Sudan Military Power Ranking 2025

MPR Rank: 74th
MPR SCORE: 426
MPR Index: 0.1581 (1.0000 is perfect)
Reverse MPR Index: 0.7978 (0.0000 is perfect)
Z Score: -0.063 (standard deviations above the mean)

Overview

Sudan ranks 67th in the 2025 Military Power Rankings (MPR). Following years of civil war, military coups, and the ongoing 2023–2024 Sudanese civil conflict, Sudan’s military remains fractured, with control divided between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). A nominal civilian transitional government operates in exile, while rival generals continue to vie for power through ongoing combat in Khartoum, Darfur, and other contested regions. Sudan’s military strength lies in its battle-hardened forces, local firepower, and regional war experience, but its lack of unified command, modern equipment, and logistics significantly impairs its standing. The country’s security apparatus remains deeply unstable, undermined by external interference and internal factionalism.

Strengths

1. Combat Experience from Prolonged Conflicts

Both SAF and RSF forces have developed extensive combat experience through engagements in urban warfare, guerrilla operations, and territorial control, particularly in Darfur, Blue Nile, and South Kordofan.

2. Access to Heavy Equipment Stockpiles

The SAF and RSF both inherited large inventories of armored vehicles, artillery, and combat aircraft from past regimes, giving them significant localized firepower, despite maintenance issues.

3. Regional Recruitment and Tribal Networks

Both factions utilize tribal affiliations, local militias, and cross-border recruitment, allowing them to quickly mobilize fighters and maintain control in rural areas.

4. Foreign Support and External Arms Channels

Elements of both sides have received military supplies, training, and logistical support from foreign backers, including UAE, Egypt, and Libya, though this support remains fragmented and politically controversial.

Why Sudan Is Still Ranked Only 74th

1. Fragmented Military Command

Sudan lacks a centralized national military
Rival forces (SAF and RSF) continue to fight for control
No joint operational doctrine or unified chain of command
Ongoing conflict in urban centers and rural regions weakens military cohesion

2. Obsolete Systems and Logistics Failures

Many weapons and platforms are Soviet-era and poorly maintained
Air Force and naval operations are largely ineffective or non-functional
Logistics infrastructure, including depots and communications, is severely degraded
Dependence on black-market parts and foreign mercenary technicians

3. Lack of Strategic Reach and Cyber Capabilities

No functional missile force, cyber warfare, or electronic surveillance units
Cannot conduct sustained operations beyond national borders
Military actions are largely reactionary and based on short-term gains
No clear national defense strategy or deterrence framework

Conclusion

Sudan’s military environment is defined by chaotic dual-power structures, internal armed conflict, and a near-total breakdown of national military cohesion. While individual units are combat capable and armed with localized firepower, the country has no functional national defense strategy and no unified military authority. In the MPR system—which emphasizes force projection, modernization, and command structure—Sudan ranks 67th, reflecting its current state of disintegration and militarized instability.

Military Strength and Force Projection

Active Military Personnel: 200,000 (IISS 2023)
Reserve Personnel: 100,000 (CIA World Factbook)
Paramilitary Forces: 100,000 (Rapid Support Forces, Border Guards)
Army Personnel: 180,000
Navy Personnel: 10,000
Air Force Personnel: 10,000

Ground Forces

Main Battle Tanks (MBTs): 300+ (T-55, T-72)
Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): 1,000+
Artillery (Towed and Self-Propelled): 600+

Air Force

Combat Aircraft: 40+ (SIPRI 2023)
Helicopters: 50+
Transport Aircraft: 20+

Aircraft Breakdown:

MiG-29 Fighter Jets: 12
Su-25 Attack Jets: 8
Mi-24 Helicopters: 15 (attack helicopters)
An-12 Transport Aircraft: 5

Naval Forces

Submarines: None
Frigates: None
Patrol Vessels: 5

Missile Capabilities

Sudan does not possess advanced missile systems such as ballistic or hypersonic missiles. Its military focuses on conventional ground and air defense capabilities, with limited use of short-range surface-to-air and anti-tank missile systems.

Strategic Partnerships

Sudan has historically received military support and training from countries such as China and Russia, which have provided arms, equipment, and technical assistance. The country’s strategic location near the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa makes it an important player in regional security dynamics, although recent internal instability has complicated its external defense partnerships.

Military History & Combat Experience

Sudan’s military history is dominated by internal conflict, civil war, and counterinsurgency campaigns. Its armed forces have rarely participated in conventional international warfare but have developed extensive combat experience in irregular and hybrid conflict environments.

