List of active Pakistan Air Force aircraft

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

Contents

List

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] 156161 [5] JF-17A Block 1 (50)

JF-17A Block 2 (62)

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

JF-17C Block 3 (23 delivered, [lower-alpha 1] 27 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 FranceJet 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 ChinaJet 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 / PakistanJet Intermediate Jet Trainer 19946060K-8 (12)

K-8P (48)

T-37 Tweet Cessna United StatesJet 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 JetStrategic 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 FranceJetMultiroleJuly 202211A319-112 [33] [34] Previously operated by Avion Express (Lithuania).
Global 6000 Bombardier Canada JetVIP Transport202211 [35] May be converted to EW, ESM, ECM platform in future. [36]
Citation V Cessna United StatesJetVIP Transport11 [37]
Gulfstream IV Gulfstream United StatesJetVIP Transport200422Gulfstream IV-SP [38] and Gulfstream IV G-450 [39]
Phenom 100 Embraer Brazil JetVIP 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 FranceJet 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, UAVReconnaissance, Strike2023 [46] 22High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) UCAV. 1 delivered in 2023, 1 delivered in 2024, 5 on order. [47]
Bayraktar TB2 Baykar Turkey MALE UCAV, UAVReconnaissance, Strike2022 [48] [49] UnknownUnknownMedium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) UCAV. Operationalized in January 2022. [50]
Wing Loong II CAIG China MALE UCAV, UAVReconnaissance, Strike202133Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) UCAV. 3 Inducted in PAF in June 2021. Operationalized with No. 63 Combat UAS Squadron at PAF Base M.M. Alam. [51]
Shahpar-II GIDS Pakistan MALE UCAV, UAVReconnaissance, Strike2021UnknownUnknownMedium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) UCAV. [52]
Anka TAI,
NESCOM 		Turkey / Pakistan MALE UCAV, UAVReconnaissance, 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, UAVReconnaissance, Strike20141313Used jointly with Pakistan Army. [54]
CH-4 Rainbow CASC China UCAV, UAVReconnaissance, Strike2021 [55] 12-2412-24CH-4A and CH-4B. [56] [55]
Falco Selex ES / PAC Italy / PakistanUAVReconnaissance2007 [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 PakistanUAVReconnaissance2012 [59] 66 [60]
Jasoos II SATUMA PakistanUAVReconnaissance, 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. 23-323) can be seen in flight on an operational mission in the video indicating that at least 23 aircraft of the Block 3 variant are operational as of 11 July, 2024." [7]

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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">Dassault nEUROn</span> Experimental unmanned combat aerial vehicle

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

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

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erieye</span> Airborne Early Warning and Control System used on a variety of aircraft platforms

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

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PAF Base Murid, is an operational flying base of the Pakistan Air Force located near the village of Murid in the Chakwal District of Punjab. It houses the UCAV and UAV fleet of the PAF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PAF Base Minhas</span> PAF Airbase located at Attock District, Punjab, Pakistan

Pakistan Air Force Base, Minhas is a PAF Airbase located at Attock District, Punjab, Pakistan. It was named in the honour of Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas, who was awarded the Nishan-e-Haider for valor in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Pakistan Aeronautical Complex is located in Minhas Airbase which manufactures aircraft like CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder, PAC MFI-17 Mushshak, Hongdu JL-8. It also rebuilds aircraft like the Dassault Mirage and Chengdu F-7. Currently, PAF Base Minhas is equipped with JF-17 aircraft operated by No.16 Squadron also called "Black Panthers".

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

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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> Pakistani air force unit

The No. 26 Squadron, nicknamed the Black Spiders, is a multi-role squadron of the Pakistan Air Force's Northern Air Command. It is currently based at Peshawar Airbase and operates the PAC JF-17 Thunder multirole fighter jets.

<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.

Air Marshal Arshad Mahmood Malik was a 3 Star retired officer in the Pakistan Air Force and the Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan International Airlines from 2019 to 2022.

<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.

