Security forces were able to thwart the terrorist attack on the strategically important Pathankot airbase and contain the well-armed militants in the outer periphery. They, thus, prevented any damage to the critical assets including MIG-21s, MI-35 attack helicopters, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and hi-tech radar installations.
Officials admitted if the terrorists had managed to breach the security cordon, the damage to the airbase would have been huge. Incidentally, this base took part during 1965 and 1971 India-Pakistan wars and crippled offensive from Pakistan air force and army launched from Kasur.
Pathankot has a full-fledged airbase with its own Air Traffic Control(ATC), a network of sophisticated radar network and hi-tech surveillance systems besides UAVS and a squadron(18-20 jets) of MIG-21 Bison fighter jets. Five to six MI-35 attack helicopters are also stationed there besides an operational missile battery and a network of long range air defence guns.
Given the strategic importance of this air base, which falls under IAF’s Western Command, and its proximity to the Pakistan border, the air force station is heavily guarded to prevent any aerial attack or ground assault, officials said. Equipped with an all-weather long runway, the air base can also be converted to enable frontline jets like SU-30s and MIG-29s to take off and land there during hostilities. In professional military terms it means, the Pathankot airbase provides depth if IAF has to enlarge its operations in times of emergency.
located at a tri-junction, Pathankot shares borders with Jammu and Himachal Pradesh and Pakistan which is 30 km away. To enable swift movement of troops to Jammu which also shares international border and line of Control(lOC), the Army also has sizable presence in Pathankot.
An ordnance depot and combat ready troops of 26 Mountain Division are based in Pathankot. In fact, some units of 26 Mountain Division form part of the Mountain Strike Corps. The Army is raising this corps to counter any threat from China and fight a war if need be in the mountains in Arunachal Pradesh in the east and leh and ladakh in the western region.