List of Pakistan Air Force squadrons

The following is a list of all active aircraft squadrons of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), sorted by type. Squadrons are listed by their current names and roles.

This article contains dynamic lists that may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Aerial Refueling Squadrons

Squadron Nickname Role Command Wing Date Established Base Aircraft Notes
No. 10 Squadron Bulls Multi-role Tanker Transport Air Defence Command 35 Composite Air Transport Wing 15 August 1959 PAF Base Nur Khan Il-78MP [1]

Aerobatics Display Squadrons

Squadron Nickname Role Command Wing Date Established Base Aircraft Notes
PAF Formation Aerobatics Team Sherdils Aerobatics Display Air Defence Command College of Flying Training 17 August 1972 PAF Academy Asghar Khan K-8P
PAF Falcons Falcons Aerobatics Display College of Flying Training 1956 - 1966 PAF Base Mauripur F-86 Sabre
Paybills Aerobatics Display 1952 - 1958 PAF Station Drigh Road Supermarine Attacker

Airborne Early Warning Squadrons

Squadron Nickname Role Command Wing Date Established Base Aircraft Notes
No. 3 Squadron Angels AEW&C Northern Air Command 33 Tactical Wing 1 July 1957 PAF Base Minhas Saab 2000 Erieye [2]
No. 4 Squadron Karakoram Eagles AEW&C Southern Air Command 32 TA Wing 15 August 1959 PAF Base Masroor ZDK-03 [3][4]
No. 53 Squadron Hawks AEW&C Southern Air Command 41 Tactical Wing 1 July 2021 PAF Base Bholari Saab 2000 Erieye

Combat Squadrons

Squadron Nickname Role Command Wing Date Established Base Aircraft Notes
No. 2 Squadron Minhasians Multi-role Southern Air Command 39 Tactical Wing 15 April 1956 PAF Base Masroor JF-17A [3][5][6][7][8][9]
No. 5 Squadron Falcons Multi-role Southern Air Command 39 Tactical Wing 15 August 1947 PAF Base Shahbaz F-16C/D Block 52+ [3][10]
No. 7 Squadron Bandits Tactical Attack Southern Air Command 32 TA Wing June 1960 PAF Base Masroor Mirage III ROSE I
No. 8 Squadron Haiders Tactical Attack Southern Air Command 32 TA Wing 11 May 1960 PAF Base Masroor JF-17C Block lll [11]
No. 9 Squadron Griffins Multi-role Central Air Command 38 MR Wing 3 January 1944 PAF Base Mushaf F-16AM/BM [3][12]
No. 11 Squadron Arrows Multi-role Southern Air Command 39 Tactical Wing 1 January 1949 PAF Base Shahbaz F-16 AM/BM [13]
No. 14 Squadron Tail Choppers Air Superiority Central Air Command 34 TA Wing 1 November 1948 PAF Base Rafiqui JF-17A [14][8][9]
No. 15 Squadron Cobras Multi-role Northern Air Command 33 TA Wing 5 June 1955 PAF Base Minhas J-10C [3][15]
No. 16 Squadron Black Panthers Multi-role Northern Air Command 33 Tactical Wing April 1957 PAF Base Minhas JF-17C Block lll[16] [17]
No. 17 Squadron Tigers Air Superiority Northern Air Command 36 TA Wing 1 April 1957 PAF Base Peshawar F-7PG [3][18]
No. 25 Squadron Eagles Tactical Attack Central Air Command 34 TA Wing January 1966 PAF Base Rafiqui Mirage 5 ROSE II [3][19][20]
No. 26 Squadron Black Spiders Multi-role Northern Air Command 36 TA Wing 30 August 1967 PAF Base Peshawar JF-17A [21][22]
No. 27 Squadron Zarrars Tactical Attack Central Air Command 34 TA Wing April 2007 PAF Base Rafiqui Mirage 5 ROSE III [23]
No. 28 Squadron Phoenixes Multi-role Western Air Command 31 AS Wing 28 February 2018 PAF Base Samungli JF-17A [24][25]
No. 50 Squadron Saf Shikan Tactical Attack Central Air Command 34 TA Wing 16 December 2021 PAF Base Rafiqui Mirage 5PA [26]