References

  1. ↑ "Pakistan inducts China-made J-10C fighter jets into PAF". The Hindu. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Pakistan acquires squadron of elite J-10C fighter: Reports". 30 December 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Defense World".
  4. ↑ "First Squadron of JF-17 Thunder inducted in PAF". pk.china-embassy.gov.cn.
  5. ↑ "Pakistan Air Force CAS Outlines Next Procurement Steps". 26 May 2019.
  6. ↑ "PAC Kamra rolls out final 14 JF-17B fighters for Pakistan Air Force". www.janes.com.
  7. ↑ "President of Azerbaijan arrived on state visit to Pakistan". 11 July 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  8. ↑ "Pakistan Inducts JF-17 Block 3 Fighter Jets Into Its 'Black Panthers' Squadron After Acquiring 'Cutting-Edge' J-10C". 5 March 2023.
  9. ↑ "Military Watch Magazine".
  10. ↑ "Why does Pakistan Air Force love the F-16?". 11 April 2016.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "F-16 Aircraft Database – Pakistan". www.f-16.ne.
  12. 1 2 "Inside the Combat History of the Pakistani Air Force's F-16 Fleet". 30 September 2021.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "F-16". www.globalsecurity.org.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Billions to Upgrade and Up-arm Pakistans F-16s". www.defenseindustrydaily.com.
  15. 1 2 "F-16.net - the ultimate F-16, F-22, F-35 reference". www.f-16.ne.
  16. ↑ "On this day 55 years ago, the first batch of Mirage aircraft was inducted into Pakistan Air Force". YouTube .
  17. 1 2 3 "World Air Forces 2022" . Flightglobal Insight. 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  18. 1 2 "Thrifty at 50: Pakistan keeps ageing Mirages flying". 29 April 2018.
  19. ↑ "J-7 / F-7 Fighter Aircraft".
  20. ↑ "Pakistan Air Force to replace entire F-7P fleet with JF17 Fighter Jets". 25 January 2019.
  21. ↑ "Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Kamra – Karakoram-8 (K-8) Aircraft". Pac.org.pk. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  22. ↑ Govindasamy, Siva (21 August 2008). "Pakistan to receive more T-37 trainers". Flight International. flightglobal.com. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
  23. ↑ air force | combat aircraft | super lynx | 2004 | 09–2371 | Flight Archive. Flightglobal.com (22 November 2004). Retrieved on 2012-07-01.
  24. ↑ "Ukrainian Firm Signs Contract to Repair Pakistani IL-78 Refueling Aircraft". 17 June 2021.
  25. ↑ Parsons, Gary (21 December 2009). "Pakistan's Midas touch". Keypublishing. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
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  28. ↑ PAF to Acquire Ilyushin Il-78 aircraft by 2010 | Aviation & Air Force News at DefenceTalk. Defencetalk.com (11 August 2009). Retrieved on 2012-07-01.
  29. 1 2 "C-130 aircraft bought from Belgium inducted into PAF fleet". 11 June 2023.
  30. 1 2 "Pakistan to procure Belgian C-130". 2 August 2022.
  31. ↑ "Pakistan Air Force achieves milestone by completing overhaul of 50th C-130".
  32. ↑ "Pakistan increases transport capacity". 2 August 2022.
  33. 1 2 3 4 "World Air Forces 2024" . Flightglobal Insight. 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  34. ↑ "Aviation Photo #7022361: Airbus A319-112 - Pakistan - Air Force".
  35. ↑ "Aviation Photo #7022381: Bombardier Global 6000 (BD-700-1A10) - Pakistan - Air Force".
  36. ↑ "New Aircraft for Pakistan Air Force". 2 January 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  37. ↑ bell | cessna | lockheed jetstar | 2004 | 09–2372 | Flight Archive. Flightglobal.com (22 November 2004). Retrieved on 2012-07-01.
  38. ↑ "Aviation Photo #6744749: Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV Gulfstream IV-SP - Pakistan - Air Force".
  39. ↑ "Aviation Photo #6828151: Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV-X Gulfstream G450 - Pakistan - Air Force".
  40. ↑ Embraer Delivers Phenom 100 To Pakistan's Air Force. aero-news.net (26 March 2009).
  41. ↑ "Embraer makes first foray into Pakistan", Flight International , date published: 31 March 2009
  42. ↑ "Pakistan air force receives first Phenom 100 very light jet". Flightglobal.com (26 March 2009). Retrieved on 2012-07-01.
  43. ↑ "Saab 2000 Erieye AEW&C | Saab".
  44. ↑ "PAKISTAN'S PUSH TO REPLACE LEGACY AIR PLATFORMS". 24 March 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  45. ↑ "Pakistan Boosts Saab 2000 'Erieye' AEW&C Fleet, Nine Aircraft Currently". 29 January 2024. Archived from the original on 30 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  46. ↑ Riyaz ul Khaliq (25 December 2023). "Pakistan Air Force showcases new fleet of Turkish drones".
  47. ↑ Şafak, Yeni. "Game of Drones: Pakistani pilots operating Turkish-made Akıncı UCAVs get shiny new patch | Product News". Yeni Şafak. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  48. ↑ "Pakistan integrating TB2 into air-defence network". Janes.com. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  49. ↑ "Pakistan Operationalises Bayraktar TB-2 MALE UCAV for PAF". 10 January 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  50. ↑ [ bare URL ]
  51. ↑ "China to supply 50 drones to Pakistan for defence purposes". 30 December 2020.
  52. ↑ "Pakistan's Shahpar II UCAV breaks cover | Shephard".
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  55. 1 2 "Lifting The Veil - Pakistan's Chinese UCAVs" . Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  56. ↑ "Pakistan procures CASC Rainbow (CAI HONG) CH-4 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)". 29 January 2021.
  57. 1 2 "First Galileo Avionica Falco UAV set for delivery, launch customer remains undisclosed".
  58. ↑ "Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Kamra – Aircraft Manufacturing Factory". Pac.org.pk. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  59. ↑ "IDEX: Explosion of UAVs at Exhibit | Defense News | defensenews.com". defensenews.com. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
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  61. ↑ Tactical Range UAV – Jasoos II (Bravo+) Archived 10 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine . Satuma.com.pk. Retrieved on 2012-07-01.
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  64. ↑ Air Forces Monthly, Issue 362, May 2018, page 28
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