List of Pakistan Air Force squadrons explained

The following is a list of all active aircraft squadrons of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), sorted by type. Squadrons are listed by their current names and roles.

Aerial Refueling Squadrons

!Squadron!Nickname!Role!Command!Wing!Date Established!Base!Aircraft!Notes
No. 10 Squadron	Bulls	Multi-role Tanker Transport	Air Defence Command	35 Composite Air Transport Wing	15 August 1959	PAF Base Nur Khan	Il-78MP	^[1]

Aerobatics Display Squadrons

!Squadron!Nickname!Role!Command!Wing!Date Established!Base!Aircraft!Notes
PAF Formation Aerobatics Team	Sherdils	Aerobatics Display	Air Defence Command	College of Flying Training	17 August 1972	PAF Academy Asghar Khan	K-8P
PAF Falcons	Falcons	Aerobatics Display		College of Flying Training	1956 - 1966	PAF Base Mauripur	F-86 Sabre

Airborne Early Warning Squadrons

!Squadron!Nickname!Role!Command!Wing!Date Established!Base!Aircraft!Notes
No. 3 Squadron	Angels	AEW&C	Northern Air Command	33 Tactical Wing	1 July 1957	PAF Base Minhas	Saab 2000 Erieye	^[2]
No. 4 Squadron	Karakoram Eagles	AEW&C	Southern Air Command	32 TA Wing	15 August 1959	PAF Base Masroor	ZDK-03	^[3] ^[4]
No. 53 Squadron	Hawks	AEW&C	Southern Air Command	41 Tactical Wing	1 July 2021	PAF Base Bholari	Saab 2000 Erieye

Combat Squadrons

!Squadron!Nickname!Role!Command!Wing!Date Established!Base!Aircraft!Notes
No. 2 Squadron	Minhasians	Multi-role	Southern Air Command	39 Tactical Wing	15 April 1956	PAF Base Masroor	JF-17A	^[5] ^[6] ^[7] ^[8] ^[9]
No. 5 Squadron	Falcons	Multi-role	Southern Air Command	39 Tactical Wing	15 August 1947	PAF Base Shahbaz	F-16C/D Block 52+	^[10]
No. 7 Squadron	Bandits	Tactical Attack	Southern Air Command	32 TA Wing	June 1960	PAF Base Masroor	Mirage III ROSE I
No. 8 Squadron	Haiders	Tactical Attack	Southern Air Command	32 TA Wing	11 May 1960	PAF Base Masroor	JF-17C Block lll	^[11]
No. 9 Squadron	Griffins	Multi-role	Central Air Command	38 MR Wing	3 January 1944	PAF Base Mushaf	F-16AM/BM	^[12]
No. 11 Squadron	Arrows	Multi-role	Southern Air Command	39 Tactical Wing	1 January 1949	PAF Base Shahbaz	F-16 AM/BM	^[13]
No. 14 Squadron	Tail Choppers	Air Superiority	Central Air Command	34 TA Wing	1 November 1948	PAF Base Rafiqui	JF-17A	^[14]
No. 15 Squadron	Cobras	Multi-role	Northern Air Command	33 TA Wing	5 June 1955	PAF Base Minhas	J-10C	^[15]
No. 16 Squadron	Black Panthers	Multi-role	Northern Air Command	33 Tactical Wing	April 1957	PAF Base Minhas	JF-17C Block lll^[16]	^[17]
No. 17 Squadron	Tigers	Air Superiority	Northern Air Command	36 TA Wing	1 April 1957	PAF Base Peshawar	F-7PG	^[18]
No. 25 Squadron	Eagles	Tactical Attack	Central Air Command	34 TA Wing	January 1966	PAF Base Rafiqui	Mirage 5 ROSE II	^[19] ^[20]
No. 26 Squadron	Black Spiders	Multi-role	Northern Air Command	36 TA Wing	30 August 1967	PAF Base Peshawar	JF-17A	^[21] ^[22]
No. 27 Squadron	Zarrars	Tactical Attack	Central Air Command	34 TA Wing	April 2007	PAF Base Rafiqui	Mirage 5 ROSE III	^[23]
No. 28 Squadron	Phoenixes	Multi-role	Western Air Command	31 AS Wing	28 February 2018	PAF Base Samungli	JF-17A	^[24] ^[25]
No. 50 Squadron	Saf Shikan	Tactical Attack	Central Air Command	34 TA Wing	16 December 2021	PAF Base Rafiqui	Mirage 5PA	^[26]

Combat Commanders' School Squadrons

See main article: Combat Commanders' School.

