List of Pakistan Air Force squadrons

Pakistan Air Force

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Squadrons are the most basic flying unit of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). Combat aircraft squadrons contain around 20 aircraft. Squadron titles incorporate a squadron number and each squadron also has a nickname associated with it. PAF squadrons are organised into wings which contain multiple squadrons.

Active squadrons

Squadron	Name	Operational	Aircraft	Role	Notes
No. 1 Sqn	Rahbars	1975 1975—1987 1987 1987—2011 2012	FT-5 FT-5 FT-5 K-8P	FCU AD FCU FCU	Set up in 1975 at PAF Base Masroor before moving to PAF Base Mianwali. A fighter conversion unit (FCU) training pilots to fly the Chengdu F-7 fighters. Now with the induction of K-8P aircraft, PAF can train its pilots for more advance aircraft.[1]
No. 2 Sqn	Minhas	1956 1956—1972 1972—1979 1979—1982 1982—1986 1986—1990 1990—1993 1993—2015 2015—	T-33A T-33A, RT-33A T-33A, RT-33A T-33, RT-33, B-57 T-33, RT-33A F-7P, T-33A, RT-33A F-7P JF-17 Thunder	FCU FCU, R Various Various Various Various AS MR	Set up in 1956 at PAF Base Masroor with T-33A. Split into two flights, A flight for F-7P operations and B flight for T-33A/RT-33A operations. T-33A/RT-33A retired in 1993.
No. 5 Sqn	Falcons	1947 1947—1950s 1950s—1967 1967—2010 2010—	Tempest II Hawker Fury F-86 Sabre Mirage III F-16C/D Block 50/52+	RP, TA MR
No. 6 Sqn	Antelopes	1947 1947—1950 1950—1963 1963—	C-47 C-47, Freighter C-130		No. 6 Squadron performed 71 sorties during run-up to Pakistan's 1998 nuclear tests, transporting 575 tonnes of cargo. Also known as the Antelopes.
No. 7 Sqn	Bandits	1960 1960—1982 1982—1988 1989—1990 1990—1991 1991—1993 1997—	B-57 Canberra Nanchang A-5C Nanchang A-5C Nanchang A-5C Mirage III Mirage IIIEA/DP ROSE I, Mirage EL	LB TA OCU TA TA, AD
No. 8 Sqn	Haiders	1960— 1982— 1993—	B-57 Canberra Mirage 5 Mirage 5VPA2/3	TA, AD	Formed as part of No. 31 Bomber Wing on 11 May 1960, equipped with the B-57 Canberra and lead by Squadron Leader Muhammad Iqbal. Disbanded and resources amalgamated with No. 7 Squadron after the 1965 Indo-Pak War due to B-57 spare parts supply being stopped by United States. Re-activated with Dassault Mirage 5 in 1982.[2]
No. 9 Sqn	Griffins	1943 1943—1947 1947—1950 1950—1961 1961—1971 1973—1977 1977—1984 1984—2012 2012—	Tempest II Fury FB.60 F-104A Mirage 5PA Mirage 5PA F-16A/B Block 15 F-16AM/BM Block 15 MLU	TA OCU MR MR	Second unit to be equipped with the F-16. Credited with 3 kills: two Su-22 on 17 May 1986 by Squadron Leader Mohammed Yousaf and an An-26 on 30 March 1987 by Squadron Leader Sikander Hayat. Equipped with the ATLIS II targeting pod in 1987 for ground attack role.[3] Commanded by Wg. Cmd. Aamir Masood in 2006, who is now flying Sukhoi Su-30MKK with the Chinese Navy (PLAN).[4]
No. 10 Sqn		1959 1959—1960 2009—	B-57 Canberra Il-78 Midas	OCU MRTT	Established as the No. 10 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) Squadron with delivery of the PAF's first Il-78 in December 2009 and operating from PAF Base Chaklala.[5]
No. 11 Sqn	Arrows	1949 1949—1949 1951—1956 1956—1966 1966—1983 1983—2010 2010—present	Attacker F-86 Sabre Shenyang F-6 F-16A/B Block 15 F-16AM/BM Block 15 MLU	LB FI FB AS MR, OCU --	First PAF squadron to operate a jet-powered fighter.
No. 12 Sqn	Globe Trotters	1950—1950 1951—1953 1953—? Presently	Halifax Mk.6/Mk.8 Halifax Mk.6/Mk.8 ? Viking, Dakota, Fury, Halifax A-310,B707,Phenom 100,Gulf Stream IV		Made No. 12 Composite Squadron in September 1953.
No. 13 Sqn	Angels	2009—	Saab 2000 Erieye	AEW&C	First Saab 2000 Erieye delivered in December 2009.[6]
