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 Google Maps
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 Google Maps
Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type(s)	Name	Badge / markings
39 (Tactical) Wing	5(MR)sq No.5 Multi-Role squadron	F-16C-52 F-16D-52	Falcons

	11(MR)sq No.11 Multi-Role squadron	F-16A MLU F-16B MLU	Arrows

	88(CS)sq AHTS No.88 Combat Support squadron Advanced Helicopter Training School	AW139	Rams

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 Google Maps
Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type(s)	Name	Badge / markings
PAF Korangi Creek	PTTS Pre-trade Training School	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 Show Reports Google Maps
Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type(s)	Name	Badge / markings
32 (Tactical Attack) Wing	2(MR)sq No.2 Multi-Role squadron	JF-17 (Block II)	(Proud) Minhasians

	4(EW)sq No.4 Electronic Warfare squadron	KE-03	Karakoram Eagles

	7(TA)sq No.7 Tactical Attack squadron	Mirage 3EA Mirage 3DP	Bandits

	8(MR)sq No.8 Multi-Role squadron	JF-17 (Block III)	Haiders

	22(OCU)sq No.22 Operational Conversion Unit squadron	Mirage 3DP Mirage 5EF Mirage 3EL Mirage 3BE Mirage 3BL	Ghazis

	84(CS)sq No.84 Combat Support squadron	AW139 Mi-171Sh	Dolphins

	Masroor SF Masroor Station Flight	MFI-395

PAF Base Masroor was named after Air Commodore Masroor Hussain, who was killed in an air crash in June 1967 while commanding PAF Mauripur.

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 Google Maps
Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type(s)	Name	Badge / markings
37 (Combat Traning) Wing	1(FCU)sq No.1 Fighter Conversion Unit squadron	K-8P	Rahbers

	20(OCU)sq No.20 Operational Conversion Unit squadron	F-7PG FT-7PG	Cheetahs / Eagles

	Shooter(LIFT)sq Shooter Lead-In Fighter Training squadron	F-7P FT-7P	Shooters

	63(UAV)sq No.63 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle squadron	Wing Loong II	Harriers

	86(SAR)sq No.86 Search and Rescue squadron	Alouette 3	Ababeel

	Mianwali SF Mianwali Station Flight	MFI-395

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.

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 Google Maps
Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type(s)	Name	Badge / markings
33 (Tactical) Wing	3(AEW)sq No.3 Airborne Early Warning Squadron	Saab 2000 Saab 2000AEW	Angels

	15(MR)sq No.15 Multi-Role squadron	J-10C	Venomous Cobras

	16(MR)sq No.16 Multi-Role squadron	JF-17 JF-17 (Block I, Block II) JF-17 (Block III) JF-17B	Black Panthers

	62(UAV)sq No.62 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle squadron	Shahpar II

	87(SAR)sq No.87 Search and Rescue squadron	Alouette 3 Mi-171Sh	Dragonflies

	1(UAV)Flight No.1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Flight	Abad Burraq Shahpar

	Minhas SF Minhas Station Flight	MFI-395

Ministry of Defence Production	PAC Kamra Pakistan Aeronautical Complex 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 UAVs are now operated by their own squadrons and it is unknown if the UAV flight still exsists.

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 Show Reports Google Maps
Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type(s)	Name	Badge / markings
38 (Multi-Role) Wing	9(MR)sq No.9 Multi-Role squadron	F-16A MLU F-16B MLU	Griffins

	24(EW)sq No.24 Electronic Warfare squadron	Falcon 20	Blinders

	61(UAV)sq No.61 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle squadron	Falco

	82(CS)sq No.82 Combat Support squadron	AW139	Stallions

	SATC No.6 Wing of Shaheen Air Training Corps	Stemme S6T

	Mushaf SF Mushaf Station Flight	MFI-395

Airpower Center of Excellence (ACE)	CCS, JF-17 sq Combat Commanders School, JF-7 squadron	JF-17 (Block-I)	Dashings

	CCS, 23sq Combat Commanders School, No.23 squadron	F-7PG FT-7PG	Talons

	CCS, 29sq Combat Commanders School, 29 squadron	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. It used to be known as Sargodha, after the nearby town. The Stemme S6T motorgliders live in the shelters near the threshold of runway 32R. The JF-17 squadron took over the heraldics from the F-7P squadron that was decommissioned in 2021. The former JF-17 CCS, Fierce Dragons, will receive J-10CE. 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 Show Reports Google Maps
Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type(s)	Name	Badge / markings
35 (Composite Air Transport) Wing	6(ATS)sq No.6 Air Transport squadron	C-130B C-130E L-100	Antelopes