!Squadron!Nickname!Role!Command!Wing!Date Established!Base!Aircraft!Notes
CCS F-16 Squadron (No. 29 Squadron)	Aggressors	Advanced Air Combat Tactics Development & Training	Central Air Command	PAF Airpower Centre of Excellence	16 July 1988	PAF Base Mushaf	F-16A/B MLU	^[27] ^[28] ^[29]
CCS JF-17 Squadron	Fierce Dragons	Advanced Air Combat Tactics Development & Training	Central Air Command	PAF Airpower Centre of Excellence	26 January 2015	PAF Base Mushaf	JF-17A/B	^[30] ^[31] ^[32]
CCS Mirage Squadron	Sky Bolts	Advanced Air Combat Tactics Development & Training	Central Air Command	PAF Airpower Centre of Excellence	5 May 1976	PAF Base Mushaf	Dassault Mirage IIIEA, Dassault Mirage 5PA
CCS F-7PG Squadron (No. 23 Squadron)	Talons	Advanced Air Combat Tactics Development & Training	Central Air Command	PAF Airpower Centre of Excellence	16 March 1961 (transferred to CCS from 31 AS Wing (Western Air Command), PAF Base Samungli (Quetta) in February 2023)	PAF Base Mushaf	F-7PG/FT-7PG

Electronic Warfare Squadrons

!Squadron!Nickname!Role!Command!Wing!Date Established!Base!Aircraft!Notes
No. 24 Squadron	Blinders	EW	Central Air Command	38 MR Wing	December 1962	PAF Base Mushaf	Falcon 20

Search and Rescue Squadrons

!Squadron!Nickname!Role!Command!Wing!Date Established!Base!Aircraft!Notes
No. 81 Squadron	Kangaroos	SAR	Northern Air Command	36 TA Wing	1965	PAF Base Peshawar	Alouette III	^[33]
No. 82 Squadron	Stallions	Combat Support	Central Air Command	38 MR Wing	1967	PAF Base Mushaf	AW139
No. 83 Squadron	Kites	SAR	Central Air Command	34 TA Wing	1972	PAF Base Rafiqui	Alouette III
No. 84 Squadron	Dolphins	Combat Support	Southern Air Command	32 TA Wing	1968	PAF Base Masroor	AW139 Mi-171Sh
No. 85 Squadron	Saviours	SAR	Southern Air Command	31 AS Wing	12 March 1968	PAF Base Samungli	Alouette III
No. 86 Squadron	Ababeel	SAR	Northern Air Command	37 Combat Training Wing	October 1983	PAF Base M. M. Alam	Alouette III
No. 87 Squadron	Dragonflies	SAR	Northern Air Command	33 Tactical Wing	July 1997	PAF Base Minhas	Alouette III Mi-171Sh
No. 88 Squadron	Rams	Combat Support	Southern Air Command	39 Tactical Wing		PAF Base Shahbaz	AW139	^[34]

