List of Pakistan Air Force squadrons

Pakistan Air Force

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A squadron in air force, army aviation, or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft and their aircrews, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft. In Pakistan Air Force (PAF) squadrons are the most basic flying unit. In 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.[2] 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. The one and only squadron having the honour of Nishan-e-Haider (Pakistan's highest military gallantry award).[3]
No. 3 Sqn	Angels	2009 2009—	Saab 2000 Erieye	AEW&C	First Saab 2000 Erieye delivered in December 2009.[4]
No. 4 Sqn		2011 2011—	Shaanxi ZDK-03	AWACS
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 52+	PR, TA MR
No. 6 Sqn	Antelopes	1947 1947—1950 1950—1963 1963—	C-47 C-47, Freighter C-130	ATS	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 led 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.[5]
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.[6]
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.[7]
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 --	In June 1951 the unit was restored as a fighter interceptor squadron and became the PAF's first jet squadron with the introduction of the Supermarine Attacker.
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, B707. Airbus A310, Phenom 100, Gulf Stream IV	VIP	On March 25, 2009 Embraer delivered the first Phenom 100 jet to PAF. PAF has acquired four Phenom 100 jets.[8]
No. 14 Sqn	Tail choppers	1948 1948—1949 1949— 1956—1971 1972—1986 1986—1993 1993—2016 2017-	F-86 Sabre Shenyang F-6, FT-6 F-16 F-7P JF-17 Thunder	OCU AS MR	Oldest squadron of the Pakistani Air Force. Formally known as "Shaheens".
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	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.[9]
No. 17 Sqn	Tigers	1957 1958—1977 1977—2001 2001—	F-86 Sabre Shenyang F-6 F-7PG	AS	Operated F-6 from 1977 to 2001.[10]
No. 18 Sqn	Sharp Shooters	1958 1958—1980 1981—1989 1989— 1999—	F-86 Sabre Mirage 5 Chengdu F-7P Chengdu F-7P	TA TA OCU
No. 19 Sqn	Sherdils	1958 1958—1977 1977—1989 1990—2014 2014—	F-86 Sabre Shenyang F-6 Chengdu F-7P/FT-7 F-16A/B Block15 ADF	AS AS OCU MR, AD	(Note: Not to be confused with PAF aerobatics Team Sherdils.) (English Meaning: Lion-hearted)
No. 20 Sqn	Cheetahs	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	(Formally known as "Eagles".)
No. 21 Sqn	Burraqs	2008 2008—	C-130	ATS	Raised in 2008 at Faisal Base thus upgrading its status to an operational base.
No. 22 Sqn	Ghazis	1984 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.[10]
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.[11] Changed to specialist night attack role in March 1997. in 1998, The squadron became a full-fledged operational squadron as Mirage-V EF (ROSE-II) aircraft arrived in Pakistan.[12]
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.[13][14]
No. 28 Sqn	Phoenix	2018 2018—	JF-17 Thunder	MR	# 28 Multirole Squadron raised on 28 Feb 2018 at PAF Base Samungli[15]. Motto: خودی کو جس نے فلک سے بلند تر دیکھا
No. 81 Sqn	Kangaroos		Alouette III	SAR	Stationed at PAF Base Peshawar.[16]
No. 82 Sqn	Stallion		Alouette III	SAR	Stationed at PAF Base Mushaf.[16]
No. 83 Sqn	Kites		Alouette III	SAR	Stationed at PAF Base Rafiqui.[16]
No. 84 Sqn	Dolphins		Alouette III Mi-171 Sh	SAR	Stationed at PAF Base Masroor.[16]
No. 85 Sqn			Alouette III	SAR	Stationed at PAF Base Samungli.[16]
No. 86 Sqn	Ababeel		Alouette III	SAR	Stationed at PAF Base Mianwali.[16]
No. 87 Sqn	Dragonflies		Alouette III Mi-171 Sh	SAR	Stationed at PAF Base Minhas.[16]
No. 88 Sqn	Rams		Leonardo AW139	SAR	Stationed at PAF Base Shahbaz.[17]
Aerobatics Display Team	Sherdils	1972—2010 2010—	T-37 Tweet K-8 Karakorum	Formation Aerobatics Team	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.

Combat Commanders School Squadrons

Key:

• AD = Air Defence
• AS = Air Superiority
• MR = Multi-role
• TA = Tactical Attack
• MS = Maritime Support
• HB = Heavy Bomber
• LB = Light Bomber
• FI = Fighter Interceptor
• FB = Fighter Bomber
• PR = Photographic survey and Reconnaissance
• ATT = Advanced Tactics/Training
• OCU = Operational Conversion Unit
• SAR = Search and Rescue
• MRTT = Multi-Role Tanker Transport
• AEW&C = Airborne Early Warning and Control
• ELINT = Electronic Intelligence

Inactive squadrons

Key:

• T = Transport
• MR = Multi-role
• SAR = Search and Rescue
• T&E = Test and Evaluation

References