MISBAR Tracks the Appearance of the Turkish HISAR Air Defense System in Sudan’s Conflict

With the war in Sudan intensifying and the growing reliance on drones and long-range weapons, air defense systems have become a key component of the fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

In recent months, signs have emerged indicating the introduction of advanced military technologies and systems into the conflict, amid increasing foreign support and the expanding use of attack and reconnaissance drones.

Against this backdrop, the RSF announced on May 21 that it had destroyed an air defense system belonging to the Sudanese army in the Omdurman area. In a statement, the group said one of its drones had targeted a Turkish-made HİSAR-A air defense system.

Misbar traced the video published by the RSF on its Telegram channel, matched the system shown in the footage, and geolocated its position in an effort to document its first known appearance in Sudan.

Matching the System

Analysis of the footage showed a single military platform and an operational crew of at least three personnel. A comparison between the object visible in the video and the Turkish HİSAR-A system revealed strong similarities.

The comparison highlighted matching features in the vehicle’s structure, radar configuration, and side-mounted missile launchers, suggesting that the targeted system was indeed a Turkish-made HİSAR-A air defense system.

Ground markings visible in the footage also indicate that the system is mounted on a tracked chassis, consistent with the specifications of the Turkish platform.

Geolocation

The video published by the RSF provided geographic indicators that helped identify the location of the strike. A survey of the area where the system was reportedly destroyed revealed landmarks matching those visible in the footage.

A comparison between the video and Google Maps imagery showed similarities in the adjacent roadway, nearby structures, and tree distribution.

Based on the geolocation analysis, the available indicators suggest that the strike took place in the Rahid Al-Nuba area west of Omdurman, at the coordinates: 14°48'39.14"N, 31°36'16.77"E.

According to maps published by Vista Maps, which tracks territorial control in Sudan, the system’s location—marked by a white circle—lies along the frontline separating areas controlled by the Sudanese army and the RSF in the Rahid Al-Nuba region.

Rahid Al-Nuba is situated along the national Export Road linking Bara and Omdurman and lies less than 20 kilometers west of the capital’s outskirts, giving the deployment location added strategic significance.

The Turkish HİSAR Air Defense System

HİSAR-A is a Turkish short-range, low-altitude air defense system (LAADS) developed domestically by Aselsan and Roketsan. It officially entered mass production in August 2021.

The system is mounted on the Turkish FNSS ACV-30 armored chassis, which provides protection meeting STANAG 4569 Level 4 standards. It carries four vertically launched missiles with 360-degree coverage.

Its guidance system operates in two stages: mid-course guidance relies on an inertial navigation system (INS), while terminal guidance uses an infrared imaging seeker (IIR) to independently track targets until interception.

The system also features a dual-pulse solid-fuel rocket motor and a high-explosive warhead developed by the Turkish research institute TÜBİTAK-SAGE.

According to operational specifications, the baseline version has an interception range exceeding 15 kilometers and can detect fighter aircraft at distances of more than 25 kilometers. It is capable of engaging fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, drones, cruise missiles, and air-to-surface missiles.

HİSAR-A is equipped with an integrated Aselsan MAR three-dimensional radar mounted on the vehicle itself, allowing it to detect, track, and engage targets independently without external support.

According to the manufacturer, serial production began in 2019, while the system officially entered service with the Turkish military in 2021 as part of the country’s multilayered Steel Dome air defense project.

Turkey and the War in Sudan

The Turkish military remains the primary operator of the HİSAR-A system, which entered active service in 2021 as part of Turkey’s Steel Dome layered air defense network.

This appears to be the first documented appearance of the system in Sudan. Neither Turkish nor Sudanese authorities have announced the delivery of HİSAR-A systems to Sudan.

However, given the context of the Sudanese conflict and Turkey’s support for the Sudanese army, the deployment may be linked to efforts aimed at countering drone attacks.

This assessment is supported by Turkey’s previous deployment of HİSAR-A systems in Syria during Operation Spring Shield in March 2020, where they were used to protect Turkish military operations in northern Syria from attacks by Syrian government forces and allied militias.

Turkish media also reported that the same system was deployed at Libya’s Al-Watiya Air Base in 2024, where Turkish forces maintain a presence.

The deployment could reflect an advanced level of military coordination between Ankara and the Sudanese army. HİSAR-A is one of Turkey’s most prominent short-range air defense systems and was specifically designed to intercept drones, helicopters, missiles, and other low-altitude aerial threats.

Read More

Misbar Tracks Turkish Aircraft Near Cyprus During Interception of Global Sumud Flotilla

What Do We Know About the “Sumud Flotilla” That Departed From Turkey Toward Gaza?