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Pakistan Air Force
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Pakistan Air Force (Urdu: ??? ??????, Pak Faza'ya) (PAF) is the Aviation branch of the Pakistan armed forces and is responsible for defending Pakistani air-space from intrusions. It also provides air support for ground troops. Air Force Day is celebrated in Pakistan on the 7 September, the day after the annual celebration of the Pakistan Defense Day. On Air Force Day the air force has air shows and other events to mark the PAF's role in defending the nation.
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Pakistan Air Force (Urdu: ??? ??????, Pak Faza'ya) (PAF) is the Aviation branch of the Pakistan armed forces and is responsible for defending Pakistani air-space from intrusions. It also provides air support for ground troops. Air Force Day is celebrated in Pakistan on the 7 September, the day after the annual celebration of the Pakistan Defense Day. On Air Force Day the air force has air shows and other events to mark the PAF's role in defending the nation. The Pakistan Air Force has 65,000 full-time personnel and operates 523 combat aircraft, making it the seventh largest in the world.
Mission statement
The primary mission statement of the PAF was given by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan during his address to the passing out cadets of the Pakistan Air Force Academy Risalpur on 13 April, 1948. His following statement has been taken as an article of faith by all coming generations of PAF personnel:
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But the present scenario has required and enabled the Force to come up with an improved and up-to-date Mission Statement:
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History
Origin (1947 - 1951)
The Royal Pakistan Air Force (RPAF) was formed in 1947 following the departure of the British from South Asia and with it the creation of the Royal Indian Air Force. The RPAF began with 2,332 personnel, a fleet of 24 Tempest II fighter-bombers, 16 Hawker Typhoon fighters (also called Tempest I), two H.P.57 Halifax bombers, 2 Auster aircraft, twelve North American Harvard trainers and ten de Havilland Tiger Moth biplanes. It also got eight C-47 Dakota cargo planes which it used to transport supplies to soldiers fighting in the 1947 War in Kashmir against India. However, it allegedly never received all the planes it was alloted at the time of partition of the sub-continent. It started with 7 operational airbases scattered all over the provinces. The prefix Royal was removed when Pakistan gained the status of Republic on 23 March, 1956. It has since been called Pakistan Air Force (PAF).
Operating these inherited aircraft was far from ideal in Pakistan's diverse terrains, deserts and mountains; frequent attrition and injuries did not make the situation any better. However, by 1948 the air force acquired better aircraft such as the Hawker Sea Fury fighter-bomber and the Bristol Freighter. These new aircraft gave a much-needed boost to the morale and combat capability of the Pakistan Air Force; 93 Hawker Fury and roughly 50-70 Bristol Freighter aircraft were inducted into the PAF by 1950.
The jet age (1951 - 1961)
Although the Pakistan Air Force had little funds to use and markets to choose from, it entered the jet age quite early. Initially it had planned to acquire US-built F-94Cs, F-86s, or F-84s and produce its order in Pakistan. However, lack of funds and strong British pressure persuaded the PAF to acquire the British Supermarine Attacker. The first squadron equipped with these aircraft was the Number-11 "Arrow". The Supermarine Attacker had a rather unsatisfactory service in the Pakistan Air Force with frequent attrition and maintenance problems.
In 1957 the Pakistan Air Force received 100 American-built F-86 Sabres under the U.S. aid program. Squadron after squadron in the PAF retired its Hawker Furys and Supermarine Attackers, and replaced them with F-86 jet fighters. In 1957 thirty-six year old Air Marshal Asghar Khan became the Pakistan Air Force's first commander-in-chief; his tenure saw a change of PAF discipline, professionalism and quality which even today leaves its positive mark on the PAF. During his eight-year command the PAF saw modernization and re-equipment programs, as well as stricter and better training.
The PAF recorded its first kill on 10 April 1959 when an Indian Air Force English Electric Canberra plane on photo reconnaissance mission over Rawalpindi was shot down.
