List of active Pakistan Air Force aircraft

Last updated

Below is a list of aircraft currently in active service with the Pakistan Air Force.

Contents

AircraftManufacturerOriginClassRoleIntroducedIn serviceTotalNotes
Combat Aircraft
J-10C Vigorous Dragon CAC China Jet Multirole 11 March 2022 [1] 2020 [2] [3] J-10CE (20 delivered, 16 on order) [2] [3]
JF-17 Thunder PAC, CAC Pakistan / China Jet Multirole 18 February 2010 [4] 152156 [5] JF-17A Block 1 (50)

JF-17A Block 2 (62)

JF-17B Block 2 (26) [6]

JF-17C Block 3 (18 delivered, [lower-alpha 1] 32 on order) [8] [9]

All Block 1 and 2 JF-17s are planned to be upgraded to Block 3 standard.

F-16 Fighting Falcon General Dynamics / Lockheed Martin United States Jet Multirole 15 January 1983 [10] 7585 [11] F-16AM Block 15 MLU (31) [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

F-16BM Block 15 MLU (23) [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

F-16A Block 15 ADF (9) [11] [14]

F-16B Block 15 ADF (4) [11] [14]

F-16C Block 52+ (12) [11] [13] [14]

F-16D Block 52+ (6) [11] [13] [14]

Mirage III Dassault France Jet Multirole 8 March 1968 [16] 87 [17] 135Several variants with extensive Project ROSE upgrades. All Mirage IIIs being replaced by Block 3 JF-17Cs [18] and J-10CEs.
Mirage 5 Dassault France Jet Attack, Reconnaissance 197092 [17] 139Several variants with extensive Project ROSE upgrades. All Mirage 5s being replaced by Block 3 JF-17Cs [18] and J-10CEs.
F-7PG Skybolt CAC China Jet Interceptor 20025360 [19]

All F-7PGs/FT-7PGs being replaced by Block 3 JF-17Cs. [20]

Trainer Aircraft
Karakorum-8 (K-8) [21] Hongdu,
PAC
China / Pakistan Jet Intermediate Jet Trainer 19946060K-8 (12)

K-8P (48)

T-37 Tweet Cessna United States Jet Basic Jet Trainer 19626973T-37B/C. 20 refurbished ex-USAF T-37 delivered by end of 2008 to replace older T-37 or provide parts. [22] T-37 to be eventually replaced with K-8P. On 28 October 2015, the Turkish Air Force transferred 34 T-37Cs to the PAF, including spares.
MFI-17 Mushshak PAC Pakistan / Sweden Turboprop Primary Trainer 1974145151MFI-17 Mushshak (115)

Super Mushshak (30)

Some MFI-17 Mushshaks to be upgraded to Super Mushshak standard. [23]

Strategic Airlift & Aerial Refueling Aircraft
Il-78 Ilyushin Russia Jet Strategic Airlift Transporter/Aerial Refueler 200944Il-78MP. Dual-role aerial refeulers and freighters. Ex-Ukrainian Air Force. [24] [25] [26] [27] [28]
Transport Aircraft
C-130 Hercules Lockheed Martin United States Turboprop Tactical Airlift Transporter196323 [29] [17] [30] 25C-130B (5)

C-130E (7)

C-130H (13)

All C-130s overhauled and upgraded by PAC. [31]

PAF had ordered 7 ex-Belgian Air Component refurbished C-130H aircraft in 2019. [32] [30] By June 2023, it had inducted all 7 aircraft into its fleet. [29]

