The JF-17 Thunder is developed by PAC (Pakistan Aeronautical Complex) CAC (Chengdu Aircraft Corporation) from China. So far the Pakistan Air Force contracted 135 aircraft of the type. The next generation Block III will see another 50 delivered over the coming years.
Rogier Westerhuis
The mighty F-16C Block 52 blasts off at Antolian Eagle in Turkey.
Dino van Doorn
Begum Nusrat Bhutto/PAF Sukkur (OPSK) | ||||
RWY 14/32 POS 27°43'19"N 068°47'31"E ELEV 196 ft | ||||
Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
PAF Sukkur |
no permanently based aircraft | |||
Jacobabad (OPJA) Shahbaz AB | ||||
RWY 15/33, 15L/33R POS 28°17'03"N 068°26'59"E ELEV 185 ft | ||||
Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
39 (Tactical) Wing |
5(MR)sq No.5 Multi-Role squadron |
F-16C-52 F-16D-52 |
Falcons | |
11(MR)sq No.11 Multi-Role squadron |
F-16A MLU F-16B MLU |
Arrows | ||
88(CS)sq AHTS No.88 Combat Support squadron Advanced Helicopter Training School |
AW139 | Rams | ||
11sq has moved to 39 Wing Shahbaz AB, originating from 38 Wing Mushaf AB. |
Seen on a pre-delivery testflight is AW139 17-004, one of a larger order placed for AW139 helicopters.
Marco Muntz
Karachi/PAF Korangi Creek (--) | ||||
RWY none POS 24°46'56"N 067°08'11"E ELEV 18 ft | ||||
Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
PAF Korangi Creek |
PTTS Pre-trade Training School |
F-6 F-7 Mirage |
||
These are in use as instructional airframes; it is not a flying base. |
Four CN235s are operated since 2004.
Stephan de Bruijn
Masroor (OPMR) | ||||
RWY 04/22, 09/27 POS 24°53'37"N 066°56'24"E ELEV 35 ft | ||||
Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
32 (Tactical Attack) Wing |
2(MR)sq No.2 Multi-Role squadron |
JF-17 (Block II) | (Proud) Minhasians | |
4(EW)sq No.4 Electronic Warfare squadron |
KE-03 | Karakoram Eagles | ||
7(TA)sq No.7 Tactical Attack squadron |
Mirage 3EA Mirage 3DP |
Bandits | ||
8(MR)sq No.8 Multi-Role squadron |
JF-17 (Block III) | Haiders | ||
22(OCU)sq No.22 Operational Conversion Unit squadron |
Mirage 3DP Mirage 5EF Mirage 3EL Mirage 3BE Mirage 3BL |
Ghazis | ||
84(CS)sq No.84 Combat Support squadron |
AW139 Mi-171Sh |
Dolphins | ||
Masroor SF Masroor Station Flight |
MFI-395 | |||
PAF Base Masroor was named after Air Commodore Masroor Hussain, who was killed in an air crash in June 1967 while commanding PAF Mauripur. |
The Pakistan Air Force operates a large fleet of Mirage 3 and 5 aircraft. It is a mixture of freshly produced aircraft and second hand examples from France, Australia, Lebanon and Libya. Around 50 Mirage 3OAs and Mirage 3ODs were bought during the late eighties and are serving the Air Force from Masroor. This one, 90-533, was delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force on 22 February 1966 and operated there as A3-33.
Rogier Westerhuis
Mianwali (OPMI) PAF Base M.M. Alam | ||||
RWY 06L/24R, 06R/24L POS 32°33'47"N 071°34'14"E ELEV 690 ft | ||||
Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
37 (Combat Traning) Wing |
1(FCU)sq No.1 Fighter Conversion Unit squadron |
K-8P | Rahbers | |
20(OCU)sq No.20 Operational Conversion Unit squadron |
F-7PG FT-7PG |
Cheetahs / Eagles | ||
Shooter(LIFT)sq Shooter Lead-In Fighter Training squadron |
F-7P FT-7P |
Shooters | ||
63(UAV)sq No.63 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle squadron |
Wing Loong II (UAS) | Harriers | ||
86(SAR)sq No.86 Search and Rescue squadron |
Alouette 3 | Ababeel | ||
Mianwali SF Mianwali Station Flight |
MFI-395 | |||
PAF Base M.M. Alam was named after legendary fighter pilot Air Commodore (Retd) M M Alam. The new Shooter squadron is tasked with Lead-In Fighter Training whereas 20sq is now the Operational Conversion Unit for F-7 pilots. |
The K-8 Karakorum has become quite a succes after a somewhat slow start. It was co-developed with the Chinese who manufacture it.
