Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya As-Sudaniya - Sudanese Air Force

       Credit:  Roundels of the world


   Unofficial discussions between Sudan and Northrop regarding the possible
   acquisition of Northrop F-5 took already place in 1974, but were blocked by
   the US government due to the pro Soviet Union Sudanese policy.
   The Sudanese AF was supplied with aircrafts in the early '70s by the Soviet
   Union; this changed following a failed coup attempt in July 1976 and the
   expulsion of Soviet military advisors in May 1977.

   Following a first official request for Tigers an US military team visited Karthoum
   in August 1977 but the request was at first rejected by the US government due
   to political reasons. It was finally in 1980 that it agreed to supply 10 Northrop
   F-5E and 2 F-5F for a value of USD 46m on a loan basis, with very favourable
   terms. Out of these only 2 double-seaters (during October 1982) and 2 single-
   seaters (during June 1984) are confirmed to have been delivered.

                  Photo: John A. Sheets
                             Northrop F-5F 201 seen at Buckley ANG on 12-10-82.




















    Photo: Archive The Northrop F-5
    Enthusiast

Northrop F-5E 206 and 208 at Nice on their delivery flight 13-06-84.                                         

The double-seaters enabled in-country training under the supervision of an USAF Mobile Training Team, but aircrafts survived only for a short time the local harsh environment: 1 double-seater crashed 23-06-84 near Juba (either due to a storm or combat operations), 2 single-seaters before October 1985.
The only remaing Northrop F-5F was turned over to Jordan in exchange for ammunition for the Sudanese Army. 

Pro-western attitude changed in 1985 with the political opening to Lybia, bringing military aid from this country, but ending US support and further F-5 deliveries.