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The JF-17 Thunder is developed by PAC (Pakistan Aeronautical Complex) CAC (Chengdu Aircraft Corporation) from China. So far the Pakistan Air Force contracted 135 aircraft of the type. The next generation Block III will see another 50 delivered over the coming years.
Rogier Westerhuis
The mighty F-16C Block 52 blasts off at Antolian Eagle in Turkey.
Dino van Doorn
|
Begum Nusrat Bhutto/PAF Sukkur (OPSK) | ||||
RWY 14/32 POS 27°43'19"N 068°47'31"E ELEV 196 ft | ||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
| PAF Sukkur |
no permanently based aircraft |  |
||
|
Jacobabad (OPJA) Shahbaz AB | ||||
RWY 15/33, 15L/33R POS 28°17'03"N 068°26'59"E ELEV 185 ft | ||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
39 (Tactical) Wing |
5(MR)sq | F-16C-52 F-16D-52 |
Falcons |  |
| 11(MR)sq | F-16A MLU F-16B MLU |
Arrows |  |
|
| 88(CS)sq | AW139 |  |
||
| 11sq has moved to 39 Wing Shahbaz AB, originating from 38 Wing Mushaf AB. | ||||
Seen on a pre-delivery testflight is AW139 17-004, one of a larger order placed for AW139 helicopters.
Marco Muntz
|
Karachi/PAF Korangi Creek (--) | ||||
RWY none POS 24°46'56"N 067°08'11"E ELEV 18 ft | ||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
| PAF Korangi Creek |
Pre-trade Training School (PTTS) | F-6 F-7 Mirage |
 |
|
| These are in use as instructional airframes; it is not a flying base. | ||||
Four CN235s are operated since 2004.
Stephan de Bruijn
|
Masroor (OPMR) | ||||
RWY 04/22, 09/27 POS 24°53'37"N 066°56'24"E ELEV 35 ft | ||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
| 39 (Tactical) Wing |
2(MR)sq | JF-17 (Block II) | (Proud) Minhasians |  |
32 (Tactical Attack) Wing |
4(EW)sq | KE-03 | Karakoram Eagles |  |
| 7(TA)sq | Mirage 3EA Mirage 3DP |
Bandits |  |
|
| 22(OCU)sq | Mirage 3DP Mirage 5EF Mirage 3EL Mirage 3BE Mirage 3BL |
Ghazis |  |
|
| 84(CS)sq | AW139 Mi-171Sh |
Dolphins |  |
|
| Station Flight | PAC/MFI-17 | |
||
| PAF Base Masroor was named after Air Commodore Masroor Hussain, who was killed in an air crash in June 1967 while commanding PAF Mauripur. 8(TA)sq has been temporarily stood down and its pilots transferred to other units. The unit wil probably be resurrected in the future with another aircraft type. | ||||
The Pakistan Air Force operates a large fleet of Mirage 3 and 5 aircraft. It is a mixture of freshly produced aircraft and second hand examples from France, Australia, Lebanon and Libya. Around 50 Mirage 3OAs and Mirage 3ODs were bought during the late eighties and are serving the Air Force from Masroor. This one, 90-533, was delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force on 22 February 1966 and operated there as A3-33.
Rogier Westerhuis
|
Mianwali (OPMI) PAF Base M.M. Alam | ||||
RWY 06L/24R, 06R/24L POS 32°33'47"N 071°34'14"E ELEV 690 ft | ||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
37 (Combat Traning) Wing |
1(FCU)sq | K-8P | Rahbers |  |
| 20(OCU)sq | F-7PG FT-7PG |
Cheetahs / Eagles |  |
|
| Shooter(LIFT)sq | F-7P FT-7P |
Shooters |  |
|
| 63(UAV)sq | Wing Loong II | Harriers | |
|
| 86(SAR)sq | Alouette 3 | Ababeel |  |
|
| Station Flight | PAC/MFI-17 | |
||
| (unknown operator) | Wing Loong II | |
||
| PAF Base M.M. Alam was named after legendary fighter pilot Air Commodore (Retd) M M Alam. The new Shooter squadron is tasked with Lead-In Fighter Training whereas 20sq is now the Operational Conversion Unit for F-7 pilots. Satellite imagery shows two Wing Loong II UAS at Mianwali in 2021. | ||||
The K-8 Karakorum has become quite a succes after a somewhat slow start. It was co-developed with the Chinese who manufacture it.
