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List of Pakistan Air Force squadrons

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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.

This article contains dynamic lists that may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by editing the page to add missing items, with references to reliable sources.

Aerial Refueling Squadrons

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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

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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

Airborne Early Warning Squadrons

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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
No. 4 Squadron Karakoram Eagles AEW&C Southern Air Command 32 TA Wing 15 August 1959 PAF Base Masroor ZDK-03
No. 53 Squadron Hawks AEW&C Southern Air Command 41 Tactical Wing 1 July 2021 PAF Base Bholari Saab 2000 Erieye

Combat Squadrons

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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-17
No. 5 Squadron Falcons Multi-role Southern Air Command 39 Tactical Wing 15 August 1947 PAF Base Shahbaz F-16C/D
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-17
No. 9 Squadron Griffins Multi-role Central Air Command 38 MR Wing 3 January 1944 PAF Base Mushaf F-16AM/BM
No. 11 Squadron Arrows Multi-role Southern Air Command 39 Tactical Wing 1 January 1949 PAF Base Shahbaz F-16AM/BM
No. 14 Squadron Tail Choppers Air Superiority Central Air Command 34 TA Wing 1 November 1948 PAF Base Rafiqui JF-17
No. 15 Squadron Cobras Multi-role Northern Air Command 33 Tactical Wing 5 June 1955 PAF Base Minhas J-10CE
No. 16 Squadron Black Panthers Multi-role Northern Air Command 33 Tactical Wing April 1957 PAF Base Minhas JF-17
No. 17 Squadron Tigers Air Superiority Northern Air Command 36 TA Wing 1 April 1957 PAF Base Peshawar F-7PG
No. 25 Squadron Eagles Tactical Attack Central Air Command 34 TA Wing January 1966 PAF Base Rafiqui Mirage 5 ROSE
No. 26 Squadron Black Spiders Multi-role Northern Air Command 36 TA Wing 30 August 1967 PAF Base Peshawar JF-17
No. 27 Squadron Zarrars Tactical Attack Central Air Command 34 TA Wing April 2007 PAF Base Rafiqui Mirage 5 ROSE
No. 28 Squadron Phoenixes Multi-role Western Air Command 31 AS Wing 28 February 2018 PAF Base Samungli JF-17
No. 50 Squadron Saf Shikan Tactical Attack Central Air Command 34 TA Wing 16 December 2021 PAF Base Rafiqui Mirage 5PA

Combat Commanders' School Squadrons

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Squadron Nickname Role Command Wing Date Established Base Aircraft Notes
No. 23 Squadron Talons Advanced Air Combat Tactics Development & Training Central Air Command Airpower Centre of Excellence 16 March 1961 PAF Base Mushaf F-7PG
No. 29 Squadron Aggressors Advanced Air Combat Tactics Development & Training Central Air Command Airpower Centre of Excellence 16 July 1988 PAF Base Mushaf F-16AM/BM [2][3][4]
CCS JF-17 Squadron Dashings Advanced Air Combat Tactics Development & Training Central Air Command Airpower Centre of Excellence 26 January 2015 PAF Base Mushaf JF-17 [5][6][7][3]
CCS Mirage Squadron Sky Bolts Advanced Air Combat Tactics Development & Training Central Air Command Airpower Centre of Excellence 5 May 1976 PAF Base Mushaf Mirage III ROSE I

Mirage 5PA

 [2][3]

Electronic Warfare Squadrons

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

Search and Rescue Squadrons

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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 Also HFTS
No. 82 Squadron Stallions Combat Support Central Air Command 38 MR Wing 1967 PAF Base Mushaf AW139M
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 AW139M

Mi-171Sh
No. 85 Squadron Saviours SAR Western 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 March 2018 PAF Base Shahbaz AW139M Also AHTS