No. 14 Sqn	Tail choppers	1948 1948—1949 1949— 1956—1971 1972—1986 1986—1993 1993—	F-86 Sabre Shenyang F-6, FT-6 F-16 F-7P	OCU	A pilot was lost when he ejected over the Himalayas while ferrying an FT-6 from China in May 1977. Oldest squadron of the Pakistani Air Force.
No. 15 Sqn	Cobras	1956 1956—1973 1973—1976 1976—1993 1993—1997 1998—	F-86 Sabre, T-33 Shenyang F-6 Shenyang F-6 Chengdu F-7P Mirage IIIRP/EP,Mirage VPA,VDA,DR	TA AS TA	Number-plated in August 1997, was scheduled to convert to ex-French Mirages in the tactical attack role.
No. 16 Sqn	Panthers	1957 1957—1963 1970—1972 1982—1983 1983—2011 2011—	F-86 Sabre F-86 Sabre Shenyang F-6 A-5C, FT-6 JF-17 Thunder	TA TA MR OCU	Became the Fighter Leaders School in 1971. First squadron to fly A-5C, first A-5s landing at PAF Base Rafiqui on 12 February 1983. Converted pilots of No. 7 and No. 26 Squadrons to fly the A-5. Flew against the F-16 extensively during dissimilar aircraft combat training (DACT) in 1985. Also flew 1v1 DACT missions against the F-7P in 1988. In 1990, Wing Commander Zafar took part in an evaluation of the Nanchang A-5M and A-5F. Officially converted to the JF-17 Thunder on 11 April 2011.[7]
No. 17 Sqn	Tigers	1957 1958—1977 1977—2001 2001—	F-86 Sabre Shenyang F-6 F-7PG		Operated F-6 from 1977 to 2001.[8]
No. 18 Sqn	War Hawks	1958 1958—1980 1981—1989 1989— 1999—	F-86 Sabre Mirage 5 Chengdu F-7P Chengdu F-7P	TA TA OCU	Previously named Sharpshooters.
No. 19 Sqn	Sherdils (English: Lion-hearted)	1958 1958—1977 1977—1989 1990—2014 2014—	F-86 Sabre Shenyang F-6 Chengdu F-7P/FT-7 F-16A/B Block 15 ADF	AS AS OCU MR, AD	(Note: Not to be confused with PAF aerobatics Team Sherdils.)
No. 20 Sqn	Eagles	1956 1956—1972 1972—1986 1986—1988 1988—? Presently	RT-33 Mirage IIIRP Shenyang F-6 Chengdu F-7P Chengdu F-7PG	PR TA, PR AS
No. 22 Sqn	Ghazis	1984	Mirage IIIDF,IIIDA,EL,DL	OCU
No. 23 Sqn	Talons	1961 1961—1964 1966— 1975—2002 2002—	Hawker Fury Shenyang F-6 Chengdu F-7PG	AS	F-6 retired in 2002.[9]
No. 24 Sqn	Blinders	1962 1962—1977 1987—	RB-57 Falcon DA-20	ELINT EW
No. 25 Sqn	Night Strike Eagles	1966 1966—1995 1996—1998 1997—	Shenyang F-6 Mirage III ROSE I Mirage 5VEF ROSE II, IIIDP	TA	One of the first two squadrons to be equipped with the Shenyang F-6. Changed to specialist night attack role in March 1997.
No. 26 Sqn	Black Spiders	1967 1967—1980 1980—1984 1984—2011 2010—	F-86 Sabre Shenyang F-6 A-5C JF-17 Thunder	AS TA MR
No. 27 Sqn	Zarrars	2007 2007—	Dassault Mirage 5 ROSE III, VEF	TA	Named after Hazrat Zarrar Bin Al Azwar, the favorite Lieutenant of Hazrat Khalid Bin Walid.[10][11]
Sherdils		1972—2010 2010—	T-37 Tweet K-8 Karakorum		The Sherdils Squadron is the aerobatics display team of the Pakistan Air Force Academy, based at PAF Risalpur. The team flew the T-37 Tweet until circa 2010, when they switched to the K-8 Karakorum, and is composed of instructors of the Basic Flying Training (BFT) Wing.
No. 81 Sqn	Kangaroos		Alouette 3	SAR	Stationed at PAF Base Peshawar.[12]
No. 82 Sqn			Alouette 3	SAR	Stationed at PAF Base Mushaf.[13]
No. 83 Sqn	Dolphins		Alouette 3, Mi-171Sh	SAR	Stationed at PAF Base Masroor.[14]
No. 85 Sqn			Alouette 3	SAR	Stationed at PAF Base Samungli.[15]
No. 86 Sqn	Ababeel		Alouette 3	SAR	Stationed at PAF Base Mianwali.[16]
No. 87 Sqn			Alouette 3	SAR	Stationed at PAF Base Minhas.[17]
CCS	Skybolts		Mirage 5PA Mirage IIIEA	ATT	Combat Commanders School (CCS), named Skybolts.
CCS	Dashings	1976—1992 1992—2015 2015—	Shenyang F-6 Chengdu F-7P JF-17 Thunder	ATT	Combat Commanders School (CCS).[18]