Combat Commanders' School Squadrons

Main article: Combat Commanders' School
Squadron Nickname Role Command Wing Date Established Base Aircraft Notes
CCS F-16 Squadron (No. 29 Squadron) Aggressors Advanced Air Combat Tactics Development & Training Central Air Command PAF Airpower Centre of Excellence 16 July 1988 PAF Base Mushaf F-16A/B MLU [27][28][29]
CCS JF-17 Squadron Fierce Dragons Advanced Air Combat Tactics Development & Training Central Air Command PAF Airpower Centre of Excellence 26 January 2015 PAF Base Mushaf JF-17A/B [30][31][32][28]
CCS Mirage Squadron Sky Bolts Advanced Air Combat Tactics Development & Training Central Air Command PAF Airpower Centre of Excellence 5 May 1976 PAF Base Mushaf Dassault Mirage IIIEA, Dassault Mirage 5PA [27][28]
CCS F-7PG Squadron (No. 23 Squadron) Talons Advanced Air Combat Tactics Development & Training Central Air Command PAF Airpower Centre of Excellence 16 March 1961 (transferred to CCS from 31 AS Wing (Western Air Command), PAF Base Samungli (Quetta) in February 2023) PAF Base Mushaf F-7PG/FT-7PG

Electronic Warfare Squadrons

Squadron Nickname Role Command Wing Date Established Base Aircraft Notes
No. 24 Squadron Blinders EW Central Air Command 38 MR Wing December 1962 PAF Base Mushaf Falcon 20

Search and Rescue Squadrons

Squadron Nickname Role Command Wing Date Established Base Aircraft Notes
No. 81 Squadron Kangaroos SAR Northern Air Command 36 TA Wing 1965 PAF Base Peshawar Alouette III [33]
No. 82 Squadron Stallions Combat Support Central Air Command 38 MR Wing 1967 PAF Base Mushaf AW139 [33]
No. 83 Squadron Kites SAR Central Air Command 34 TA Wing 1972 PAF Base Rafiqui Alouette III [33]
No. 84 Squadron Dolphins Combat Support Southern Air Command 32 TA Wing 1968 PAF Base Masroor AW139

Mi-171Sh

[33]
No. 85 Squadron Saviours SAR Southern Air Command 31 AS Wing 12 March 1968 PAF Base Samungli Alouette III [33]
No. 86 Squadron Ababeel SAR Northern Air Command 37 Combat Training Wing October 1983 PAF Base M. M. Alam Alouette III [33]
No. 87 Squadron Dragonflies SAR Northern Air Command 33 Tactical Wing July 1997 PAF Base Minhas Alouette III

Mi-171Sh

No. 88 Squadron Rams Combat Support Southern Air Command 39 Tactical Wing PAF Base Shahbaz AW139 [34]

Training Squadrons

Squadron Nickname Role Command Wing Date Established Base Aircraft Notes
No. 1 Squadron Rahbers Fighter Conversion Unit Northern Air Command 37 Combat Training Wing 28 April 1975 PAF Base M. M. Alam K-8P [35]
No. 18 Squadron Sharp Shooters Operational Conversion Southern Air Command 41 Tactical Wing 1 February 1958 PAF Base Bholari JF-17A

JF-17B

[36][37]
No. 19 Squadron Sherdils Operational Conversion Southern Air Command 41 Tactical Wing 1 February 1958 PAF Base Bholari F-16 ADF [38]
No. 20 Squadron Cheetahs Operational Conversion Northern Air Command 37 Combat Training Wing March 1956 PAF Base M. M. Alam F-7PG
No. 22 Squadron Ghazis Operational Conversion Southern Air Command 32 TA Wing June 1984 PAF Base Masroor Mirage IIIEL/DL [39]
1 PFT Squadron Primary Training Air Defence Command Primary Flying Training Wing 1947 PAF Academy Asghar Khan Mushshak
2 PFT Squadron Primary Training Air Defence Command Primary Flying Training Wing 1947 PAF Academy Asghar Khan Mushshak
1 BFT Squadron Basic Training Air Defence Command Basic Flying Training Wing July 1974 PAF Academy Asghar Khan T-37B/C
2 BFT Squadron Basic Training Air Defence Command Basic Flying Training Wing July 1974 PAF Academy Asghar Khan T-37B/C
1 AJT Squadron Advanced Training Air Defence Command Advanced Jet Training Wing 1994 PAF Academy Asghar Khan K-8P
Flying Instructors School Instructor Training Air Defence Command College of Flying Training 15 April 1952 PAF Academy Asghar Khan T-37 [40]
Helicopter Flying Training School Helicopter Conversion Northern Air Command 36 TA Wing 1995 PAF Base Peshawar Alouette III [41]
Shooter Squadron LIFT Northern Air Command 37 Combat Training Wing 11 December 2017 PAF Base M. M. Alam F-7P [42]
Transport Conversion School Transport Conversion Air Defence Command 35 Composite Air Transport Wing April 1975 PAF Base Nur Khan C-130 [43]
Advanced Jet Training Squadron PAF Training Air Defence Command 1994 Pakistan Air Force Academy K-8P

