Celebration broke out in the desert of North Kordofan after Sudanese Armed Forces troops shot down an FH-95, also known as the CH-95, armed drone belonging to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces over Al-Kokaiti on September 24, 2026. Video circulating from the scene shows soldiers in camouflage gathered near the smoldering wreckage, thick black smoke pouring into the sky as they point, film on their phones, and shout in excitement. The FH-95 is a Chinese-made, medium-altitude, long-endurance drone that has become the RSF's go-to weapon for striking deep into government-held territory, capable of flying for well over a day at a time. Taking one down, especially on camera, is treated as a real win by SAF units who have increasingly found themselves on the receiving end of these long-range strikes.

This latest kill fits a clear and growing pattern. Since June 2026, Sudanese forces have repeatedly intercepted RSF-operated FH-95 drones across North Kordofan, hitting them near towns like Bara, El Obeid, and along the critical export road that links the region to the rest of the country. Each success chips away at a costly piece of RSF hardware, drones in this class have been estimated to run into the millions of dollars, while also denying the paramilitary group a key tool for hitting fuel depots, power stations, and other infrastructure far from the front lines. The broader war, which erupted in April 2023 over control of strategic supply routes, shows no sign of slowing, and the fight for the skies over Kordofan has become one of its most closely watched battlegrounds.