Erwin van Dijkman
Minhas (--) Kamra | ||||
RWY 12/30 POS 33°52'13"N 072°24'00"E ELEV 1030 ft | ||||
Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
33 (Tactical) Wing |
3(AEW)sq No.3 Airborne Early Warning Squadron |
Saab 2000 Saab 2000AEW |
Angels | |
15(MR)sq No.15 Multi-Role squadron |
J-10C | Venomous Cobras | ||
16(MR)sq No.16 Multi-Role squadron |
JF-17 JF-17 (Block I, Block II) JF-17 (Block III) JF-17B |
Black Panthers | ||
62(UAV)sq No.62 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle squadron |
Falco (UAS) | |||
87(SAR)sq No.87 Search and Rescue squadron |
Alouette 3 Mi-171Sh |
Dragonflies | ||
1(UAV)Flight No.1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Flight |
Abad Burraq Shahpar |
|||
Minhas SF Minhas Station Flight |
MFI-395 | |||
Ministry of Defence Production |
PAC Kamra Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Kamra |
JF-17 manufacture MFI-395 manufacture Mirage overhaul F-7 overhaul |
||
PAF Base Minhas is named after Flight Officer Rashid Minhas Nishan - i - Haider who laid down his life on 20 August 1971 in a T-33 hijacked by his instructor intending to fly it to India. 15sq is the first J-10 unit, with the Mirages transferring to newly erected 50sq. The UAVs are now operated by their own squadrons and it is unknown if the UAV flight still exsists. |
Falcon 20s are used by two different squadrons. This J-753 is a 24sq Blinders example.
Erwin van Dijkman
Mushaf (OPSR) | ||||
RWY 06/24, 14/32 POS 32°02'55"N 072°39'55"E ELEV 614 ft | ||||
Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
38 (Multi-Role) Wing |
9(MR)sq No.9 Multi-Role squadron |
F-16A MLU F-16B MLU |
Griffins | |
24(EW)sq No.24 Electronic Warfare squadron |
Falcon 20 | Blinders | ||
61(UAV)sq No.61 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle squadron |
Burraq (UAS) | |||
82(CS)sq No.82 Combat Support squadron |
AW139 | Stallions | ||
SATC No.6 Wing of Shaheen Air Training Corps |
Stemme S6T | |||
Mushaf SF Mushaf Station Flight |
MFI-395 | |||
Airpower Center of Excellence (ACE) |
CCS, JF-17 sq Combat Commanders School, JF-7 squadron |
JF-17 (Block-I) | Dashings | |
CCS, 23sq Combat Commanders School, No.23 squadron |
F-7PG FT-7PG |
Talons | ||
CCS, 29sq Combat Commanders School, 29 squadron |
F-16A MLU F-16B MLU |
Agressors | ||
PAF Base Mushaf was named after Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir, Chief of the Air Staff, who was killed in an air crash on 20 February 2003. It used to be known as Sargodha, after the nearby town. The Stemme S6T motorgliders live in the shelters near the threshold of runway 32R. The JF-17 squadron took over the heraldics from the F-7P squadron that was decommissioned in 2021. The former JF-17 CCS, Fierce Dragons, will receive J-10CE. The F-16 flight is now named 29sq and is thought to receive its own F-16s rather than loan them from other squadrons. |
The 38th Wing at Mushaf operates a squadron with F-16A/B MLU. Seen here is a 9sq Griffins F-16B MLU.
Erwin van Dijkman
And 11sq Arrows moved to Shahbaz AB with their MLU F-16s.
