL findings underwent independent expert review, including analysis by the specialized military intelligence agency Janes, which independently arrived at the same conclusion, identifying the platform as likely a BZK-005E.
The EDGE Group is an Emirati state-owned defense conglomerate established in 2019 through the consolidation of 22 state-owned and private defense firms. In January 2024, the conglomerate acquired a majority stake in IGG, a prominent supplier of foreign military equipment to the UAE Armed Forces that maintains an active partnership with China’s NORINCO.
While Sudan has repeatedly accused the UAE of supplying the RSF with weapons, drones, and air defense systems, Abu Dhabi continues to deny the allegations despite mounting evidence documenting ongoing military assistance.
UAV Specifications and Capabilities
The BZK-005E was developed by China’s Beihang University and is manufactured by Harbin Aircraft Industry Group, while the Chinese state defense corporation NORINCO handles international marketing for the export variant.
The BZK-005 platform functions as a Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) reconnaissance and surveillance drone. It is equipped to perform electronic intelligence (ELINT), signals intelligence (SIGINT), electro-optical monitoring, and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) operations.
- Payload Capacity: The baseline model carries up to 150 kg, the BZK-005C combat variant handles 300 kg, and the BZK-005E export variant supports up to 370 kg.
- Endurance and Range: The standard model possesses a flight endurance of up to 40 hours with an operational range of roughly 2,400 kilometers. Certain variants can be fitted with precision-guided missiles and weapons.
- Dimensions: The drone spotted in Nyala features a wingspan of 18.8 to 19 meters, a fuselage length of 10 meters, and a 4.5-meter-wide horizontal stabilizer.
The report added that the RSF has a history of acquiring sophisticated hardware tied to NORINCO. This includes heavy artillery matching the Chinese AH-4 howitzer system, which was spotted near El Fasher in November 2024. The UAE is the only known country operating the AH-4 system, with IGG serving as its primary distributor.
Nyala airport has seen a succession of advanced UAV deployments. Since December 2024, CH-95 Rainbow drones with 12-meter wingspans have been tracked at the site, followed by the appearance of loitering munitions (suicide drones) since May 2025.
Globally, the Chinese military operates over 105 BZK-005 drones, while Mauritania possesses at least eight (including the E variant), and Indonesia operates at least three.
The Yale report emphasized that transferring such hardware to the RSF violates UN Security Council Resolution 1591, which prohibits arms supplies to armed groups in Darfur. HRL called on China—as a permanent Security Council member and the primary producer of the BZK-005—to clarify how the aircraft entered the RSF inventory.
The Toll of Weapons Influx
The report concluded that the emergence of a new, previously undetected foreign weapon system provides further evidence of sustained external support for the RSF. The RSF commander previously acknowledged hiring Colombian mercenaries to oversee the group’s drone operations.
The HRL disclosure comes less than a week after Human Rights Watch (HRW) verified that Colombian mercenaries working for the RSF in Nyala had completed their training and administrative processing at facilities inside the UAE.
The current phase of the war is defined by a sharp escalation in drone warfare targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure by both sides. Between January and April 2026, the warring parties launched 28 drone strikes on public marketplaces and 12 raids on healthcare facilities, alongside repeated strikes on fuel depots and supply routes.
On May 11, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stated that drone strikes killed 880 civilians between January and April 2026, accounting for over 80% of total civilian conflict deaths during that period.