List of Pakistan Air Force squadrons

Last updated

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.

Contents

Aerial Refueling Squadrons

SquadronNicknameRoleCommandWingDate EstablishedBaseAircraftNotes
No. 10 SquadronBullsMulti-role Tanker TransportAir Defence Command35 Composite Air Transport Wing15 August 1959 PAF Base Nur Khan Il-78MP [1]

Aerobatics Display Squadrons

SquadronNicknameRoleCommandWingDate EstablishedBaseAircraftNotes
PAF Formation Aerobatics Team SherdilsAerobatics DisplayAir Defence CommandCollege of Flying Training17 August 1972 PAF Academy Asghar Khan K-8P

Airborne Early Warning Squadrons

SquadronNicknameRoleCommandWingDate EstablishedBaseAircraftNotes
No. 3 SquadronAngelsAEW&CNorthern Air Command33 Tactical Wing1 July 1957 PAF Base Minhas Saab 2000 Erieye [2]
No. 4 SquadronKarakoram EaglesAEW&CSouthern Air Command32 TA Wing15 August 1959 PAF Base Masroor ZDK-03 [3] [4]
No. 53 Squadron HawksAEW&CSouthern Air Command41 Tactical Wing1 July 2021 PAF Base Bholari Saab 2000 Erieye

Combat Squadrons

SquadronNicknameRoleCommandWingDate EstablishedBaseAircraftNotes
No. 2 Squadron MinhasiansMulti-roleSouthern Air Command39 Tactical Wing15 April 1956 PAF Base Masroor JF-17A [3] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]
No. 5 Squadron FalconsMulti-roleSouthern Air Command39 Tactical Wing15 August 1947 PAF Base Shahbaz F-16C/D Block 52+ [3] [10]
No. 7 Squadron BanditsTactical AttackSouthern Air Command32 TA WingJune 1960 PAF Base Masroor Mirage III ROSE I
No. 8 Squadron HaidersTactical AttackSouthern Air Command32 TA Wing11 May 1960 PAF Base Masroor JF-17C Block lll [11]
No. 9 Squadron GriffinsMulti-role Central Air Command 38 MR Wing3 January 1944 PAF Base Mushaf F-16AM/BM [3] [12]
No. 11 Squadron ArrowsMulti-roleSouthern Air Command39 Tactical Wing1 January 1949 PAF Base Shahbaz F-16 AM/BM [13]
No. 14 Squadron Tail ChoppersAir SuperiorityCentral Air Command34 TA Wing1 November 1948 PAF Base Rafiqui JF-17A [14] [8] [9]
No. 15 Squadron CobrasMulti-roleNorthern Air Command33 TA Wing5 June 1955 PAF Base Minhas J-10C [3] [15]
No. 16 Squadron Black PanthersMulti-roleNorthern Air Command33 Tactical WingApril 1957 PAF Base Minhas JF-17C Block lll [16] [17]
No. 17 Squadron TigersAir SuperiorityNorthern Air Command36 TA Wing1 April 1957 PAF Base Peshawar F-7PG [3] [18]
No. 25 Squadron EaglesTactical AttackCentral Air Command34 TA WingJanuary 1966 PAF Base Rafiqui Mirage 5 ROSE II [3] [19] [20]
No. 26 Squadron Black SpidersMulti-roleNorthern Air Command36 TA Wing30 August 1967 PAF Base Peshawar JF-17A [21] [22]
No. 27 Squadron ZarrarsTactical AttackCentral Air Command34 TA WingApril 2007 PAF Base Rafiqui Mirage 5 ROSE III [23]
No. 28 Squadron PhoenixesMulti-roleWestern Air Command31 AS Wing28 February 2018 PAF Base Samungli JF-17A [24] [25]
No. 50 SquadronSaf ShikanTactical AttackCentral Air Command34 TA Wing16 December 2021 PAF Base Rafiqui Mirage 5PA [26]

Combat Commanders' School Squadrons

SquadronNicknameRoleCommandWingDate EstablishedBaseAircraftNotes
CCS F-16 Squadron (No. 29 Squadron)AggressorsAdvanced Air Combat Tactics Development & TrainingCentral Air CommandPAF Airpower Centre of Excellence16 July 1988 PAF Base Mushaf F-16A/B MLU [27] [28] [29]
CCS JF-17 SquadronFierce DragonsAdvanced Air Combat Tactics Development & TrainingCentral Air CommandPAF Airpower Centre of Excellence26 January 2015 PAF Base Mushaf JF-17A/B [30] [31] [32] [28]
CCS Mirage SquadronSky BoltsAdvanced Air Combat Tactics Development & TrainingCentral Air CommandPAF Airpower Centre of Excellence5 May 1976 PAF Base Mushaf Dassault Mirage IIIEA, Dassault Mirage 5PA [27] [28]
CCS F-7PG Squadron (No. 23 Squadron)TalonsAdvanced Air Combat Tactics Development & TrainingCentral Air CommandPAF Airpower Centre of Excellence16 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

