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 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.
The CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder, or FC-1 Xiaolong, is a fourth-generation, 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 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".
The Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) is a major defense contractor and an aerospace manufacturer that is headquartered in Kamra, Punjab, Pakistan.
Pakistan Air Force Base, Shahbaz is a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) base and airport, which the PAF and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) operate jointly. It is located in the town of Jacobabad at the northern part of Sindh province. The base is named after the Shahbaz bird from Persian mythology.
Pakistan Air Force Base, M.M. Alam is a Pakistan Air Force airbase located at Mianwali, in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The base is named after Muhammad Mahmood Alam. Earlier it was called PAF Base Mianwali, its name was changed in 2014.
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.
PAF Base Mushaf, IATA: MSF, ICAO: OPMH), is a Pakistan Air Force airbase situated at Sargodha in Punjab, Pakistan. It is designated as a "Major Operational Base" (MOB) by the PAF.
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".
The No. 27 Squadron, nicknamed Zarrars, is a tactical attack squadron from the No. 34 Wing of the Pakistan Air Force's Northern Air Command. It is currently deployed at Rafiqui Airbase and operates the Dassault Mirage-VEF ROSE-III aircraft.
The No. 24 Electronic Warfare Squadron, nicknamed the Blinders, is an electronic warfare unit of the Pakistan Air Force equipped with DA 20EW Faclons. It is the PAF's only Electronic Warfare squadron and undertakes EW, ECM and ESM missions while also training Pilots, Air Defense controllers and engineering officers in EW environments.
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.
The 28 Multi-Role Squadron; nicknamed Phoenixes is a unit of the Pakistan Air Force operating JF-17 fighter jets. It is based at Samungli airbase in Quetta.
The Shooter squadron is a Lead In Fighter Trainer (LIFT) unit of the Pakistan Air Force which operates F-7P Skybolts from Mianwali Airbase. It is the only PAF squadron without a numerical designation.
PAF Base Qadri, is a main operating base of the Pakistan Air Force's Northern Air Command which located near the city of Skardu in the Baltistan region of Pakistan. It is named after Air Commodore Qadri. It serves as the Headquarters to the newly inducted No. 5 AJT Squadron, belonging to PAF College Chaklala which operates the advance Karakoram-8 jet trainer.
The Pakistan Air Force's No. 130 Air Engineering Depot is an MRO facility for Lockheed C-130s located in Rawalpindi at PAF Base Nur Khan.
Pakistan Air Force Base Sakesar abbreviated (PAF Base Sakesar), Urdu: پی اے ایف بیس سکیسر, is a radar base of the Pakistan Air Force situated in the center of Pakistan. Established at the highest point of the Soon Valley, the base is located 72 kilometres (45 mi) from Mianwali. The area including the base itself is a tourist attraction known for its lush green and cool environment.
The No. 18 Squadron is a combat and training unit of the Pakistan Air Force's Southern Air Command (SAC) which operates dual seater JF-17B Thunder multi-role jets out of PAF Base Bholari. The unit serves as an OCU which handles conversion of PAF fighter pilots onto the JF-17 fighter jet. Besides being the twin sibling of the PAF's famous 19 Squadron, it is also the sister squadron to the RJAF's No. 9 Squadron which declared in 1986 has been a sign of brotherly relations between the Jordan and Pakistan and their respective airforces.
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