Indo-Pakistan War of 1965
With the acquisition of a number of modern fighter jets from the United States, such as F-86 and F-104, the PAF, though outnumbered by a ratio of 2:1, was able to establish qualitative superiority over the Indian Air Force (IAF). According to some Pakistani sources, the PAF's superior fighter jets and better training helped it establish commanding air superiority over the conflict zones. However, some Western observers noted that PAF pilots found the F-104 extremely difficult to handle because of which they weren't as effective as IAF's Folland Gnat. The F-86F performed reasonably well over IAF's Hawker Hunters but had trouble in dealing with the Gnats, which earned the nickname Sabre Slayers. The PAF, however, was able to inflict heavy losses on the Indians when it launched a preemptive strike and caught IAF's air bases by surprise.
By the time the conflict ended, the PAF lost about 20 aircraft while the IAF lost 90 to 120 aircraft. According to Indian sources, most of the IAF aircraft were lost on ground and it actually enjoyed a lower attrition rate (losses per 100 sorties) compared to the PAF during the course of the conflict.
Six-Day War
In between the war of 1965 and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, PAF sent its pilots to many Arab nations during the Six-Day War. Pakistani pilots flew in the Air Forces of Jordan, Egypt and Iraq, recording 3 confirmed kills against the Israeli Air Force (including Mirages, Mystères and Vautours) without losing any of their own planes. Flight Lieutenant Saif-ul-Azam was decorated by both Jordanian and Iraqi governments for shooting down Israeli planes.
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
In December 1971, India and Pakistan went to war over erstwhile East Pakistan. On November 22, 10 days before the start of a full-scale hostilities, four Pakistani Air Force F-86 Sabre jets attacked Indian and Mukti Bahini positions near the Indian-Bangladeshi border in the Battle of Garibpur, and hostilities commenced. In what became the first ever dogfight over Bangladeshi skies, three of the 4 PAF Sabres were shot down by IAF Gnats. December 3 saw the formal declaration of war following massive preemptive strikes by the Pakistan Air Force against Indian Air Force installations in the west. The PAF targets were Indian bases in Srinagar, Ambala, Sirsa, Halwara and Jodhpur on the lines of Israeli Operation Focus. Indian sources claim the strikes failed. After the IAF retaliated, the PAF carried out more defensive sorties.
As the war progressed, the Indian Air Force continued to battle the PAF over conflict zones, but the number of sorties flown by the PAF gradually decreased day-by-day. The lack of coordination between Pakistan's air force and army was evident during the Battle of Longewala when the PAF was unable to come to aid the ground forces despite repeated requests by the Pakistan Army. The PAF did not intervene during the Indian Navy's raid on Karachi, a Pakistani naval port city. Some sources state that a commander decided it was the task of the Pakistan Navy alone to defend Karachi.
At the end of the war, the Indian Air Force claimed it had shot down 94 PAF aircraft, including 54 F-86 Sabres. According to some sources, the overall attrition rate (losses per 100 sorties) was 0.48 for the IAF and 1.42 for the PAF, the PAF flying 2914 combat sorties while the IAF flew 7,346 combat sortiesduring the conflict.According to a PAF officer, 61.5% of PAF's sorties were defensive while 65.5% of IAF's sorties were offensive.
Yom Kippur War
During the war 16 PAF pilots volunteered to go to the Middle East in order to support Egypt and Syria but by the time they arrived, Egypt had already been pushed into a ceasefire. Syria remained in a state of war against Israel. Eight (8) PAF pilots started flying out of Syrian Airbases; they formed the A-flight of 67 Squadron at Dumayr Airbase. The Pakistani pilots flew Syrian MiG-21 aircraft conducting CAP missions for the Syrians. Flt. Lt. A. Sattar Alvi became the first Pakistani pilot, during the Yom Kippur War, to shoot down an Israeli Mirage in air combat. He was honored by the Syrian government. Other aerial encounters involved Israeli F-4 Phantoms; Pakistan Air Force did not lose a single pilot or aircraft during this war. The Pakistani pilots stayed on in Syria until 1976, training Syrian pilots in the art of air warfare.
Soviet-Afghan War
The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 in support of the pro-Soviet government in Kabul, which was being hard-pressed by Mujahadeen rebel forces, marked the start of a decade-long occupation. Mujahadeen rebels continued to harass the occupying Soviet military force as well as the forces of the Afghan regime that it was supporting. The war soon spilled over into neighbouring Pakistan, with a horde of refugees fleeing to camps across the border in an attempt to escape the conflict. In addition, many of the rebels used Pakistan as a sanctuary from which to carry out forays into Afghanistan, and a steady flow of US-supplied arms was carried into Afghanistan from staging areas in Pakistan near the border. This inevitably resulted in border violations by Soviet and Afghan aircraft attempting to interdict these operations.
