SOURCE: AFI
In a significant development that appears to have been missed by most observers, the Indian Air Force (IAF) strike on the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) base in Sukkur not only targeted Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) hangars but also destroyed a critical radar installation. Satellite imagery has now confirmed that the S-band TPS-43J Air Surveillance Radar (ASR), with a range of 450 km, was obliterated during the airstrike, further amplifying the strategic impact of the operation.
Before-and-after satellite images of the Sukkur air base provide clear evidence of the radar’s destruction. The “Before” image, labeled “YLC-8B Radar Seen,” shows the radar installation intact, with its distinct structure and shadow visible. In stark contrast, the “After” image, marked “Radar Destroyed,” reveals the same site reduced to rubble, with significant damage to the surrounding area. This radar, identified as a TPS-43J ASR, was a key asset for the PAF, capable of detecting aircraft and other aerial threats at long ranges, making its destruction a major blow to Pakistan’s air defense network.
The TPS-43J, operating in the S-band frequency, is a mobile air surveillance radar known for its reliability and long-range detection capabilities, extending up to 450 km. Deployed by the PAF to monitor airspace along its eastern border with India, the radar played a crucial role in providing early warning and tracking of incoming threats. Its destruction in the IAF airstrike significantly degrades Pakistan’s ability to maintain situational awareness in the region, leaving a gap in its air defense grid that could take time and resources to restore.
While initial reports of the IAF strike on Sukkur focused on the destruction of UCAV hangars, which likely housed drones used for surveillance and combat operations, the targeting of the radar site adds a new dimension to the operation. The IAF’s ability to simultaneously neutralize both offensive assets (UCAVs) and defensive infrastructure (radar) demonstrates a well-coordinated and intelligence-driven mission aimed at crippling multiple facets of PAF operations in a single strike.
The destruction of the TPS-43J radar has largely gone unnoticed in the broader discourse surrounding the Sukkur strike, with most attention centered on the UCAV hangars. However, the loss of such a radar system has far-reaching implications for Pakistan’s ability to monitor and respond to aerial threats, particularly in a region as strategically sensitive as Sukkur. This oversight by analysts underscores the complexity of modern airstrikes, where secondary targets can have an equally significant impact as primary ones.
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