Erwin van Dijkman
|
Minhas (--) Kamra | ||||
RWY 12/30 POS 33°52'13"N 072°24'00"E ELEV 1030 ft | ||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
33 (Tactical) Wing |
3(AEW)sq | Saab 2000 Saab 2000AEW |
 |
|
| 15(MR)sq | J-10C | Venomous Cobras |  |
|
| 16(MR)sq | JF-17 JF-17 (Block I, Block II) JF-17 (Block III) JF-17B |
Black Panthers |  |
|
| 62(UAV)sq | Shahpar II | |
||
| 87(SAR)sq | Alouette 3 Mi-171Sh |
Dragonflies |  |
|
| 1(UAV)Flight | Abad Burraq Shahpar |
 |
||
| Station Flight | PAF/MFI-17 | |
||
Ministry of Defence Production |
Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Kamra (PAC Kamra) | JF-17 manufacture MFI-395 manufacture Mirage overhaul F-7 overhaul |
 |
|
| PAF Base Minhas is named after Flight Officer Rashid Minhas Nishan - i - Haider who laid down his life on 20 August 1971 in a T-33 hijacked by his instructor intending to fly it to India. 15sq is the first J-10 unit, with the Mirages transferring to newly erected 50sq. The UAV's are usually forward deployed at various bases. | ||||
Falcon 20s are used by two different squadrons. This J-753 is a 24sq Blinders example.
Erwin van Dijkman
|
Mushaf (OPSR) | ||||
RWY 06/24, 14/32 POS 32°02'55"N 072°39'55"E ELEV 614 ft | ||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
38 (Multi-Role) Wing |
9(MR)sq | F-16A MLU F-16B MLU |
Griffins |  |
| 24(EW)sq | Falcon 20 | Blinders |  |
|
| 61(UAV)sq | Falco | |
||
| 82(CS)sq | AW139 | Stallions |  |
|
| 6 Shaheen Training Corps | Stemme S6T | |
||
| Station Flight | PAC/MFI-17 | |
||
| Airpower Center of Excellence (ACE) |
Combat Commanders School (CCS) Mirage sq |
Mirage 3EA Mirage 5PA |
Sky Bolts |  |
| Combat Commanders School (CCS) JF-17 sq |
JF-17 (Block I) | Fierce Dragons |  |
|
| 23(AS)sq | F-7PG FT-7PG |
Talons |  |
|
| Combat Commanders School (CCS) 29 sq |
F-16A MLU F-16B MLU |
Agressors |  |
|
| PAF Base Mushaf was named after Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir, Chief of the Air Staff, who was killed in an air crash on 20 February 2003. The Stemme S6T motorgliders live in the shelters near the threshold of runway 32R. The F-16 flight is now named 29sq and is thought to receive its own F-16s rather than loan them from other squadrons. | ||||
The 38th Wing at Mushaf operates a squadron with F-16A/B MLU. Seen here is a 9sq Griffins F-16B MLU.
Erwin van Dijkman
And 11sq Arrows moved to Shahbaz AB with their MLU F-16s.
Erwin van Dijkman
|
Nur Khan (OPRN) Islamabad Intl | ||||
RWY 12/30 POS 33°36'60"N 073°05'57"E ELEV 1668 ft | ||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
35 (Composite Air Transport) Wing |
6(ATS)sq | C-130B C-130E L-100 |
Antelopes |  |
| 10(MRTT)sq | Il-78MP | Buffaloes |  |
|
| 12(VIP)sq | A319 Beech 350i Ce680A Falcon 20 Global 5000 G-IV/G450 |
Globe Trotters |  |
|
| 41(VLC)sq | Ce172 EMB500 PA-34 PA-46 Y-12 II |
 |
||
| 52(ATS)sq | CN235M-220 | Markhors |  |
|
| TCS | C-130 (on loan) |  |
||
| PAF Base Nur Khan was named after the second Pakistani Commander-in-Chief of PAF, Air Marshal (Retd) Nur Khan. | ||||
Pakistan has a wide variety of staff and VIP transports. Most look quite anonymous as can be seen with this Ce560XL J-754 of the VVIP flight. You can just make out the PAF-shield on the nose.
Jan Gerrits
Visiting Amsterdam/Schiphol for the Nuclear Security Summit was G450 J-756.
Erik Sleutelberg
|
PAF Bholari (--) | ||||
RWY 04/22 POS 25°14'37"N 068°02'07"E ELEV 198 ft | ||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
| 37 (Combat Traning) Wing |
18(OCU)sq | JF-17B | Sharp Shooters |  |
| 41 (Tactical) Wing |
19(OCU)sq | F-16A ADF F-16B ADF |
Sherdils |  |
| 53(AEW)sq | Saab 2000AEW | Hawks | |
|
| 18(OCU)sq has replaced its F-7/FT-7P aircraft with two seat Thunders. | ||||
With well over 300 produced and current export orders under construction, the Mushshak family can be considered a huge succes.
