Pakistan was left red-faced again as a geo-intelligence expert fact-checked the country after some Pakistani reports claimed that its military struck India's Adampur air base during the four-day military conflict last month.

According to Damien Symon, the report alleged that Pakistan struck the Adampur air base in Punjab and damaged a Sukhoi Su-30 MKI aircraft. However, he shared a satellite image taken in March 2025, two months before the conflict, showing a MiG-29 undergoing maintenance and the dark soot seen near the engine test pad is routine.

Ever since Pakistan suffered massive losses due to Operation Sindoor, launched to avenge the 26 deaths in the Pahalgam terror attack, Islamabad has been running a disinformation campaign to discredit India's strikes. But, all their claims have fallen flat.

Earlier, Pakistan claimed that its missiles from a China-made JF-17 fighter jet destroyed the Russian-made S-400 air defence system, also known as the Sudarshan Chakra, in Adampur. The S-400 played a major role in thwarting Pakistani drones and missiles from hitting its air bases in India.

PM Modi Visited Adampur Air Base

The claim of destroying the S-400 was debunked when Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to the Adampur air base on May 13, three days after the conflict ended, waving at the jawans, with an MiG-29 jet and an intact S-400 clearly visible in the background.

PM Modi's visit to Adampur, home to India's second-largest airbase, came after he sent a strong message to Pakistan, asserting that India had just paused its offensive on terror camps and its military sites.

Circling a random patch of dirt, earlier, the Pakistani military put out what it called a satellite image of a damaged S-400 at the Adampur airbase, proclaiming, "S-400 damaged!!!"

The image lacked any visible signs of destruction, such as craters, debris or any damaged equipment. However, social media was quick to point out Pakistan's fakery even as India debunked its claims.

Importance of Adampur Air Base

Historically, the Adampur air base has played a pivotal role in previous conflicts with Pakistan, most importantly during the 1965 war. Its strategic geographical location, just 100 km from the border, makes it vital for India's northern air defences.

Adampur was also the prime target during the 1965 India-Pakistan war, but it was the only airbase Pakistan could not penetrate. The airbase housed key aircraft like the Su-7 and MiG-21. It also had an important missile and a radar unit.

The first S-400 air defence unit was deployed at the Adampur air base in 2022. Presently, it houses some of the IAF's premier fighter squadrons, including the MiG-29s and Su-30 MKIs.

The Adampur airbase, with its advanced surveillance and radar systems, is critical in securing and safeguarding states like Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and Rajasthan.

Source: India Today.