SquadronNicknameRoleCommandWingDate EstablishedBaseAircraftNotes
No. 24 Squadron BlindersEWCentral Air Command38 MR WingDecember 1962 PAF Base Mushaf Falcon 20

Search and Rescue Squadrons

SquadronNicknameRoleCommandWingDate EstablishedBaseAircraftNotes
No. 81 SquadronKangaroosSARNorthern Air Command36 TA Wing1965 PAF Base Peshawar Alouette III [33]
No. 82 SquadronStallionsCombat SupportCentral Air Command38 MR Wing1967 PAF Base Mushaf AW139 [33]
No. 83 SquadronKitesSARCentral Air Command34 TA Wing1972 PAF Base Rafiqui Alouette III [33]
No. 84 SquadronDolphinsCombat SupportSouthern Air Command32 TA Wing1968 PAF Base Masroor AW139

Mi-171Sh

[33]
No. 85 SquadronSavioursSARSouthern Air Command31 AS Wing12 March 1968 PAF Base Samungli Alouette III [33]
No. 86 SquadronAbabeelSARNorthern Air Command37 Combat Training WingOctober 1983 PAF Base M. M. Alam Alouette III [33]
No. 87 SquadronDragonfliesSARNorthern Air Command33 Tactical WingJuly 1997 PAF Base Minhas Alouette III

Mi-171Sh

No. 88 SquadronRamsCombat SupportSouthern Air Command39 Tactical Wing PAF Base Shahbaz AW139 [34]

Training Squadrons

SquadronNicknameRoleCommandWingDate EstablishedBaseAircraftNotes
No. 1 SquadronRahbers Fighter Conversion Unit Northern Air Command37 Combat Training Wing28 April 1975 PAF Base M. M. Alam K-8P [35]
No. 18 SquadronSharp ShootersOperational ConversionSouthern Air Command41 Tactical Wing1 February 1958 PAF Base Bholari JF-17A

JF-17B

[36] [37]
No. 19 SquadronSherdilsOperational ConversionSouthern Air Command41 Tactical Wing1 February 1958 PAF Base Bholari F-16 ADF [38]
No. 20 SquadronCheetahsOperational ConversionNorthern Air Command37 Combat Training WingMarch 1956 PAF Base M. M. Alam F-7PG
No. 22 SquadronGhazisOperational ConversionSouthern Air Command32 TA WingJune 1984 PAF Base Masroor Mirage IIIEL/DL [39]
1 PFT SquadronPrimary TrainingAir Defence CommandPrimary Flying Training Wing1947 PAF Academy Asghar Khan Mushshak
2 PFT SquadronPrimary TrainingAir Defence CommandPrimary Flying Training Wing1947 PAF Academy Asghar Khan Mushshak
1 BFT SquadronBasic TrainingAir Defence CommandBasic Flying Training WingJuly 1974 PAF Academy Asghar Khan T-37B/C
2 BFT SquadronBasic TrainingAir Defence CommandBasic Flying Training WingJuly 1974 PAF Academy Asghar Khan T-37B/C
1 AJT SquadronAdvanced TrainingAir Defence CommandAdvanced Jet Training Wing1994 PAF Academy Asghar Khan K-8P
Flying Instructors SchoolInstructor TrainingAir Defence Command College of Flying Training 15 April 1952 PAF Academy Asghar Khan T-37 [40]
Helicopter Flying Training SchoolHelicopter ConversionNorthern Air Command36 TA Wing1995 PAF Base Peshawar Alouette III [41]
Shooter SquadronLIFTNorthern Air Command37 Combat Training Wing11 December 2017 PAF Base M. M. Alam F-7P [42]
Transport Conversion SchoolTransport ConversionAir Defence Command35 Composite Air Transport WingApril 1975 PAF Base Nur Khan C-130 [43]

Transport Squadrons

SquadronNicknameRoleCommandWingDate EstablishedBaseAircraftNotes
No. 6 Squadron AntelopesAir TransportAir Defence Command35 Composite Air Transport Wing1 December 1942 PAF Base Nur Khan C-130B/E/L-100 [44]
No. 12 SquadronGlobe TrottersVIP TransportAir Defence Command35 Composite Air Transport WingMarch 1950 PAF Base Nur Khan GIV-SP

Citation Excel

[45] [46]
No. 21 SquadronBurraqsAir TransportSouthern Air Command40 Air Mobility Wing15 November 2006 PAF Base Faisal C-130E

Saab 2000

[47] [48]
No. 41 SquadronAlbatrossVIP Light CommunicationAir Defence Command35 Composite Air Transport WingJune 1966 PAF Base Nur Khan Phenom 100

Y-12II

No. 52 SquadronMarkhorsAir TransportAir Defence Command35 Composite Air Transport Wing14 March 2020 PAF Base Nur Khan CN-235-220 [49]

See also

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References

Footnotes

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