SOURCE: AFI
In a striking revelation from the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict, high-resolution satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies, analyzed with advanced edge detection algorithms, has provided compelling evidence of significant damage to Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Base Bholari following Indian precision strikes on May 10, 2025. The imagery, initially shared by NDTV’s Vishnu Som and enhanced by open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysts, indicates the presence of an aircraft—potentially an F-16 or Saab 2000 Erieye AWACS—inside a heavily damaged hangar, marking a critical blow to Pakistan’s air capabilities during Operation Sindoor.
PAF Base Bholari, located in Sindh’s Jamshoro district near Hyderabad, is one of Pakistan’s newest and most strategic airbases, operational since December 2017. Housing No. 19 Squadron with F-16A/B Block-15 ADF fighters, No. 18 Squadron with JF-17 Thunder Block-2 jets, and Saab 2000 Erieye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, Bholari is a linchpin of Pakistan’s Southern Air Command. Its proximity to Karachi and the Arabian Sea makes it vital for both air defense and maritime operations, with suspected nuclear weapon storage adding to its strategic significance.
On May 10, 2025, as part of India’s Operation Sindoor—a retaliatory campaign launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians—the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted coordinated precision strikes on multiple PAF airbases, including Bholari. The strikes, reportedly executed using BrahMos air-launched cruise missiles (ALCMs), targeted key infrastructure to degrade Pakistan’s offensive air and drone capabilities. Satellite imagery from Indian firm KawaSpace and Maxar Technologies confirmed severe damage to a hangar at Bholari, with debris and structural collapse visible near the runway, suggesting a quick-reaction alert (QRA) role for the facility.
The high-resolution Maxar imagery, captured on May 11, 2025, and shared by Vishnu Som of NDTV, provided a clear view of the post-strike damage at Bholari. The images revealed a direct hit on a 50-by-60-meter hangar, with a collapsed roof, scattered debris, and visible blast marks. Pakistani authorities confirmed five PAF personnel, including Squadron Leader Usman Yousaf, were killed in the strike, though they did not specify material losses.
Additional reports on X speculated that a Saab 2000 Erieye, undergoing maintenance at the time of the strike, was the likely target, given the hangar’s size and strategic importance. The loss of an AWACS platform, critical for early warning and command-and-control, would significantly impair Pakistan’s air defense network, especially in the southern sector.
The destruction of a high-value asset at Bholari, whether an F-16 or Saab 2000, represents a major setback for the PAF. The F-16A/B Block-15 ADFs, acquired from Jordan, are among Pakistan’s most capable fighters, equipped for air defense and precision strikes. The Saab 2000 Erieye, with its advanced Erieye radar, provides long-range surveillance and coordination, making it a force multiplier in contested airspace. Losing either platform would weaken Pakistan’s ability to counter India’s numerically superior air force, which operates advanced platforms like the Rafale, Su-30MKI, and S-400 air defense systems.
The strike’s precision, likely delivered by the BrahMos ALCM, highlights India’s technological edge in missile guidance and targeting. The BrahMos, with its 290-km range and Mach 2.8 speed, is designed to penetrate hardened structures, making it ideal for targeting QRA hangars and critical infrastructure. The IAF’s ability to strike deep inside Pakistani territory, approximately 200 km from the international border, demonstrates its operational reach and intelligence capabilities, possibly supported by indigenous satellites like ISRO’s RISAT and Cartosat.
The attack also exposed vulnerabilities in Pakistan’s air defense network. Satellite imagery confirmed the destruction of three AN/TPS-77 radars, recently acquired from Lockheed Martin, at other PAF bases, further blinding Pakistan’s early warning capabilities. The failure to detect or intercept incoming BrahMos missiles at Bholari suggests gaps in Pakistan’s radar coverage and counter-missile defenses, potentially exacerbated by India’s use of stealthy AkashTeer drones to jam or bypass Pakistani sensors.
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