First Sudanese Civil War (1955–1972): Conflict erupted between the central government and southern rebel forces demanding autonomy. The war lasted 17 years, ending with the Addis Ababa Agreement, but set the foundation for long-term mistrust and militarization.

Second Sudanese Civil War (1983–2005): One of Africa’s longest and bloodiest conflicts, this war pitted the Sudanese Armed Forces against the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). It involved scorched-earth tactics, mass displacement, and ethnic cleansing. It concluded with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and eventual independence of South Sudan.

Darfur Conflict (2003–Present): The government responded to rebel activity in Darfur by arming and deploying the Janjaweed militias, later reorganized as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The campaign included atrocities, drawing international condemnation and ICC indictments. Fighting continues intermittently.

South Kordofan and Blue Nile Conflicts (2011–Present): These areas remained contested after South Sudan’s independence. The SAF has fought prolonged engagements with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM–N), relying heavily on air strikes, artillery, and militia support.

War in Sudan (2023–Present): Open warfare erupted between the SAF and RSF in a power struggle over national control. Urban combat in Khartoum, airstrikes, and militia-driven campaigns across the country have destabilized the state and shattered central authority.

Border Clashes with Ethiopia (2020s): Tensions along the al-Fashaga border have led to periodic firefights and troop deployments, highlighting Sudan’s fragile regional posture amid internal breakdown.

Sudan’s military experience centers on domestic warfare, counterinsurgency, and militia-based operations. While highly experienced in internal repression and irregular fighting, its forces are not optimized for conventional external warfare or multinational operations.

General Information

Demographics and Geography

Population: ~48.1 million (2024 est.)
Population Available for Military Service: ~18.6 million
Geographic Area: 1,861,484 km²
Land Boundaries: 6,751 km
Bordering Countries: Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan
Coastline: 853 km
Climate: Arid desert in north, tropical in south
Terrain: Mostly flat plains; desert and mountains in the east and west
Natural Resources: Petroleum, gold, iron ore, copper, chrome, zinc, natural gas, hydropower
Proven Oil Reserves: ~1.5 billion barrels
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: ~3 trillion cubic feet

Economic Indicators

Defense Budget (2025): ~$1.0 billion USD (estimated, fragmented authority)
Defense Budget as % of GDP: ~2.9%
GDP (PPP): ~$185 billion USD
GDP per Capita (PPP): ~$3,800
External Debt: ~$52 billion USD
Military Expenditure Trend (last 5 years): Increased due to internal conflict and civil war

Military Infrastructure and Readiness

Military Service Obligation: Mandatory for men
Primary Defense Focus: Internal control, civil conflict, border protection
Military Industry Base: State-owned factories for light weapons, small arms, and munitions
Cyber/Electronic Warfare Capability: Basic
Nuclear Warhead Inventory: None (non-nuclear state)
Major Military Districts / Commands: Regional sector commands under Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces (RSF)
Missile Inventory Highlights: Iranian-style rockets, MANPADS, Chinese artillery
Reservist Call-up Readiness / Timeline: Fragmented; militia-based mobilization
Reservist Force Size: ~150,000 including tribal and paramilitary formations

Space, Intelligence, and Strategic Infrastructure

Space or Satellite Programs: None
Military Satellite Inventory: None
Intelligence Infrastructure: General Intelligence Service (GIS), Military Intelligence
Intelligence Sharing Partnerships: Regional only; limited international cooperation
Airports (Total): ~70
Major Military Airports: Khartoum, Port Sudan, Merowe

Naval Power and Maritime Logistics

Merchant Marine Fleet: ~10 vessels
Major Ports: Port Sudan
Naval Infrastructure: Limited; small coastal patrol and logistics boats
Naval Replenishment Capability: Minimal

Domestic Mobility and Infrastructure

Railway Network: ~5,000 km (largely degraded)
Roadways: ~31,000 km

Energy and Fuel Logistics

Oil Production: ~60,000 barrels/day (down from pre-secession highs)
Energy Imports: Imports refined products; exports some crude
Strategic Petroleum Reserves: Limited emergency capacity

Defense Production and Strategic Forces

Domestic Defense Production: Light arms, ammunition, vehicles via MIC (Military Industry Corporation)
Military Installations (Domestic): Spread across major cities, many contested
Military Installations (Overseas): None
Foreign Military Personnel Presence: Wagner Group, limited support from Iran in past
Defense Alliances: None formal; fragmented affiliations with Gulf states and Egypt
Strategic Airlift Capability: An-12, Il-76; small transport fleet
Wartime Industrial Surge Capacity: Low; dependent on militia networks

Research and Industry Support