SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
In a stunning revelation, retired Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Air Marshal Masood Akhtar has confirmed that PAF’s Bholari Air Base, a critical military installation in Sindh province, was struck by four BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles on May 10, 2025, as part of India’s Operation Sindoor. The precision strikes, which targeted a hangar at the base, resulted in the destruction of a Saab 2000 Erieye Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft and caused significant casualties among PAF personnel, marking a severe blow to Pakistan’s air defense capabilities.
Bholari Air Base, located near Hyderabad in Sindh’s Jamshoro district, is a cornerstone of the PAF’s Southern Air Command, housing advanced fighter jets like the F-16A/B Block 15 ADF and JF-17 Thunder, as well as the now-damaged Saab 2000 Erieye AWACS. The base, inaugurated in recent years, is strategically positioned to support rapid deployment and maritime operations, making it a vital asset for Pakistan’s defense architecture.
According to Air Marshal Masood Akhtar, who spoke in an interview with Sohrab Barkat Official (You tube Channel), the four BrahMos missiles struck with devastating precision, directly hitting a hangar where the Saab 2000 Erieye AWACS was undergoing maintenance after a sortie. The aircraft, a high-value asset equipped with the Erieye radar system for long-range surveillance and command-and-control, was completely destroyed in the strike. Akhtar also confirmed that Squadron Leader Usman Yousaf, who was inside the hangar at the time, was among the casualties, along with several other PAF personnel. Estimates suggest that at least 52 personnel were working in and around the hangar during the attack, with reports indicating five deaths, including the squadron leader, and numerous injuries.
The destruction of the Saab 2000 Erieye AWACS is a significant setback for the PAF, as the aircraft plays a crucial role in airborne surveillance and coordination, acting as a force multiplier in contested airspace. Its loss, combined with the deaths of trained personnel, including AWACS and F-16 specialists, could impair Pakistan’s situational awareness and air defense operations for years. The incident, dubbed the “Bholari Catastrophe” by some analysts, highlights a tactical error by the PAF, which failed to prioritize the safety of its high-value assets during a period of heightened conflict. Reports suggest the AWACS was grounded for maintenance rather than being hot-refueled and redeployed, leaving it vulnerable to the IAF’s precision strike.
This attack is part of a broader Indian offensive that saw coordinated strikes on at least eight PAF airbases, including Nur Khan, Rafiqui, Murid, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Chunian, Skardu, and Jacobabad, as well as radar sites in Pasrur and Sialkot. India’s Operation Sindoor, launched in response to alleged Pakistani support for terrorism, aimed to degrade Pakistan’s military infrastructure while avoiding civilian casualties. The use of BrahMos missiles, alongside other precision-guided munitions like the HAMMER and SCALP, marks the first confirmed combat deployment of the supersonic cruise missile, showcasing India’s technological edge in missile guidance and targeting.
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