Central Air Command (Pakistan)

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Central Air Command
Air Force Ensign of Pakistan.svg
ActiveJuly 1982 – present
(41 years, 11 months)
CountryFlag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan
AllegianceArmed Forces of Pakistan Flag.svg Pakistan Armed Forces
BranchAir Force Ensign of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan Air Force
TypeRegional Command
Role Air Defence, OCA, Offensive Ground Support, Airlift.
Headquarters PAF Base Mushaf, Sargodha District (1982–2007)
PAF Base Lahore, Lahore District (2007–Present)
Nickname(s)CAC
Motto(s)ضرب کاری
Engagements War On Terror
Operation Sentinel
Operation Swift Retort

The Central Air Command (CAC) is one of six Major Commands in the Pakistan Air Force, reporting to the Air Headquarters at Islamabad. It is the forefront command of the PAF which handles operational activities near the Indian borders in Pakistan's Punjab province. Central Air Command is headquartered at PAF Base Lahore in the provincial capital of Lahore. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

CAC is commanded by a senior PAF officer known as the "Air Officer Commanding" or "AOC", who is of Air Vice Marshal rank. [5] [6]

History

During the Indo-Pakistani wars like the 1965 War and the 1971 War, Indian attacks and invasions were focused towards the central parts of Pakistan. Hence to centralize operations in the theatre, Central Air Command (CAC) was established by the PAF in July 1982. While initially headquartered in the building of Combat Commander's School at PAF Base Sargodha, it was shifted to a new location at the base of the Kirana Hills Site where it stayed for 20 years. In 2007, the command was transferred to it's current location at PAF Base Lahore where it received a new office at the old terminal of the Lahore Airport by November 2018. [1]

Components

The command controls various PAF bases which have squadrons equipped with F-16s, JF-17s, Mirage IIIs, Mirage Vs and Dassault Falcon 20s. It also commands the largest Dassault Mirage fleet in the world. [1] [7] [3]

See also

Published sources

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Khan, Farhat; Hashmi, Qadeer (2024). History of the Pakistan Air Force (2014-2023): The Next Generation Air Force (1st ed.). pp. 268–270. ISBN   978-969-7518-01-2.
  2. Hashmi, Qadeer. The History of the Pakistan Air Force 1999-2013.
  3. 1 2 "Pakistan Air Force Operational Airbases – A Comprehensive Look". Air Power Asia. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  4. "PAF-ORBAT". Scramble.nl. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  5. Khan, Iftikhar A. (8 October 2020). "Squadrons take part in road runway exercise". DAWN.COM.
  6. "Officer Commanding Central Air Command Pakistan Air Force calls on IGP". The Nation. 30 October 2020.
  7. "Pakistan Air Force Order of Battle". GlobalSecurity.org . Retrieved 21 June 2024.