Sudan army receives Pakistani armoured vehicles and drones, military sources say
August 6, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese army received Pakistani-made Mohafiz armoured vehicles last month, military sources told Sudan Tribune.
Over the past two years, the Sudanese army has expanded its arsenal through various deals to meet the requirements of its ongoing war against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), sources said.
Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been named in several reports as potential backers of a Pakistani arms deal for the Sudanese Armed Forces, though neither country has commented on the claims.
Military sources stated that the latest shipment included a number of lightweight, fast-moving Mohafiz armoured vehicles produced by Pakistan Ordnance Factories.
Two Sudanese military officers told Sudan Tribune that the army received 100 of the vehicles in successive batches.
The heavy-duty vehicles are suited to the terrain in Kordofan and Darfur, offering high mobility and simple maintenance in the field, the officers said.
The vehicles provide B6/B7 ballistic protection against light and medium arms fire as well as shrapnel, helping protect infantry crews and supply convoys in combat zones.
The army also acquired reconnaissance and attack drones through separate deals, including Pakistani Shahpar models, military sources added.
The Shahpar is a tactical unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Pakistan’s National Defence Complex and the National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM).
The deals included spare parts for K-8 trainer and light attack aircraft, which the Sudanese army already operates. The K-8 was jointly developed by China’s Hongdu Aviation Industry Group and the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex.
The deliveries complement an arsenal that historically relied on a mix of Soviet-era, Russian and domestically produced weapons.
Prior to the acquisitions, the army relied heavily on light armoured vehicles produced or modified locally by the Defence Industries System, such as the Sarsar.
Its air fleet relies on Sukhoi Su-25 jets, MiG fighters and Mil Mi-24 and Mi-17 helicopters, alongside K-8 aircraft and Iranian Mohajer drones.
Military experts say the Mohafiz vehicles provide a tactical counter to the RSF’s reliance on highly mobile, open-top four-wheel-drive pick-up trucks during urban operations and state highway patrols.