No. 10 Squadron PAF

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The No. 10 Squadron nicknamed Bulls, is a Multi-Role Tanker-Transport squadron of the Pakistan Air Force's 35th Air Mobility Wing. Currently deployed at Nur Khan Air Base, the squadron is the PAF's only Aerial Refueling squadron operating 4 IL-78MP Midas and Airbus A319 tankers. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

No. 10 Squadron
"Bulls"
Ilyushin Il-78 (R11-003).jpg
IL-78MP of the 10 Squadron takes off in 2012.
Active1959–1960
2010–present
Disbanded1960–2010
CountryFlag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan
AllegianceArmed Forces of Pakistan Flag.svg Pakistan Armed Forces
BranchAir Force Ensign of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan Air Force
TypeSquadron
Role Aerial refueling & Airlift
Airbase PAF Base Nur Khan
Nickname(s)Bulls
Motto(s)شاہین کبھی پرواز سے تھک کر نہیں گرتا
(Urdu for 'The Shaheen never gets tired of flying')
Mascot(s)A Black Bull
Aircraft flown
Bomber Martin B-57 Canberra
Transport Ilyushin IL-78
Airbus A319

History

Raised on 15 August 1959 at PAF Base Mauripur, the No. 10 squadron was the Operational conversion unit for training pilots and navigators on the B-57 Canberra bombers. It kept functioning for 6 months till the No. 7 Squadron PAF was formed and took it's role. As a result, the squadron was number plated on 1 March 1960. [5]

It was re-raised in 2010 equipped with 4 newly purchased Ilyushin IL-78MP Midas tankers. These were fitted with removable fuel tanks and UPAZ aerial refueling pods. [6] Besides being assigned aerial refueling role, the squadron also provides logistics support services. [2] [1]

10 Squadron IL-78MP parked at Zhukovsky International Airport. R09-001 Il-78M) Pakistan Air Force ZIA UUBW (33707514081).jpg
10 Squadron IL-78MP parked at Zhukovsky International Airport.

In 2020, the squadron's IL-78s were upgraded by Ukrspecexport as part of a $20 Million upgradation project. [7] [8]

Operational history

In 2020, the IL-78s of the squadron ferried crucial medical supplies from China to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan. [9]

During the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, an IL-78 of the squadron undertook relief operations in Turkey transporting 16.5 tons of humanitarian aid to Adana. [10] Moreover, in 2024, an IL-78 of the squadron delivered 20 tons of medical supplies and food items to affected Palestinians of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war. [11]

In July 2023, an Airbus A319 was added to the squadron's fleet. The Airbus later proved to be an important role player in evacuating 149 Pakistanis stranded in Sudan after the outbreak of civil war. [2] [12]

10 Squadron IL-78MP at Konya Airbase during Exercise Anatolian Eagle in Turkey. R10-002 Ilyushin IL-78MP Pakistan Air Force Konya 30.6.22 (52206176597).jpg
10 Squadron IL-78MP at Konya Airbase during Exercise Anatolian Eagle in Turkey.

In July 2024, the squadron's Airbus A319 air ambulance rescued the renowned Samina Baig from a botched summit of K2 transporting her from Skardu to Rawalpindi. [13]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "Exploring the Squadrons of Pakistan Air Force". Global Defense Insight. 2023-08-29. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  2. 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.
  3. ↑ Hashmi, Qadeer. The History of the Pakistan Air Force 1999-2013.
  4. ↑ "Pakistan Air Force ORBAT". Scramble.nl. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  5. ↑ "10 Squadron PAF". GlobalSecurity.org . Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  6. ↑ Malyasov, Dylian (2017-01-16). "Russia to refurbish Il-78 refuelling tanker aircraft for Pakistan Air Force". Defense Blog.
  7. ↑ Ponomarenko, Illia (2020-06-04). "Ukraine wins contract to repair Pakistan's aerial refueling tankers". Kyiv Post.
  8. ↑ "In Ukraine, completed the repair of the Pakistani Air Force IL-78 aerial refueling tanker". MILITARNYI. 2022-02-02. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  9. ↑ "PAF IL-78 aircraft carrying medical equipment from China lands at Nur Khan airbase". The Nation. 2020-03-30. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  10. ↑ "PAF's aircraft carrying relief goods arrives in Adana, Turkiye". Radio Pakistan. 2023-02-11.
  11. ↑ "Pakistan send 4th consignment of humanitarian aid for Gaza people". Associated Press of Pakistan. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  12. ↑ "Second PAF flight brings back stranded Pakistanis from Sudan". ARY News. 2023-04-28. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  13. ↑ DGPR Pakistan Air Force [@DGPR_PAF] (July 11, 2024). "PAF Air Ambulance Evacuates Mountaineer Samina Baig from Skardu to Rawalpindi" (Tweet). Retrieved 2024-07-17– via Twitter.

Bibliography

Hashmir, Qadeer (2014). History of the Pakistan Air Force (1999-2013): Entering the new century.

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