	10(MRTT)sq No.10 Multi-Role Tanker Transport squadron	Il-78MP	Buffaloes

	12(VIP)sq No.12 Very Important Person Transport squadron	A319 Beech 350i Ce680A Falcon 20 Global 5000 G-IV/G450	Globe Trotters

	41(VLC)sq No.41 Very Important Person Light Communication Transport squadron	Ce172 EMB500 PA-34 PA-46 Y-12 II

	52(ATS)sq No.52 Air Transport squadron	CN235M-220	Markhors

	TCS Transport Conversion School	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 Google Maps
Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type(s)	Name	Badge / markings
41 (Tactical) Wing	18(OCU)sq No.18 Operational Conversion Unit squadron	JF-17B	Sharp Shooters

	19(OCU)sq No.19 Operational Conversion Unit squadron	F-16A ADF F-16B ADF	Sherdils

	53(AEW)sq No.53 Airborne Early Warning Squadron	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 Google Maps
Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type(s)	Name	Badge / markings
PAF Murid	64(UAV)sq No.64 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle squadron	Bayraktar TB2S

	65(UAV)sq No.65 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle squadron	Bayraktar Akıncı	Knights

Peshawar (OPPS)
RWY 17/35 POS 33°59'36"N 071°30'52"E ELEV 1180 ft Show Reports Google Maps
Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type(s)	Name	Badge / markings
36 (Tactical Attack) Wing	17(AS)sq No.17 Air Superiority squadron	F-7PG FT-7PG	Tigers

	26(MR)sq No.26 Multi-Role squadron	JF-17 (Block I, Block II)	Black Spiders

	81(SAR)sq No.81 Search and Rescue squadron	Alouette 3	Kangaroos

	HFS Helicopter Flying Training School	Alouette 3

	Peshawar SF Peshawar Station Flight	MFI-395

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 Show Reports Google Maps
Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type(s)	Name	Badge / markings
31 (Air Superiority) Wing	28(MR)sq No.28 Multi-Role squadron	JF-17 (Block I, Block II)	Phoenix

	85(SAR)sq No.85 Search and Rescue squadron	Alouette 3	Saviours

	Quetta SF Quetta Station Flight	MFI-395

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 Google Maps
Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type(s)	Name	Badge / markings
34 (Tactical Attack) Wing	14(AS)sq No.14 Air Superiority squadron	JF-17 (Block II)	Tail Choppers

	25(TA)sq No.25 Tactical Attack squadron	Mirage 5EF Mirage 3DP Mirage 5DD	(Night Strike) Eagles

	27(TA)sq No.27 Tactical Attack squadron	Mirage 5EF Mirage 3DP	Zarrars

	50(TA)sq No.50 Tactical Attack squadron	Mirage 3DA Mirage 3EA Mirage 5DD Mirage 5DR Mirage 5PA	Safshikan

	83(SAR)sq No.83 Search and Rescue squadron	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 Google Maps
Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type(s)	Name	Badge / markings
Primary Flying Training Wing	1(PFT)sq No.1 Primary Flying Training squadron	MFI-395

	2(PFT)sq No.2 Primary Flying Training squadron	MFI-395

Basic Flying Training Wing	1(BFT)sq No.1 Basic Flying Training squadron	T-37B T-37C

	2(BFT)sq No.2 Basic Flying Training squadron	T-37B T-37C

Advanced Jet Training Wing	1(AJT)sq No.1 Advanced Jet Training squadron	K-8

College of Flying Training	FIS Flying Instructors School	T-37B

	PAF college PAF College of Flying Training	Scheibe SF-25 Falke

	Sherdils PAF Formation Aerobatics Team	K-8	Sherdils

38 (Multi-Role) Wing	SATC No.6 Wing of Shaheen Air 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 Google Maps
Wing	Squadron	Aircraft Type(s)	Name	Badge / markings
40 (Air Mobility) Wing	21(ATS)sq No.21 Air Transport squadron	C-130E Saab 2000	Burraqs

	89(SAR)sq No.89 Search and Rescue squadron	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 Google Maps
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.

Pakistan - Air Force

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