Adampur air base: Indian Air Force's frontline guardian

Watch how Adampur Air Base, just 100 km from the Pakistan border, remains central to India’s air defence strategy.

Transcript

00:00The Adampur Air Base remains the Indian Air Force's frontline guardian.

00:04Just 100km from the Pakistani border, the Indian Air Force's second largest airbase

00:09is a testament to valour, tactical warfare and sheer grit.

00:12When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the critical frontline airbase on 13th May 2025,

00:18it was more than just a morale-boosting exercise.

00:20The visit was a statement, a sharp swipe at Pakistan's disinformation campaign.

00:25At the peak of the fiercest military standoff since the Kargir War on May 10, 2025,

00:31Pakistan claimed that it had destroyed India's S-400 Sudarshan Chakra at the airbase.

00:35However, on 13th May, PM Modi gave a fact-check to this propaganda

00:39as he addressed airmen with S-400 and MiG-29 in the background.

00:44The string of images posted by Prime Minister also showed no damage or impact

00:49on the vital airbase and its runway.

00:51The strong statement from this airbase once again showcased the strategic importance of Adampur.

00:57Developed from an airstrip, Adampur Air Base is located between Jalandhar and Hoshyarpur.

01:01Now working as a fully operational airbase, it is the second largest airbase of the Indian Air Force.

01:06The 75-year-old airbase has been on the radar of Pakistan since the time of independence.

01:11Beats 1965, 1971 or the Kargil War,

01:15Pakistani forces have repeatedly attempted to penetrate the security of Adampur and fail.

01:20On May 9 and May 10, Pakistani forces launched around 6 missiles targeting Adampur,

01:26all of which were successfully intercepted just 7km from the airbase.

01:30But this wasn't the first time that Adampur found itself on the frontlines.

01:35Back in 1971, when Pakistan had crippled almost all major airbases across northern and western India,

01:42Adampur remained the sole operational airbase, a critical lifeline for the Indian Air Force.

01:46At the time, the base was home to frontline aircraft like the Su-7 and MiG-21,

01:52along with a vital missile and a radar unit.

01:55The first S-400 air defence unit was deployed at the Adampur Air Base in 2022.

02:00Presently, it houses some of the IAF's premier fighter squadrons,

02:03including the MiG-29s and the Su-30 MKIs.

02:06The Adampur Air Base, with its advanced surveillance and radar systems,

02:11is also critical in securing and safeguarding states like Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan.