SOURCE: AFI
On May 10, 2025, high-resolution satellite imagery released by OnGeo, a US-based imagery intelligence (IMINT) firm, provided conclusive evidence that the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Adampur Airbase in Punjab sustained no damage during Pakistan’s claimed attacks as part of the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict.
The imagery, capturing the strategically vital airbase, showed that the S-400 Triumf air defense system stationed there, along with other critical assets like runways, hangars, and aircraft, remained unscathed, directly refuting Pakistan’s assertions of having inflicted significant damage. This revelation, coupled with independent analyses and official Indian statements, exposes a concerted disinformation campaign by Pakistan following Operation Sindoor, underscoring the resilience of India’s air defense network.
Located approximately 100 kilometers from the India-Pakistan border, Adampur Airbase, also known as Adampur Air Force Station, is one of the IAF’s most critical installations and the second-largest airbase in India. Situated between Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur in Punjab, it serves as a cornerstone of India’s northern air defenses, covering Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The base hosts elite fighter squadrons, including MiG-29s and Su-30 MKIs, and is equipped with advanced radar systems and the Russian-made S-400 air defense system, deployed there in 2022. Historically, Adampur has been a linchpin in India’s defense strategy, playing pivotal roles in the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars, where it withstood Pakistani assaults and facilitated critical offensive operations.
During the 2025 conflict, Pakistan’s military, through its Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), claimed that its JF-17 Thunder fighter jets and drones had targeted Adampur, specifically alleging the destruction of the S-400 system and other assets during attacks on the night of May 9–10. These claims were amplified by doctored satellite imagery and manipulated visuals circulated on social media, including images from a Chinese firm, Mizar Vision, which falsely depicted damage at the base.
OnGeo’s high-resolution satellite imagery, captured on May 10, 2025, provides a definitive counter to Pakistan’s narrative. The images reveal no visible signs of damage to the S-400 battery, runways, hangars, aircraft, or radar systems at Adampur. Unlike low- or medium-resolution imagery, which may obscure minor details, OnGeo’s high-quality captures clearly show the base’s infrastructure intact, with no craters, debris, or structural damage. The S-400 system, a cornerstone of India’s air defense with its ability to engage multiple aerial threats at ranges up to 400 kilometers, is prominently visible and fully operational, debunking Pakistan’s claim of a successful strike.
Independent geospatial intelligence analyst Damien Symon further corroborated these findings, noting that Pakistan’s circulated images were either pre-dated or digitally altered. For instance, a widely shared image claiming to show a damaged S-400 battery featured black dots simulating craters, which were absent in OnGeo’s unedited imagery. Another image, purportedly showing a destroyed Su-30 MKI, was identified as a MiG-29 undergoing routine maintenance, with a dark patch mistaken for damage revealed to be engine soot from a March 2025 image. These discrepancies highlight Pakistan’s reliance on misinformation to project a false narrative of military success.
The 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, sparked by India’s Operation Sindoor—a retaliatory strike against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir following a terror attack in Pahalgam—saw Pakistan launch a series of drone and missile attacks on 26 Indian airbases and civilian targets, including Adampur, on May 9–10. Pakistan’s “Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos” aimed to cripple IAF infrastructure but was largely thwarted by India’s robust air defenses, particularly the S-400 system, dubbed the “Sudarshan Chakra” by Indian forces. At Adampur, the S-400 successfully intercepted incoming drones and missiles, including CM-400AKG anti-radiation missiles reportedly fired by Pakistani JF-17s targeting the 96L6E Cheese Board radar component of the S-400.
Indian officials, including Colonel Sophia Qureshi, confirmed that Adampur sustained only minor equipment damage, with no casualties or significant impact on operational readiness. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the base on May 13, 2025, further underscored its intact status, with images showing him alongside an undamaged S-400 system and a MiG-29, directly countering Pakistan’s claims. The IAF’s Western Air Command, overseeing Adampur, reported uninterrupted sorties and active radar surveillance, reinforcing the base’s resilience.
The OnGeo imagery aligns with analyses from other sources, including Maxar Technologies and India’s own satellite intelligence, which confirmed no significant damage to Adampur or other targeted IAF bases like Udhampur, Pathankot, Suratgarh, and Sirsa. In contrast, Indian retaliatory strikes during Operation Sindoor inflicted verifiable damage on Pakistani airbases, including Sargodha, Bholari, and Murid, with high-resolution satellite imagery showing craters, destroyed hangars, and debris. For instance, Maxar images revealed a three-meter-wide crater near an underground facility at Murid and significant damage to command-and-control nodes at Nur Khan, highlighting the IAF’s precision and effectiveness.
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