Piet Luijken
|
PAF Murid (--) | ||||
RWY 14/32, HEL POS 32°54'34"N 072°46'32"E ELEV 1743 ft | ||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
| PAF Murid |
64(UAV)sq | Bayraktar TB2S | |
|
| 65(UAV)sq | Bayraktar Akıncı | Knights | |
|
|
Peshawar (OPPS) | ||||
RWY 17/35 POS 33°59'36"N 071°30'52"E ELEV 1180 ft | ||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
| 36 (Tactical Attack) Wing |
17(AS)sq | F-7PG FT-7PG |
Tigers |  |
| 26(MR)sq | JF-17 (Block I, Block II) | Black Spiders |  |
|
| 81(SAR)sq | Alouette 3 | Kangaroos |  |
|
| HFS | Alouette 3 | |
||
| Station Flight | PAC/MFI-17 | |
||
| 17sq was at Quetta-Samungli under 31 Wing but moved to Peshawar to make room for a new JF-17 squadron to be based at Quetta-Samungli in 2018. | ||||
To fulfil the air refueling needs the Pakistan Air Force turned to Russia and ordered four Il-78MP aircraft. They have been in service since 2008 with 10(MRTT)sq at Islamabad.
Jim Walg
|
Quetta/Intl (OPQT) | ||||
RWY 13/31, 13R/31L POS 30°15'05"N 066°56'16"E ELEV 5267 ft | ||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
31 (Air Superiority) Wing |
28(MR)sq | JF-17 (Block I, Block II) | Phoenix |  |
| 85(SAR)sq | Alouette 3 |  |
||
| Station Flight | PAC/MFI-17 | |
||
Both the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Air Force are operating the Mil Mi-17, seen here is a Mi-171Sh, but with square windows.
Stephan de Bruijn
|
Rafiqui (OPRQ) | ||||
RWY 15L/33R, 15R/33L POS 30°45'29"N 072°16'57"E ELEV 492 ft | ||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
| 34 (Tactical Attack) Wing |
14(AS)sq | JF-17 (Block II) | Tail Choppers |  |
| 25(TA)sq | Mirage 5EF Mirage 3DP Mirage 5DD |
(Night Strike) Eagles |  |
|
| 27(TA)sq | Mirage 5EF Mirage 3DP |
Zarrars |  |
|
| 50(TA)sq | Mirage 3DA Mirage 3EA Mirage 5DD Mirage 5DR Mirage 5PA |
Safshikan |  |
|
| 83(SAR)sq | Alouette 3 | Kites |  |
|
| PAF Base Rafiqui was named after Sqn Ldr Rafiqui, SJ, who laid down his life in action against IAF during 1965 war. | ||||
Pakistan is a regular customer for Chinese products. The F-7, a MiG-21 derivative, is operated by a number of squadrons and locally known as F-7P. Apart from the F-7P, Pakistan is also operating the F-7PG since 2002 and the FT-7 as shown here.
Rogier Westerhuis
This flightline shot shows some of the 12 single seat and 6 dual seat Block 52 F-16s of PAF. Normally found at Jacobabad, but seen here at Konya.
Ian French
|
Risalpur (OPRS) PAF Academy Asghar Khan | ||||
RWY 09L/27R, 09R,27L POS 34°04'52"N 071°58'21"E ELEV 1050 ft | ||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
Primary Flying Training Wing |
1(PFT)sq | PAC/MFI-17 | |
|
| 2(PFT)sq | PAC/MFI-17 | |
||
Basic Flying Training Wing |
1(BFT)sq | T-37B T-37C |
|
|
| 2(BFT)sq | T-37B T-37C |
|
||
| Advanced Jet Training Wing |
1(AJT)sq | K-8 |  |
|
College of Flying Training |
Flying Instructors School (FIS) |
T-37B |  |
|
| PAC College | Scheibe SF-25 Falke | |
||
| PAF Formation Aerobatics Team - Sherdils | K-8 | Sherdils |  |
|
| 38 (Multi-Role) Wing |
6 Shaheen Training Corps | Stemme S6T | |
|
| The Primary Flying Training Wing, Basic Flying Training Wing and, the Advanced Jet Training Wing, also belong to the College of Flying Training, PAF Academy. | ||||
Risalpur is the cradle from whence many fighter pilots came. The distinctive tweeting sound of the T-37 is very familiar to them.
Erwin van Dijkman
|
Sharea Faisal (OPSF) PNS Mehran (Karachi) | ||||
RWY 08/26 POS 24°52'29"N 067°07'04"E ELEV 29 ft | ||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
| 40 (Air Mobility) Wing |
21(ATS)sq | C-130E Saab 2000 |
Burraqs |  |
| 89(SAR)sq | Mi-171Sh | |
||
| PAF Base Faisal was named after Shaheed King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. | ||||
Like many other countries in the world Pakistan is operating a fleet of C-130s. It is a mixture of former USAF, Iranian and Australian aircraft.
Erwin van Dijkman
Luckily, we sometimes get to see the Herks in Europe.
Stephan de Bruijn
|
Skardu/PAF Qadri (OPSD) | ||||
RWY 14/32, 15/33 POS 35°20'05"N 075°32'15"E ELEV 7600 ft | ||||
| Wing | Squadron | Aircraft Type(s) | Name | Badge / markings |
| PAF Qadri |
Permanent deployments | |
||
| PAF Qadri was upgraded from FOB to MOB in 2021. Units keep a permanent detachment here on rotational basis. | ||||
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