Erwin van Dijkman
Nur Khan (OPRN) Islamabad Intl | ||||
RWY 12/30 POS 33°36'60"N 073°05'57"E ELEV 1668 ft | ||||
Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
35 (Composite Air Transport) Wing |
6(ATS)sq No.6 Air Transport squadron |
C-130B C-130E L-100 |
Antelopes | |
10(MRTT)sq No.10 Multi-Role Tanker Transport squadron |
Il-78MP | Buffaloes | ||
12(VIP)sq No.12 Very Important Person Transport squadron |
A319 Beech 350i Ce680A Falcon 20 Global 5000 G-IV/G450 |
Globe Trotters | ||
41(VLC)sq No.41 Very Important Person Light Communication Transport squadron |
Ce172 EMB500 PA-34 PA-46 Y-12 II |
|||
52(ATS)sq No.52 Air Transport squadron |
CN235M-220 | Markhors | ||
TCS Transport Conversion School |
C-130 (on loan) | |||
PAF Base Nur Khan was named after the second Pakistani Commander-in-Chief of PAF, Air Marshal (Retd) Nur Khan. |
Pakistan has a wide variety of staff and VIP transports. Most look quite anonymous as can be seen with this Ce560XL J-754 of the VVIP flight. You can just make out the PAF-shield on the nose.
Jan Gerrits
Visiting Amsterdam/Schiphol for the Nuclear Security Summit was G450 J-756.
Erik Sleutelberg
PAF Bholari (--) | ||||
RWY 04/22 POS 25°14'37"N 068°02'07"E ELEV 198 ft | ||||
Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
41 (Tactical) Wing |
18(OCU)sq No.18 Operational Conversion Unit squadron |
JF-17B | Sharp Shooters | |
19(OCU)sq No.19 Operational Conversion Unit squadron |
F-16A ADF F-16B ADF |
Sherdils | ||
53(AEW)sq No.53 Airborne Early Warning Squadron |
Saab 2000AEW | Hawks | ||
18(OCU)sq has replaced its F-7/FT-7P aircraft with two seat Thunders. |
With well over 300 produced and current export orders under construction, the Mushshak family can be considered a huge succes.
Piet Luijken
PAF Murid (--) | ||||
RWY 14/32, HEL POS 32°54'34"N 072°46'32"E ELEV 1743 ft | ||||
Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
PAF Murid |
60(UAV)sq No.60 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle squadron |
Shahpar I (UAS) | ||
64(UAV)sq No.64 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle squadron |
Bayraktar TB2S (UAS) | |||
65(UAV)sq No.65 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle squadron |
CH-4 (UAS) Wing Loong II (UAS) |
Knights | ||
66(UAV)sq No.66 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle squadron |
Shahpar II (UAS) | |||
Peshawar (OPPS) | ||||
RWY 17/35 POS 33°59'36"N 071°30'52"E ELEV 1180 ft | ||||
Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
36 (Tactical Attack) Wing |
17(AS)sq No.17 Air Superiority squadron |
F-7PG FT-7PG |
Tigers | |
26(MR)sq No.26 Multi-Role squadron |
JF-17 (Block I, Block II) | Black Spiders | ||
81(SAR)sq No.81 Search and Rescue squadron |
Alouette 3 | Kangaroos | ||
HFS Helicopter Flying Training School |
Alouette 3 | |||
Peshawar SF Peshawar Station Flight |
MFI-395 | |||
17sq was at Quetta-Samungli under 31 Wing but moved to Peshawar to make room for a new JF-17 squadron to be based at Quetta-Samungli in 2018. |
To fulfil the air refueling needs the Pakistan Air Force turned to Russia and ordered four Il-78MP aircraft. They have been in service since 2008 with 10(MRTT)sq at Islamabad.
Jim Walg
Quetta/Intl (OPQT) | ||||
RWY 13/31, 13R/31L POS 30°15'05"N 066°56'16"E ELEV 5267 ft | ||||
Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
31 (Air Superiority) Wing |
28(MR)sq No.28 Multi-Role squadron |
JF-17 (Block I, Block II) | Phoenix | |
85(SAR)sq No.85 Search and Rescue squadron |
Alouette 3 | Saviours | ||
Quetta SF Quetta Station Flight |
MFI-395 | |||
Both the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Air Force are operating the Mil Mi-17, seen here is a Mi-171Sh, but with square windows.
