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Sudan Tribune

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Did the defence industries put the Sudanese army in advanced rank in Africa?

Al-Bashir battle tank

The Al-Bashir battle tank is manufactured in Sudan under license by the MIC (Military Industry Corporation of Sudan) for domestic production. The Type 85-II was developed by the Chinese Defence Company NORINCO.

October 6, 2022 (KHARTOUM) –  The Military Watch Magazine recently confirmed that Sudan has obtained the third largest defence sector on the African continent.

What is the importance of this: The magazine, which tracks the developments of the international security and defence industries, stated that “Sudan emerged during the rule of “Omer al-Bashir” as a leading military industrial power in Africa and was able to reach that advanced classification among the countries of the continent based on the pillar of state-run military industries .”

 

What is the classification based on?

This classification was based on the main battle tank “Al-Bashir”, which is manufactured and produced inside the Military Industries Complex.

This tank appears to be more efficient and powerful than the Ukrainian T-72 tank, as it was crushed and outperformed during battles with the South Sudanese army, describing it as “the most dangerous African-made shield.”

 

Has the Revolution revealed the cover for those industries?

The magazine did not provide a direct answer to the question, but it said: “After the overthrow of the government of former President Omer al-Bashir in April 2019, it is no longer known whether the production of the Bashir tank continues, but the subsequent repercussions witnessed great pressure from Western capitals to strip the Sudanese armed forces of their industrial assets.”

Why should you read between the lines of the Military Watch article because it wanted to guide public opinion through:

  • Suggesting that the uprising that overthrew Al-Bashir’s rule disrupted those industries that pushed the Sudanese army to an advanced position among the African armies.
  • Blaming the Sudanese Revolution for creating a state of fragility and weakness that enabled Western pressure to be put on the Sudanese army with the aim to strip it of its assets.

 

What are the countries interested in penetrating the Sudanese military industries?

  • Sudan has already faced great pressure in order to enable external elements to access military industrialization and know its details.
  • After signing an initial agreement for normalization with Israel, the military rulers allowed Israeli intelligence delegations to enter the Defense Industries Complex to explore the details of Sudan’s cooperation, in earlier times, with some Palestinian resistance factions.

 

What is the civilian government’s vision for military industries?

  • It sought to integrate military companies into the national economy
  • The Defence Industries System agreed to divide the system into two directions.
  • A tendency to develop the defence industries, and a trend to develop the civil industries.
  • Agreeing to establish two councils, an Industrial Development Council headed by the Minister of Industry to supervise the civil industries of the system, and a Finance and Investment Council headed by the Minister of Finance that supervises the transformation of the civil system into public share-holding companies gradually.

Major General Amin Ismail: The Defence Industries Authority is now trying to reconcile the situation in line with the Sudanese economy, especially with regard to civil industries and the commitment to review and pay taxes.

 

Has the defence industries system affected the arrangement of the Sudanese army in Africa?

  • Global Firepower published a ranking of military forces in Africa for the year (2022) and placed the Sudanese army in ninth place among (36) African countries included in the annual defenc2e review.
  • The Sudanese army ranked (73) in the world rankings of armies among (142) of the countries considered in the annual (GFP) review.
  • In the overall ranking of the strength of the combat tank fleet by country, the (GFP) classification, which tracks armored fighting systems on the front lines of each national force, placed the Sudanese Armored Corps, in terms of tank strength, ranked the (40th) globally.
  • Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Nigeria were ahead of Sudan in Africa.

 

Does Sudan have a well-established military manufacturing base?

Sudanese military experts affirm the Sudanese superiority in Africa, and that many Arab and African countries are seeking to enter into a partnership with Sudan to benefit from these great experiences.

  • Major General Amin Ismail: “Sudan has advanced military industrialization and may have come in global and regional measurements in the third place in Africa.”

 

Did the “Al-Bashir tank” crush a Ukrainian tank?

  • During military clashes that erupted between the Sudanese army and the army of the state of South Sudan at the beginning of the year 2012, “Al-Bashir tank” outperformed.
  • Al-Bashir tank has destroyed four T-72AV tanks and seriously damaged two of them, without suffering any losses or serious damage.

Military experts say: “The destruction of some tanks in a battle does not necessarily mean technical superiority, as the efficiency and quality of human crews may have been a determining factor.”

 

What is Al-Bashir tank?

  • It is one of the main battle tanks, and it is based on the Chinese tank (Type 85-2) and later developed into a version (T 96).
  • As a result of the cooperation relations that flourished between China and Sudan, the Sudanese Defenc.e Industries were granted a license to manufacture the Chinese tank locally.
  • The tank carries a 125 mm smooth-bore main gun, supported by an automatic feeding system that allows the operating crew to be reduced to 3 people.

Major General Ismail: The tank was designed with standard specifications, and there are records of its accuracy and flexibility in movement with the height of the track. It was produced in partnership between Sudan and some countries.

 

Achieved facts:

  • The Sudanese army has already jumped to advanced ranks within the measurements of military power in Africa and in the world, according to the relevant classifications in this regard, including the (GFP) classification.
  • Contrary to what was portrayed by (Military Watch) magazine report, the December 2019 revolution was not the entrance to the pressures faced by this sector, but rather the normalization agreement with Israel that posed a real threat of the most dangerous penetration for the Sudanese defence industries.
  • The impetus of the transitional government before its overthrow was represented in seeking correction for the conditions of the army’s companies operating in civilian industries and getting them to work within the national economy.

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Industrial complexes

The Military Industrialization Authority is divided into major

complexes covering different areas as follows:-

Al Shajara Industrial Complex (AIC):-

Founded in 1959 under the name Sharjah Ammunition Factory, it was affiliated to the Military Industrialization Authority and is responsible for manufacturing a wide range of small arms ammunition.

 

Yarmouk Industrial Complex:-

It was established in 1994 and opened in 1996, and is responsible for processing and manufacturing dual-use products covering construction, transportation and manufacturing industries in the Soba section of Khartoum, and it is managed by the National Intelligence and Security Service.

 

Martyr Ibrahim Shams-El Din Complex for Heavy Industries:-

It was established in 2002 in the industrial city of GIAD. This complex is responsible for the manufacturing and maintenance of armoured vehicles as well as heavy industrial vehicles.

  • Zarqa Engineering Complex:-

Founded in 1999 and opened in 2004 in Halfaya area in Khartoum North. It is responsible for various electronic and electro-optical devices for the Sudanese army, and it also participates in the Sudanese telecom market through Sudatel.

 

  • Safat Aviation Complex (SAC):-

Al-Safat Complex was established in 2005, and it is responsible for supporting the Sudanese Air Force and maintaining the capabilities of the Sudanese military aviation.

 

Production

The Military Industrialization Authority has announced a wide range of products that appear to be versions of equipment that were originally supplied to Sudan or licensed by China, Russia and other countries, and armoured vehicles are assembled and produced at the Martyr Ibrahim Shams El-Din Complex in Khartoum.