Last Updated:
US sent special teams on Asim Munir’s request but reportedly blocked China from assisting in repairs over concerns of technology theft, particularly related to the F-16s and C-130
A screenshot shared by the Ministry of External Affairs shows missile strikes carried out Indian armed forces on terror targets in Pakistan and PoK under ‘Operation Sindoor’. (Image: @MEAIndia/YouTube/PTI)
From damaged F-16s and Swedish-made AWACS aircraft to shattered radar systems and command centres—India’s Operation Sindoor severely crippled multiple Pakistani Air Force bases in May this year, leaving the country scrambling for urgent repairs, exclusive documents and high-level confirmations accessed by CNN-News18 have revealed.
The revelations of the damage caused by the air strike, which flattened terrorist havens in Pakistan and PoK on May 9-10 in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, fly in the face of the neighbour’s assertion that none of its aircraft were hit or destroyed.
Recommended Stories
CNN-News18 has learnt that the Indian strike damaged critical Pakistani military infrastructure, including a Swedish-made Saab 2000 Erieye AWACS, a Lockheed C-130, and at least four F-16 fighter jets. Several radar systems, command and control units, and air defence installations were also hit in targeted missile strikes across multiple airbases.
One of the most significant hits occurred at PAF Bholari Airbase, where an F-16 jet parked in a hangar was destroyed, resulting in the death of five PAF personnel, including a Squadron Leader and Chief Technician. The AWACS Erieye, also hit at Bholari, was later repaired by US Air Force engineers flown in urgently.
Further damage was reported at:
PAF Shahbaz Air Base (Jacobabad) – Two F-16s destroyed in hangars
Nur Khan Airbase (Rawalpindi) – One F-16 and a C-130 hit in a precision strike
Sarghodha, Rahim Yar Khan, and Mushaf Airbase – Infrastructure like runways, hangars, and communication systems severely damaged.
High-level Pakistani defence sources revealed that $400–$470 million in secret emergency funds were approved in late May for repairs and upgrades. The United States reportedly blocked China from assisting in the repairs over concerns of technology theft, particularly related to the F-16s and C-130 aircraft.
To expedite repairs, the US dispatched special teams from Al-Udeid Airbase (Doha), Al Dhafra (Abu Dhabi), and Bethesda (Maryland) after Field Marshal Asim Munir personally requested help during meetings with US President Donald Trump and retired CENTCOM Chief Michael Kurilla.
Multiple US military flights (C-17s and C-130s) were tracked landing at Nur Khan Airbase between June and September, confirming covert US activity on Pakistani soil. The US support was further acknowledged when Pakistan awarded General Kurilla its highest military honour in July 2025.
While most damage has now been repaired, sources indicate Rahim Yar Khan’s airbase runway remains out of service due to ongoing flooding in South Punjab. PAF is also fast-tracking upgrades with a hybrid American-Chinese satellite-integrated radar system, intended to prevent future vulnerabilities.
The revelation underscores the scale, precision, and aftermath of Operation Sindoor, which inflicted strategic damage to Pakistan’s air capabilities and revealed Islamabad’s growing reliance on US military assistance despite rising Chinese collaboration.
About the Author
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
Islamabad, Pakistan
October 06, 2025, 09:34 IST
Loading comments…
Read More