Training Squadrons

!Squadron!Nickname!Role!Command!Wing!Date Established!Base!Aircraft!Notes
No. 1 Squadron	Rahbers	Fighter Conversion Unit	Northern Air Command	37 Combat Training Wing	28 April 1975	PAF Base M. M. Alam	K-8P	^[35]
No. 18 Squadron	Sharp Shooters	Operational Conversion	Southern Air Command	41 Tactical Wing	1 February 1958	PAF Base Bholari	JF-17A JF-17B	^[36] ^[37]
No. 19 Squadron	Sherdils	Operational Conversion	Southern Air Command	41 Tactical Wing	1 February 1958	PAF Base Bholari	F-16 ADF	^[38]
No. 20 Squadron	Cheetahs	Operational Conversion	Northern Air Command	37 Combat Training Wing	March 1956	PAF Base M. M. Alam	F-7PG
No. 22 Squadron	Ghazis	Operational Conversion	Southern Air Command	32 TA Wing	June 1984	PAF Base Masroor	Mirage IIIEL/DL	^[39]
1 PFT Squadron		Primary Training	Air Defence Command	Primary Flying Training Wing	1947	PAF Academy Asghar Khan	Mushshak
2 PFT Squadron		Primary Training	Air Defence Command	Primary Flying Training Wing	1947	PAF Academy Asghar Khan	Mushshak
1 BFT Squadron		Basic Training	Air Defence Command	Basic Flying Training Wing	July 1974	PAF Academy Asghar Khan	T-37B/C
2 BFT Squadron		Basic Training	Air Defence Command	Basic Flying Training Wing	July 1974	PAF Academy Asghar Khan	T-37B/C
1 AJT Squadron		Advanced Training	Air Defence Command	Advanced Jet Training Wing	1994	PAF Academy Asghar Khan	K-8P
Flying Instructors School		Instructor Training	Air Defence Command	College of Flying Training	15 April 1952	PAF Academy Asghar Khan	T-37	^[40]
Helicopter Flying Training School		Helicopter Conversion	Northern Air Command	36 TA Wing	1995	PAF Base Peshawar	Alouette III	^[41]
Shooter Squadron		LIFT	Northern Air Command	37 Combat Training Wing	11 December 2017	PAF Base M. M. Alam	F-7P	^[42]
Transport Conversion School		Transport Conversion	Air Defence Command	35 Composite Air Transport Wing	April 1975	PAF Base Nur Khan	C-130	^[43]

Transport Squadrons

!Squadron!Nickname!Role!Command!Wing!Date Established!Base!Aircraft!Notes
No. 6 Squadron	Antelopes	Air Transport	Air Defence Command	35 Composite Air Transport Wing	1 December 1942	PAF Base Nur Khan	C-130B/E/L-100	^[44]
No. 12 Squadron	Burraqs	VIP Transport	Air Defence Command	35 Composite Air Transport Wing	March 1950	PAF Base Nur Khan	GIV-SP Citation Excel	^[45] ^[46]
No. 21 Squadron	Globe Trotters	Air Transport	Southern Air Command	40 Air Mobility Wing	15 November 2006	PAF Base Faisal	C-130E Saab 2000	^[47] ^[48]
No. 41 Squadron	Albatross	VIP Light Communication	Air Defence Command	35 Composite Air Transport Wing	June 1966	PAF Base Nur Khan	Phenom 100 Y-12II
No. 52 Squadron	Markhors	Air Transport	Air Defence Command	35 Composite Air Transport Wing	14 March 2020	PAF Base Nur Khan	CN-235-220	^[49]

References

Footnotes

Warnes. Alan. July 2010. On The Edge. live. Air Forces Monthly. United Kingdom. Key Publishing Limited. July 2010. 56. https://web.archive.org/web/20100606033947/http://www.airforcesmonthly.com/view_issue.asp?ID=744. 6 June 2010. 9 July 2010. Last year saw the delivery of the first Il-78 Midas air-to-air refueller and also the first Russian aircraft into the inventory – hence the R in front of the serial. The newly established 10 Multi Role Tanker Transport Sqn at Chaklala operates the aircraft, which will be joined by a second example..
Warnes. Alan. July 2010. On The Edge. live. Air Forces Monthly. United Kingdom. Key Publishing Limited. July 2010. 59. https://web.archive.org/web/20100606033947/http://www.airforcesmonthly.com/view_issue.asp?ID=744. 6 June 2010. 9 July 2010. After years of trying to acquire a much needed airborne early warning platform, Pakistan's first Saab 2000 Erieye was officially inducted into service, with 13 Squadron, on December 29, 2009. A second example followed in late April and the third and fourth will follow by the end of the year..
Web site: Pakistan Air Force Conducts National Air Defense Exercise. DefenseTalks.com. Umair Aslam . 4 February 2022.
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List of Pakistan Air Force squadrons explained

Aerial Refueling Squadrons

Aerobatics Display Squadrons

Airborne Early Warning Squadrons

Combat Squadrons

Combat Commanders' School Squadrons

Electronic Warfare Squadrons

Search and Rescue Squadrons

Training Squadrons

Transport Squadrons

See also

References

Footnotes

External links