Recent satellite imagery from Pakistan’s Bholari Airbase shows that repair efforts are ongoing at a hangar severely damaged during Indian airstrikes in May, identified as part of Operation Sindoor. The imagery, taken in early June 2025, reveals that the hangar’s damaged roof is now covered with tarpaulin, suggesting that initial restoration activities are in progress.
The hangar in question is believed to house a Saab 2000 Airborne Early Warning and Control System aircraft. It was targeted in a coordinated strike by the Indian Air Force, which aimed at key military assets across Pakistan. This operation, marked by the deployment of Rafale jets utilizing SCALP cruise missiles and AASM Hammer munitions, left a substantial hole, approximately 60 feet wide, in the hangar’s roof and reportedly resulted in the deaths of five personnel from the Pakistan Air Force.
Operation Sindoor was executed in response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, with the objective of dismantling networks that Islamabad allegedly supports. The strikes were not limited to Bholari; six airbases, including Mushaf, Nur Khan, and Sargodha, alongside various terror training camps, were also targeted. Before-and-after images released by Indian authorities confirmed significant damage, including the destruction of air defense radars, ammunition depots, and command centers.
Analysis from commercial satellite firms like Kawa Space and MizazVision has verified the extensive damage documented. Their assessments revealed runway craters, compromised air traffic control facilities, and devastated radar systems across various targeted sites. While prompt repairs allowed for the restoration of the runway at Mushaf Airbase within a day, the ongoing tarpaulin coverage at Bholari indicates that repairs at this location are still in the nascent stages.
The degradation of surveillance assets such as the Saab 2000 could have implications for Pakistan’s air monitoring capabilities, particularly near the Line of Control. Defense experts warn that this vulnerability might affect regional stability, especially if either nation perceives a shift in aerial dominance.
Despite the visual evidence of repair activities, Pakistan has not officially confirmed the work at Bholari. The repair efforts come amidst heightened tensions, and Operation Sindoor has been noted as one of India’s most extensive aerial campaigns since the 1971 war, illustrating a marked escalation in the application of precision air power to address perceived threats from across the border.
