Sudan developing unmanned planes: Defense minister
By: Wasil Ali
September 2, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan’s defense minister has revealed yesterday that his country has successfully developed unmanned surveillance planes.
The minister of defense, Lt-Gen Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Hussein told reporters that Sudan is now self sufficient in conventional weapons and is also in the process of developing missiles.
The Sudanese army is a 100,000-member army supported by a small air force and navy. Recently Sudan has signed arm deals with China and Russia to modernize its air force.
Hussein said that Sudan is importing the technology is part of any arms deal his country signs. The top military official said that Sudan’s main military suppliers are Russia, Belarus, Korea, Iran, China, Indonesia and Malaysia.
“We are the number three country in Africa as far as manufacturing military equipments after Egypt and South Africa” he added.
However Hussein gave no details of the tests made on the newly developed weapons or whether they are in operation.
The Sudanese army has been unable to crush a rebellion in the troubled region of Darfur that broke out in 2003. Numerous reports spoke of army defeats and mutiny by its soldiers during the Darfur campaign.
Last April Sudanese military clashed with the Chadian army that left 17 of its soldiers killed and 40 injured. At the time Sudan has vowed a firm response, including possible military action but nothing ensued.
(ST)
Paul Ongee
Sudan developing unmanned planes: Defense minister
Are we kidding with our economic development or the process of developing technological know-how? Is our country one of the “third world” countries or “first world” countries? How do our streets look like? Are all the intersections equipped with traffic lights to control automobiles?
In any case,unmanned planes can be assembled in any part of the country—South, East or West so long as the supply lines can be established and maintained with the countries specialized in manufacturing electronic parts. The question is what is the purpose of declaring it now that we are developing unmanned planned? Is the message directed to the first world? Or we just want to feel proud of our country that soon or later we will go to the moon?