Saab 2000 Saab Sweden Turboprop Transport, Training 20087 [33] 7Also used to train aircrew for the Saab 2000 Erieye AEW&C. Delivered in December 2008.
Y-12 Harbin China Turboprop Utility 19932 [33] 2Y-12II
Airbus A319 Airbus France Jet MultiroleJuly 202211A319-112 [33] [34] Previously operated by Avion Express (Lithuania).
Global 6000 Bombardier Canada Jet VIP Transport202211 [35] May be converted to EW, ESM, ECM platform in future. [36]
Citation V Cessna United States Jet VIP Transport11 [37]
Gulfstream IV Gulfstream United States Jet VIP Transport200422Gulfstream IV-SP [38] and Gulfstream IV G-450 [39]
Phenom 100 Embraer Brazil Jet VIP Transport200944 [40] [41] [42]
Airborne Early Warning & Control Aircraft
Saab 2000 Erieye [43] Saab Sweden Turboprop AEW&C 2011910Saab 2000 equipped with the Saab Erieye AEW&C system. Three aircraft were damaged after Minhas airbase attack, of which two aircraft were repaired at PAC. Fleet restored to four aircraft by 2016 by acquiring an additional aircraft. Three more aircraft delivered in 2019. Two more ordered in 2020 and delivered by 2023. One aircraft lost until date. [44] [45]
Electronic Warfare Aircraft
Falcon DA-20 Dassault France Jet EW, ESM, ECM 19863 [33] 3Modified electronic warfare version of the Dassault Falcon 20 business jet.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Bayraktar Akıncı Baykar Turkey HALE UCAV, UAV Reconnaissance, Strike2023 [46] 11High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) UCAV. 1 delivered in 2023, 6 on order. [47]
Bayraktar TB2 Baykar Turkey MALE UCAV, UAV Reconnaissance, Strike2022 [48] [49] UnknownUnknownMedium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) UCAV. Operationalized in January 2022. [50]
Wing Loong II CAIG China MALE UCAV, UAV Reconnaissance, Strike20205050Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) UCAV. [51]
Shahpar-II GIDS Pakistan MALE UCAV, UAV Reconnaissance, Strike2021UnknownUnknownMedium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) UCAV. [52]
Anka TAI,
NESCOM
Turkey / Pakistan MALE UCAV, UAV Reconnaissance, Strike2021UnknownUnknownMedium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) UCAV. Contract signed between TAI and NESCOM in August 2021 for joint production of Anka UCAVs with technology transfer to Pakistan. [53]
Burraq NESCOM Pakistan UCAV, UAV Reconnaissance, Strike20141313Used jointly with Pakistan Army. [54]
CH-4 Rainbow CASC China UCAV, UAV Reconnaissance, Strike2021 [55] 12-2412-24CH-4A and CH-4B. [56] [55]
Falco Selex ES / PAC Italy / Pakistan UAV Reconnaissance2007 [57] 2626PAF launch customer for Falco UAV in 2007. [57] Manufactured under license at PAC since 2008 with technology transfer to Pakistan. [58]
Shahpar GIDS Pakistan UAV Reconnaissance2012 [59] 66 [60]
Jasoos II SATUMA Pakistan UAV Reconnaissance, Training20104646Bravo+. Primary work horse for UAV Operations and Training Program. [61]
Helicopters
Mi-17 Mil Russia Helicopter Transport, Utility201040[ citation needed ]Mil Mi-17-1 [62] [63]
AW139 AgustaWestland Italy Helicopter SAR, Utility20181414AW139M [64] [65]

See also

Notes

  1. "JF-17C Block 3 (Serial No. 23-318) can be seen participating in an International Air Show indicating that at least 18 aircraft of the Block 3 variant are operational as of 7 February, 2024." [7]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pakistan Air Force</span> Aerial service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces, tasked primarily with the aerial defence of Pakistan, with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Navy when required, and a tertiary role of providing strategic airlift capability to Pakistan. As of 2024, as per the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the PAF has more than 70,000 active-duty personnel. PAF stands as the eight largest Air Force in the world. PAF is the largest Air Force of the Muslim world in terms of aircraft fleet. Its primary mandate and mission is "to provide, in synergy with other inter-services, the most efficient, assured and cost effective aerial defence of Pakistan." Since its establishment in 1947, the PAF has been involved in various combat operations, providing aerial support to the operations and relief efforts of the Pakistani military. Under Article 243, the Constitution of Pakistan appoints the President of Pakistan as the civilian Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), by statute a four-star air officer, is appointed by the President with the consultation and confirmation needed from the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nigerian Air Force</span> Air warfare branch of Nigerias military

