No. 53 Squadron PAF

No. 53 Airborne Early Warning & Control Squadron
۵۳ سکواڈرن
Active	March 2021 (5 years, 7 months and 2 days)
Country	Pakistan
Allegiance	Pakistan Air Force
Branch	GD(P)/Air Defense
Type	Squadron
Role	Airborne early warning and control
Part of	Southern Air Command
Airbase	PAF Base Bholari
Nickname	Hawks
Mottos	صفتِ برق چمکتا ہے مرا فکرِ بُلند (Urdu for 'The hallmark of lightning shines from my concern for new heights')
Anniversaries	7 September (air force day)
AEW&C radar	Erieye
Engagements	2025 India–Pakistan conflict
Aircraft flown
Reconnaissance	Saab 2000 AEW&C

The 53 Airborne Early Warning & Control Squadron of the Pakistan Air Force also known by its nickname Hawks is an Airborne early warning and control unit of the Southern Air Command which operates Saab 2000 AEW&C aircraft from PAF Base Bholari. ^{[1] [2]}

It was originally formed in June 2020 without any aircraft while its home base was under construction. After the first Saab 2000 AEW&C systems were received in February 2021, the squadron was formally inaugurated in March of that year. Since its operationalization, the squadron has seen active participation in several military exercises including Exercises Naseem-ul-Bahar, Hawk Eye, Sea Hawk and Sea Spark. ^[3]

In May 2025, during the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict, satellite imagery published by The New York Times and The Washington Post showed damage to a hangar at the Bholari airbase. Independent analysis of the imagery indicated a large hole in the hangar roof and debris scattered around the structure, consistent with a missile impact. ^{[4] [5]} According to ISPR, five PAF personnel, including a squadron leader and a chief technician, were killed at the base during the strike. ^[6]

The damaged hangar at Bholari is typically used to house airborne electronic warfare and jamming aircraft. ^[7] The strike damaged a Saab 2000 Erieye AEW&C airborne early warning aircraft of the No. 53 Squadron PAF. ^{[8] [9]} India further claimed that its strikes on Bholari had destroyed several Pakistani aircraft, including F-16s and JF-17s and Indian officials released satellite imagery as supporting evidence for these claims. ^{[10] [11]}

SAAB 2000 AEW&C (Erieye) System of the Pakistan Air Force

See also

• Pakistan portal
• Aviation portal

• List of AEW&C aircraft operators
• List of Pakistan Air Force squadrons

References

1. "Pakistan Air Force ORBATS". Scramble.nl.
2. "Exploring the Squadrons of Pakistan Air Force". Global Defense Insight. 29 August 2023.
3. Khan, Farhat; Hashmi, Qadeer (2024). History of the Pakistan Air Force (2014-2023): The Next Generation Air Force (1st ed.). ISBN   978-969-7518-01-2.
4. Mashal, Mujib; Agnes Chang; Pablo Robles (14 May 2025). "India and Pakistan Talked Big, But Satellite Imagery Shows Limited Damage". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
5. Piper, Imogen; Hill, Evan; Javaid, Maham; Noack, Rick (14 May 2025). "Indian strikes on Pakistan damaged six airfields, Post analysis finds". The Washington Post. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
6. "11 soldiers martyred, 78 wounded while defending Pakistan in Indian attack: ISPR". Dawn. 13 May 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
7. Piper, Imogen; Hill, Evan; Javaid, Maham; Noack, Rick (14 May 2025). "Indian strikes on Pakistan damaged six airfields, Post analysis finds". The Washington Post. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
8. Taghvaee, Babak (July 2025). "A Close Call". Air Forces Monthly . p. 33.
9. Warnes, Alan (October 2025). "Exclusive: Full article – Understanding the Rafale kills". Air Forces Monthly . Key Publishing . Retrieved 1 October 2025.
10. "Operation Sindoor wrecked Pakistani airbases, destroyed F-16s and AWACS; US stepped in for urgent repairs". Moneycontrol. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
11. India Releases Satellite Proof of Operation Sindoor Strikes | DGMO Briefing | India–Pakistan Ceasefire. Youtube. 11 May 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2025.