Transport Squadrons

Squadron Nickname Role Command Wing Date Established Base Aircraft Notes
No. 6 Squadron Antelopes Air Transport Air Defence Command 35 Composite Air Transport Wing 1 December 1942 PAF Base Nur Khan C-130B/E/L-100 [44]
No. 12 Squadron Burraqs VIP Transport Air Defence Command 35 Composite Air Transport Wing March 1950 PAF Base Nur Khan GIV-SP

Citation Excel

[45][46]
No. 21 Squadron Globe Trotters Air Transport Southern Air Command 40 Air Mobility Wing 15 November 2006 PAF Base Faisal C-130E

Saab 2000

[47][48]
No. 41 Squadron Albatross VIP Light Communication Air Defence Command 35 Composite Air Transport Wing June 1966 PAF Base Nur Khan Phenom 100

Y-12II

No. 52 Squadron Markhors Air Transport Air Defence Command 35 Composite Air Transport Wing 14 March 2020 PAF Base Nur Khan CN-235-220 [49]

Unmanned Squadrons

Squadron Nickname Role Command Wing Date Established Base Aircraft Notes
No. 60 Squadron Pegasus Reconnaissance No. 42 Wing April 2007 PAF Base Murid GIDS Shahpar [50]
No. 61 Squadron Armed reconnaissance No. 42 Wing April 2007 PAF Base Murid NESCOM Burraq, Shahpar-I
No. 62 Squadron Hoopoes ISR & OCU No. 42 Wing September 2003 PAF Base Murid Selex ES Falco
No. 63 Squadron Harriers ISR Northern Air Command 10 August 2021 PAF Base MM Alam CAIG Wing Loong II
No. 64 Squadron ISO Northern Air Command No. 42 Wing March 2022 PAF Base Murid Bayraktar TB2
No. 65 Squadron Knights Multi-role No. 42 Wing March 2023 PAF Base Murid Bayraktar Akinci