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is the air branch of the Nigerian Armed Forces. It is the youngest branch of the Nigerian Armed Forces. It is one of the largest in Africa, consisting of over 18,000 personnel as at 2021 and aircraft including 9 Chengdu F-7s, 11Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jets, three JF-17 Thunder Block II and 12 Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano aircraft, 24 Ameracchi M-346 FAs on order, attack helicopters, armed attack drones, and military transport aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chengdu J-10</span> Chinese multi-role fighter aircraft family

The Chengdu J-10 Vigorous Dragon, is a medium-weight, single-engine, multirole combat aircraft capable of all-weather operations, configured with a delta wing and canard design, with fly-by-wire flight controls, and produced by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF). The J-10 is mainly designed for air-to-air combat, but can also perform strike missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder</span> Chinese/Pakistani multirole fighter

The CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder, or FC-1 Xiaolong, is a lightweight, single-engine, multirole combat aircraft developed jointly by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) of China. It was designed and developed as a fourth-generation replacement for the third-generation A-5C, F-7P/PG, Mirage III, and Mirage V combat aircraft in the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). The JF-17 can be used for multiple roles, including interception, ground attack, anti-ship, and aerial reconnaissance. The Pakistani designation "JF-17" stands for "Joint Fighter-17", with the "Joint Fighter" denoting the joint Pakistani-Chinese development of the aircraft and the "-17" denoting that, in the PAF's vision, it is the successor to the F-16. The Chinese designation "FC-1" stands for "Fighter China-1".

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pakistan Aeronautical Complex</span> Aircraft manufacturing

The Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) is a major defense contractor and an aerospace manufacturer that is headquartered in Kamra, Punjab, Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Project ROSE</span>

Project ROSE was a program by the Pakistan Air Force to upgrade the avionics of its ageing Dassault Mirage III and Mirage 5 fighter jets,. These had originally been built either by Dassault Aviation in France, or by the Government Aircraft Factories (GAF) in Australia. The program, based at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, focused on upgrading the military avionics and onboard computer systems, with equipment supplied variously by Pakistani Margella Electronics, French SAGEM and Italian SELEX consortia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Selex ES Falco</span> Type of aircraft

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Post–World War II air-to-air combat losses</span>

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Project Sabre II was the Pakistan Air Force's program to develop a feasible and low-cost multirole combat jet based on an existing design—the Chengdu F-7 Skybolt, a Chinese variant of the MiG–21. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) initiated Project Sabre II in 1987, hiring the American aerospace firm Grumman, to provide crucial expertise to refine the baseline aircraft design along with specialists from the PAF and the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 26 Squadron PAF</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 16 Squadron PAF</span> Military unit

No. 16 Squadron, nicknamed the Black Panthers, is a multi-role squadron of the Pakistan Air Force's Northern Air Command. It is currently based at Minhas Airbase and operates the PAC JF-17 Thunder multi-role jets.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zaheer Ahmad Babar</span> 16th air chief marshal of Pakistan

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 15 Squadron PAF</span> Military unit

The No. 15 Squadron, nicknamed Cobras, is a tactical attack squadron of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). The Squadron is currently based at PAF Base Minhas in Kamra, Punjab, Pakistan and equipped with Chengdu J-10C multirole fighter jets. The Squadron also carries the honour of achieving the first kill for the PAF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 14 Squadron PAF</span> Air superiority squadron of the Pakistan Air Force

The No. 14 Squadron, nicknamed Tail Choppers, is an air superiority squadron of the Pakistan Air Force's Central Air Command. It is one of PAF's most decorated squadrons which earned its nickname after a daring strike mission on the Kalaikunda Air Force Station during the 1965 War. Currently, the Squadron is deployed at PAF Base Rafiqui and operates the PAC JF-17 Thunder multirole aircraft.

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