Key:

• AD = Air Defence
• AS = Air Superiority
• MR = Multi-role
• MRTT = Multi-Role Tanker Transport
• OCU = Operational Conversion Unit
• PR = Photographic survey and Reconnaissance
• TA = Tactical Attack
• MS = Maritime Support
• ATT = Advanced Tactics/Training
• HB = Heavy Bomber
• LB = Light Bomber
• FI = Fighter Interceptor
• FB = Fighter Bomber

Inactive squadrons

Squadron	Operational	Aircraft	Role	Comments
No. 4 Squadron	1959—1969 1959—1960 1960—1969	SA-16 Albatross Bristol Freighter SA-16 Albatross Sikorsky H-19D	MR T MR SAR	Formed on 15 August 1959 with four Bristol Freighters and four Grumman SA-16 Albatross amphibious aircraft, two of which were transferred from No. 12 squadron. Strength reduced to two SA-16 and two Sikorsky H-19D on 8 July 1960. SA-16 aircraft taken out of service on 19 August 1968, later followed by the H-19D. Squadron "number-plated" in March 1969.
JF-17 TEF	2007—2010	JF-17	T&E	Established on 20 February 2007 as JF-17 Test and Evaluation Flight, commanded by Wg Cdr Ahsan Rafiq and stationed at PAF Base Minhas, Kamra. Transformed into No. 26 Black Spiders Squadron on 18 February 2010 when No. 26 officially converted from the Nanchang A-5C to the JF-17.[19]

Key:

SAR = Search and Rescue

MR = Maritime Reconnaissance

References

Footnotes

1. http://www.paf.gov.pk/05_Re_equipment_No1_FCU.html
2. Gp Capt SULTAN M HALI. "B-57 THE INTREPID BOMBER OF PAF". Defence Journal. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
3. "9 sqn "Griffins" (PAF)". www.f-16.net. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
4. "Viper Driver Flying Hours - Wg.Cmd. Aamir Masood". www.f-16.net. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
5. Warnes, Alan (July 2010). "On The Edge". Air Forces Monthly (United Kingdom: Key Publishing Limited) (July 2010): Page 56. Retrieved 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.
6. Warnes, Alan (July 2010). "On The Edge". Air Forces Monthly (United Kingdom: Key Publishing Limited) (July 2010): Page 59. Retrieved 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.
7. "JF-17 build-up progresses". 12 April 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
8. http://www.defencejournal.com/2002/may/salute.htm
9. http://www.defencejournal.com/2002/may/salute.htm
10. "New Fighter Squadron added to Pakistan Air Force". Article. Islamabad, Pakistan: Pakistan Times. April 2007. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
11. "PAF gets new Mirage fighter squadron". Article. www.webindia123.com. April 20, 2007. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
12. http://www.scramble.nl/mil/3/pakaf/orbat.htm
13. http://www.scramble.nl/mil/3/pakaf/orbat.htm
14. http://www.scramble.nl/mil/3/pakaf/orbat.htm
15. http://www.scramble.nl/mil/3/pakaf/orbat.htm
16. http://www.scramble.nl/mil/3/pakaf/orbat.htm
17. http://www.scramble.nl/mil/3/pakaf/orbat.htm
18. "History of F-6". [www.f-6fighter.com f-6fighter.com]. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
19. Warnes, Alan (July 2011). "JF-17 - Thunder from the East". Air Forces Monthly (Key Publishing) (#280): 47–70.

Bibliography