490 days: Satellite Images show Brahmos crater at Sargodha reopened for repair

One of Pakistan’s key airbases, PAF Base Mushaf at Sargodha in Punjab, was hit during India’s strikes on May 10 last year. Nearly 490 days later, the scar from what was among India’s hardest strikes on a Pakistani airbase is still not repaired.

Latest satellite images: New satellite imagery reviewed by India Today Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) team shows fresh repair activity at the same section of the airbase that was damaged during Operation Sindoor. The developments were first identified by X user @Deltadoves on Thursday evening based on low resolution imagery, which was subsequently verified by high-resolution capture from space tech firm Vantor. Satellite image ©️2026 Vantor/India Today

What makes the images interesting is the timeline. Within weeks of the strike, the damaged section had been covered with what appeared to be a rough, temporary patch, archival satellite imagery shows. More than a year later, that patch has now been removed. The damaged section has been opened up again, leaving the impact zone wide and clearly visible. Satellite image ©️2026 Vantor/India Today

Why is the base important: For one, the airbase sits barely 15 kilometres from the Kirana Hills, an area that has long drawn scrutiny because of its links to Pakistan’s nuclear programme.

That proximity became particularly significant during Operation Sindoor, when reports emerged about possible strikes near the hills. Months later, in August, former Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan said that one of the loitering munitions used during the operation “may have struck one of the hills in the area”. Sargodha airbase is located near the Kirana Hills, a subcritical Pakistani nuclear-test site

The base hosts the headquarters of Pakistan’s Central Air Command and has long been associated with some of Pakistan's air force frontline fighter squadrons, including F-16s, JF-17s, Mirage-III/5, and F-7P/PG fighter jets. It also has the Combat Commander's School (CCS) dedicated to tactical development and pilot training.

Visual analysis of craters seen during May 2025 strikes suggested that the two impacts had left large craters, patched with rectangle shaped distinct patchworks that extended as wide as approximately 50 feet. Satellite image ©2026 Vantor/India Today

Experts India Today spoke to cited continuity of operations, time to repair and cost among possible reasons behind PAF’s decision to go for patch work instead of full repair. “Rapid runway repair (RRR) is common practice across all air forces to restore air operations as quickly as possible. It takes about 10 to 12 hours”, Group Captain (Dr) D K Pandey (Retd), a Professor at Rashtriya Raksha University told India Today.

Gp Capt Pandey: Resurfacing the runway could cost $8 - $10 million, 30-45 days and affect air operations.

Gp Capt Pandey: Monsoon may have affected the quick-set concrete.

Gp Capt Pandey:  Fully conducive and smooth runway necessary for planned air operations.

Gp Capt Pandey: Flying will not be possible during current resurfacing. Helicopters may conduct a few communication missions.

Gp Capt Pandey: The patchwork is a certification of the efficacy of the IAF’s precision air strikes.

Pakistan Standard Time: India Today’s OSINT team has been tracking how long Pakistan has taken to repair the damage caused by Indian airstrikes during Operation Sindoor.

It initially appeared that the runway at Sargodha was among the first to be repaired, only for the latest imagery to show that the earlier work was temporary. Even after a year and four months, the damaged section is still undergoing repairs, and completing the work could take another month. India Today OSINT Analysis Mushaf, Sargodha — 1 year and 4 months. Repair Underway.

Nur Khan — 6 months. Restored, plus new hangars.

Rahim Yar Khan — 10 months. Crater filled.

Sukkur — 12 months. Cleared; hangar not restored.

Murid — 12+ months. Cleared, not rebuilt.

Bholari — 15 months. One hangar roof.

We don't support landscape mode yet. Please go back to portrait mode for the best experience