See also

References

Footnotes

  1. ^ Warnes, Alan (July 2010). "On The Edge". Air Forces Monthly (July 2010). United Kingdom: Key Publishing Limited: 56. Archived from the original on 6 June 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2010. Last year saw the delivery of the first Il-78 Midas air-to-air refueller and also the first Russian aircraft into the inventory – hence the R in front of the serial. The newly established 10 Multi Role Tanker Transport Sqn at Chaklala operates the aircraft, which will be joined by a second example.
  2. ^ Warnes, Alan (July 2010). "On The Edge". Air Forces Monthly (July 2010). United Kingdom: Key Publishing Limited: 59. Archived from the original on 6 June 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2010. After years of trying to acquire a much needed airborne early warning platform, Pakistan's first Saab 2000 Erieye was officially inducted into service, with 13 Squadron, on December 29, 2009. A second example followed in late April and the third and fourth will follow by the end of the year.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Umair Aslam (4 February 2022). "Pakistan Air Force Conducts National Air Defense Exercise". DefenseTalks.com.
  4. ^ "Pakistan Air Force commissions Karakoram Eagle AWACS aircraft". Airforce Technology. 2015-03-01. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  5. ^ "Pakistan's PAF Re-equip Squadron No 2 Minhas With JF-17". Archived from the original on 21 November 2015.
  6. ^ Pike, John. "Squadron". globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 2016-12-29.
  7. ^ Dawn.com, APP (20 August 2015). "44 years ago today: Rashid Minhas takes his plane down for Pakistan". dawn.com. Archived from the original on 10 January 2018.
  8. ^ a b Herk, Hans van (11 November 2020). "Pakistan JF-17 Thunder unit shuffles". www.scramble.nl. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  9. ^ a b "Pakistan JF-17 Thunder unit shuffles". 11 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Pakistan receives last batch of F-16 combat jets". www.f-16.net. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  11. ^ Gp Capt SULTAN M HALI. "B-57 THE INTREPID BOMBER OF PAF". Defence Journal. Archived from the original on 15 May 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  12. ^ "9 sqn "Griffins" (PAF)". www.f-16.net. Archived from the original on 29 June 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
  13. ^ "F-16 Units - PAF 11th squadron". www.f-16.net. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  14. ^ Dawn.com (2017-02-16). "PAF No.14 'Tail choppers' Squadron re-equipped with JF-17 Thunder jets". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  15. ^ "Six China-made J-10C jets inducted into PAF". Dawn. 12 March 2022.
  16. ^ "Pakistan's air Black Panthers received JF-17 Block 3 killers". 2023-03-01. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  17. ^ "JF-17 build-up progresses". 12 April 2011. Archived from the original on 31 December 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  18. ^ "Final Salute to F-6". Archived from the original on 2008-03-26. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
  19. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-12-30. Retrieved 2016-12-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  20. ^ "Fighterpilotuniversity.com". www.fighterpilotuniversity.com. Archived from the original on 2016-12-30.
  21. ^ "No. 26 Squadron PAF Re-Equips with JF-17". Pakistan Air Force Official Website. Archived from the original on 2022-08-26. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  22. ^ Warnes, Alan (July 2011). "JF-17 – Thunder from the East". Air Forces Monthly (#280). Key Publishing: 47–70.
  23. ^ "New Fighter Squadron added to Pakistan Air Force". Article. Islamabad, Pakistan: Pakistan Times. April 2007. Archived from the original on 7 July 2007. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
  24. ^ "PAF remembers creation of JF-17-equipped No 28 MR Squadron". Tribune.pk. 1 March 2022.
  25. ^ "PAF raises new JF-17 squadron at Samungli". geo.tv. Archived from the original on 2018-03-01.
  26. ^ Falcons, P. A. F. (2021-12-15). "Pakistan Air Force has raised a new No. 50 Tactical Squadron 'Saf Shikan". PAF Falcons. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  27. ^ a b Pakistan Air Force, The Story of the Pakistan Air Force 1988-1998: A Battle Against Odds, Islamabad: Shaheen Foundation, 2000 (p. 290)
  28. ^ a b c "Orbats".
  29. ^ "Pakistan tries to flex muscles; Creates PAF's "Aggressor Squadron" along the border with India in the Mushaf area". 20 March 2019.
  30. ^ "Pride of Pakistan JF-17 Thunder inducted into PAF CCS". The Nation. 2015-01-27. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  31. ^ "JF-17 Thunder aircraft inducted in PAF Combat Commanders' School". 26 January 2015.
  32. ^ "JF-17 Thunder inducted in PAF Combat Commanders School | SAMAA".
  33. ^ a b c d e f "No. 81-86 Squadrons of PAF". GlobalSecurity.org.
  34. ^ "PAF's No 88 squadron equipped with Augusta helicopters - Associated Press of Pakistan". Archived from the original on 2018-03-06. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  35. ^ "Re-equipment Ceremony of No 1 FCU, held at PAF Base Mianwali, Islamabad". Pakistan Air Force. Archived from the original on 2012-04-30.
  36. ^ "PAC Kamra rolls out final 14 JF-17B fighters for Pakistan Air Force". Janes.com. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  37. ^ "[image]". encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com.
  38. ^ "Pakistan receives first five F-16s from Jordan". www.f-16.net. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  39. ^ "PAF pays tribute to martyrs, ghazis of 1971 war". 14 December 2021.
  40. ^ "Flying Instructors School (FIS)". www.joinpaf.gov.pk. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  41. ^ "Helicopter Flying Training School". www.joinpaf.gov.pk. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  42. ^ "Air Chief Inaugurates Shooter Squadron at PAF Base MM ALAM". Pakistan Air Force Official Website. 11 December 2017. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  43. ^ "Transport Conversion School". www.joinpaf.gov.pk. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  44. ^ "No. 6 Squadron 75th Anniversary (PAF Events)". Pakistan Air Force Official Website. Archived from the original on 2022-08-26. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  45. ^ "DGPR Pakistan Air Force". Instagram (Press release). 22 August 2021.
  46. ^ Group Captain (R) Husseini & Pakistan Air Force. PAF over the Years (Revised ed.). Directorate of Media Affairs, Pakistan Air Force.
  47. ^ "PAF's cargo ship participates in International Air Tattoo show". Khyber News. 2017-07-13.
  48. ^ Air Cdre (Rtd.) Muhammad Ali & S.Khalil (29 November 2021). "Jinnah's Legacy A Tale of Burraqs'". Second To None. Directorate of Media Affairs Pakistan Air Force. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  49. ^ S.Khalil (13 February 2021). "Markhors:New Beginnings". Second To None. Directorate of Media Affairs Pakistan Air Force. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  50. ^ Khan, Farhat; Hashmi, Qadeer (2024). History of the Pakistan Air Force (2014-2023): The Next Generation Air Force (1st ed.). ISBN 978-969-7518-01-2.