Stephan de Bruijn
Rafiqui (OPRQ) | ||||
RWY 15L/33R, 15R/33L POS 30°45'29"N 072°16'57"E ELEV 492 ft | ||||
Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
34 (Tactical Attack) Wing |
14(AS)sq No.14 Air Superiority squadron |
JF-17 (Block II) | Tail Choppers | |
25(TA)sq No.25 Tactical Attack squadron |
Mirage 5EF Mirage 3DP Mirage 5DD |
(Night Strike) Eagles | ||
27(TA)sq No.27 Tactical Attack squadron |
Mirage 5EF Mirage 3DP |
Zarrars | ||
50(TA)sq No.50 Tactical Attack squadron |
Mirage 3DA Mirage 3EA Mirage 5DD Mirage 5DR Mirage 5PA |
Safshikan | ||
83(SAR)sq No.83 Search and Rescue squadron |
Alouette 3 | Kites | ||
PAF Base Rafiqui was named after Sqn Ldr Rafiqui, SJ, who laid down his life in action against IAF during 1965 war. |
Pakistan is a regular customer for Chinese products. The F-7, a MiG-21 derivative, is operated by a number of squadrons and locally known as F-7P. Apart from the F-7P, Pakistan is also operating the F-7PG since 2002 and the FT-7 as shown here.
Rogier Westerhuis
This flightline shot shows some of the 12 single seat and 6 dual seat Block 52 F-16s of PAF. Normally found at Jacobabad, but seen here at Konya.
Ian French
Risalpur (OPRS) PAF Academy Asghar Khan | ||||
RWY 09L/27R, 09R,27L POS 34°04'52"N 071°58'21"E ELEV 1050 ft | ||||
Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
Primary Flying Training Wing |
1(PFT)sq No.1 Primary Flying Training squadron |
MFI-395 | ||
2(PFT)sq No.2 Primary Flying Training squadron |
MFI-395 | |||
Basic Flying Training Wing |
1(BFT)sq No.1 Basic Flying Training squadron |
T-37B T-37C |
||
2(BFT)sq No.2 Basic Flying Training squadron |
T-37B T-37C |
|||
Advanced Jet Training Wing |
1(AJT)sq No.1 Advanced Jet Training squadron |
K-8 | ||
College of Flying Training |
FIS Flying Instructors School |
T-37B | ||
PAF college PAF College of Flying Training |
Scheibe SF-25 Falke | |||
Sherdils PAF Formation Aerobatics Team |
K-8 | Sherdils | ||
38 (Multi-Role) Wing |
SATC No.6 Wing of Shaheen Air Training Corps |
Stemme S6T | ||
The Primary Flying Training Wing, Basic Flying Training Wing and, the Advanced Jet Training Wing, also belong to the College of Flying Training, PAF Academy. |
Risalpur is the cradle from whence many fighter pilots came. The distinctive tweeting sound of the T-37 is very familiar to them.
Erwin van Dijkman
Sharea Faisal (OPSF) PNS Mehran (Karachi) | ||||
RWY 08/26 POS 24°52'29"N 067°07'04"E ELEV 29 ft | ||||
Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
40 (Air Mobility) Wing |
21(ATS)sq No.21 Air Transport squadron |
C-130E Saab 2000 |
Burraqs | |
89(SAR)sq No.89 Search and Rescue squadron |
Mi-171Sh | |||
PAF Base Faisal was named after Shaheed King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. |
Like many other countries in the world Pakistan is operating a fleet of C-130s. It is a mixture of former USAF, Iranian and Australian aircraft.
Erwin van Dijkman
Luckily, we sometimes get to see the Herks in Europe.
Stephan de Bruijn
Skardu/PAF Qadri (OPSD) | ||||
RWY 14/32, 15/33 POS 35°20'05"N 075°32'15"E ELEV 7600 ft | ||||
Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
PAF Qadri |
Permanent deployments | |||
PAF Qadri was upgraded from FOB to MOB in 2021. Units keep a permanent detachment here on rotational basis. |
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