Putin humiliated as $100m plane shot down by African rebels using Chinese rockets

Rebels in Sudan claimed to have shot down a Russian-made transport plane as it flew over territory under their control. The IL-76 plane belonged to Sudan's Airforce and crashed near the town of Babanusa after coming under fire from the paramilitary group the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The plane was crewed by Russians, according to a pro-Kremlin war blogger "Military Informant". The transporter is used by Sudan's military to move troops, equipment and supplies between bases. It is estimated to cost US$109.8 million (£84.3m), according to the War Zone website.

The rebels are said to have used a a Chinese-made FK-2000 air defence system to shoot down the plane. It is claimed that the system was supplied to the paramilitary group by United Arab Emirates.

Video footage and images shared to social media channels show the remains of the downed aircraft. Part of the fuselage is consumed by a fire, while RSF fighters can be seen inspecting what appears to be remnants of the aircraft's tail section.

Sudan's military has denied the plane was shot down, instead claiming it crashed as a result of a sudden "technical malfunction" in the right wing.

Babanusa sits at a key transportation corridor in West Kordofan. The control of transport routes has been a major factor in the ongoing conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces.

The country has been ravaged by a vicious civil war which erupted in April 2023 due to a power struggle between the leader of the RSF General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and the head of Sudan's army and de-facto president General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

RSF rebels made a major military breakthrough in June, when it seized territory along Sudan's border with Libya and Egypt.

They followed this up with the capture of el-Fasher in late October, meaning they now almost fully control the provinces of Dafur and Kordofan.

RSF troops have been accused of slaughtering tens of thousands of civilians after rampaging through el-Fasher.