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. 4 Sqn		2011-	Shaanxi ZDK-03	AEW&C
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 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.[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—2016 2016-	F-86 Sabre Shenyang F-6, FT-6 F-16 F-7P JF-17 Thunder	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

Key:

SAR = Search and Rescue

MR = Maritime Reconnaissance

References

Footnotes

Bibliography