Training Squadrons

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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
No. 18 Squadron Sharp Shooters Operational Conversion Unit Southern Air Command 41 Tactical Wing 1 February 1958 PAF Base Bholari JF-17B
No. 19 Squadron Sherdils Operational Conversion Unit Southern Air Command 41 Tactical Wing 1 February 1958 PAF Base Bholari F-16 ADF
No. 20 Squadron Cheetahs Operational Conversion Unit Northern Air Command 37 Combat Training Wing March 1956 PAF Base M M Alam F-7PG
No. 22 Squadron Ghazis Operational Conversion Unit Southern Air Command 32 TA Wing June 1984 PAF Base Masroor Mirage III
1 PFT Squadron Primary Flying Training Air Defence Command Primary Flying Training Wing 1947 PAF Academy Asghar Khan Super Mushshak
2 PFT Squadron Primary Flying Training Air Defence Command Primary Flying Training Wing 1947 PAF Academy Asghar Khan Super Mushshak
1 BFT Squadron Basic Flying Training Air Defence Command Basic Flying Training Wing July 1974 PAF Academy Asghar Khan T-37B/C
2 BFT Squadron Basic Flying Training Air Defence Command Basic Flying Training Wing July 1974 PAF Academy Asghar Khan T-37B/C
1 AJT Squadron Advanced Jet 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 / K-8P
Shooter Squadron Lead-In Fighter Training Northern Air Command 37 Combat Training Wing 11 December 2017 PAF Base M M Alam F-7P
Transport Conversion School Transport Conversion Air Defence Command 35 Composite Air Transport Wing April 1975 PAF Base Nur Khan C-130

Transport Squadrons

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Squadron Nickname Role Command Wing Date Established Base Aircraft Notes
No. 6 Squadron Antelopes Air Transport Northern Air Command No. 35 Air Mobility Wing 1 December 1942 PAF Base Nur Khan C-130

L-100

 [8]
No. 12 Squadron Burraqs VIP Transport Northern Air Command No. 35 Air Mobility Wing March 1950 PAF Base Nur Khan A319

GIV-SP Global 6000 Citation Excel

 [9]
No. 21 Squadron Globe Trotters Air Transport Southern Air Command No. 40 Air Mobility Wing 15 November 2006 PAF Base Faisal C-130

Saab 2000

 [10]
No. 41 Squadron Albatross VIP Light Communication Northern Air Command No. 35 Air Mobility Wing June 1966 PAF Base Nur Khan Phenom 100

Y-12II
No. 52 Squadron Markhors Air Transport Northern Air Command No. 35 Air Mobility Wing 14 March 2020 PAF Base Nur Khan CN-235
Super King Air		 [11]

Unmanned Squadrons

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Squadron Nickname Role Command Wing Date Established Base Aircraft Notes
No. 60 Squadron Pegasus Reconnaissance No. 42 Wing April 2007 PAF Base Murid Shahpar [12]
No. 61 Squadron Armed reconnaissance No. 42 Wing April 2007 PAF Base Murid Burraq Shahpar [12]
No. 62 Squadron Hoopoes ISR & OCU No. 42 Wing September 2003 PAF Base Murid Falco [12]
No. 63 Squadron Harriers ISR Northern Air Command 10 August 2021 PAF Base M M Alam Wing Loong II [12]
No. 64 Squadron ISO Northern Air Command No. 42 Wing March 2022 PAF Base Murid Bayraktar TB2 [12]
No. 65 Squadron Knights Multi-role No. 42 Wing March 2023 PAF Base Murid Bayraktar Akinci [12]

See also

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References

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Footnotes

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  1. ↑ Warnes, Alan (July 2010). "On The Edge". Air Forces Monthly (July 2010). United Kingdom: Key Publishing Limited: 56. Archived from the original on 6 June 2010. 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.
  2. 1 2 Pakistan Air Force, The Story of the Pakistan Air Force 1988-1998: A Battle Against Odds, Islamabad: Shaheen Foundation, 2000 (p. 290)
  3. 1 2 3 "Orbats".
  4. ↑ "Pakistan tries to flex muscles; Creates PAF's "Aggressor Squadron" along the border with India in the Mushaf area". 20 March 2019.
  5. ↑ "Pride of Pakistan JF-17 Thunder inducted into PAF CCS". The Nation. 2015-01-27. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  6. ↑ "JF-17 Thunder aircraft inducted in PAF Combat Commanders' School". 26 January 2015.
  7. ↑ "JF-17 Thunder inducted in PAF Combat Commanders School | SAMAA".
  8. ↑ "No. 6 Squadron Antelopes". Wikipedia. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  9. ↑ "No. 12 VIP Squadron". Wikipedia. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "No. 21 Air Mobility Squadron". Wikipedia. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "No. 52 Air Mobility Squadron". Wikipedia. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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.
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