Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — Sudan has moved its combat aircraft fleet toward its
southern neighbor, a report said.

The Satellite Sentinel Project asserted that the Sudanese Air Force has
deployed fighter-jets and attack helicopters near the border with South
Sudan.

The Washington-based group, citing commercial satellite imagery, said the Air Force was using two facilities for the service’s fleet of Russian-origin combat aircraft.

“The Sudan Armed Forces have deployed a significantly increased number of combat capable air assets within range of South Sudan’s border and territory,” SSP said in a report titled “Escalation: Evidence of SAF and SPLA Combat Operations.”

The report, dated April 23, identified El Obeid air base and Kadugli air
strip as key Sudanese Air Force assets in the war against South Sudan. SSP reported eight Mi-24 attack helicopters at El Obeid and Kadugli.

El Obeid was also said to contain five MiG-29 fighter-jets as well as
several Su-25 fighter-bombers. The report said Khartoum was using its fleet of Su-25s, with an operational range of 375 kilometers, to attack South Sudan’s Unity State.

SSP said a key target of the Sudanese Air Force was a bridge in Unity
State that connects Bentiu to Rubkona, the headquarters of the 4th Division
of the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army. But imagery from the DigitalGlobe
showed that Su-25 air strikes failed to destroy the bridge.

The London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies reported
that Khartoum was operating 11 Su-25s, 15 Chinese-origin A-5 attack aircraft
and 29 Mi-24 helicopters. The Sudanese Air Force was also believed to
operate at least 10 MiG-29s.

IISS said South Sudan contains 10 helicopters. The only South Sudan
fixed-wing aircraft was identified as the Beech-1900 light transport
aircraft.

  El Obeid, Kadugli, Mi-24s near border with South, MiG-29s, Russian-origin combat aircraft, Su-25s, Sudan deploys fighter jets, Sudanese Air Force, Sudanese People’s Liberation Army, Unity State