Between May 1986 and January 1989, PAF F-16s shot down at least ten intruders from Afghanistan. Four of the kills were Afghan Su-22s bombers, three were Afghan transports (two An-26s and one An-24), and one was a Soviet Su-25 bomber. Most of these kills were achieved using the AIM-9 Sidewinder, but a Su-22 was destroyed by cannon fire and the one An-24 crash landed after being forced to land upon interception.
The new generation (1983 - 1989)
In 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. The violent Soviet invasion brought hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees to Pakistan. With the war being critical to Pakistan's national sovereignty and integrity, the PAF once again sought out modernization, including the procurement of new generation fighter aircraft. France offered its new Mirage 2000, while the PAF's senior officers were interested in procuring American F-16 or F-18L fighters. Initially the Americans refused to sell the F-16 or F-18L and instead offered F-20, F-5E/F or A-10 aircraft. Eventually the new Republican administration of Ronald Reagan approved the sale of F-16s to Pakistan, and in 1981 an agreement was made to supply 34 General Dynamics F-16A and 12 F-16B "Fighting Falcon" aircraft to the Pakistan Air Force.
The F-16s were delivered under the "Peace Gate" Foreign Military Sales Program; the first six were delivered in 1983 under "Peace Gate-I" while the remaining 34 arrived by 1986, under the "Peace Gate-II" program. Between 1986 and 1988 Pakistani F-16s took part in frequent skirmishes with Soviet and Afghan aircraft.
Pakistani F-16s typically carry two all-aspect AIM-9Ls on the wingtip rails, along with a pair of AIM-9Ps on the outermost underwing racks. The F-16s also have an important strike role for which they are fitted with the French-built Thomson-CSF ATLIS laser designation pod and have the capability to deliver Paveway laser-guided bombs. The ATLIS was first fitted to Pakistani F-16s in January 1986, which became the first non-European aircraft to be qualified for the ATLIS pod.
During the late 1980s, the Pakistan Air Force's Air Defence system also underwent modernization, including the induction and integration of new land-based AN/TPS-47 radars and new Crotale Surface-to-air missiles. Attempts to acquire a new AWACS aircraft were also made - with the E-3 Sentry being desired, but the U.S. would not sell it and instead offered the E-2 Hawkeye.
In 1988 the Pakistan Air Force sought to replace its F-6s and Mirages by 1997 with the procurement of new aircraft; initially a mix of Mirage 2000 and F-16A/B Block-15OCU were to be acquired alongside 90 or so F-7 (Chinese MiG-21). However in 1988 the death of Zia-ul-Haq and Soviet disengagement from Afghanistan reduced Pakistan's value as an US ally and sanctions were put in place by US authorities quoting a suspected nuclear program. Since 2002 the F-6 has been phased out of Pakistan Air Force and the last flight and farewell ceremony to the F-6 aircraft was held at Pakistan Air Force Base Samungli (Quetta Baluchistan), Wing Commander Arif had the honour of flying the last sortie of the F-6 aircraft in the presence of PAF Chief and Chinese Air Force high officials.
Pakistan has ordered a total of 111 F-16A/B aircraft. Of these, 71 were embargoed by the US due to Pakistan's nuclear weapons program. Of these 71, 28 were actually built but were flown directly to the AMARC at Davis-Monthan AFB for storage.
Over the years, various plans were conceived for these 28 aircraft: Pakistan wanted to get the aircraft or their money back; they were offered to various nations, none of which were interested; ultimately, the US Navy and USAF entered them into service as aggressor aircraft.
After Pakistan's help in the war on terror, the US lifted the embargo. In 2005, Pakistan requested 24 new Block 50/52 F-16C/Ds (with option for as much as 55 aircraft). At this moment, it is still debated in the US wether these aircraft will be delivered.
The Lost Decade (1990-2001)
From 1990 Pakistan was hit by American military embargoes in response to Pakistan's nuclear weapons development; these embargoes prevented the Pakistan Air Force from acquiring the 71 new-built F-16s from the U.S. After the 1998 nuclear tests and 1999 military coup, Pakistan was hit by further sanctions not only from the U.S. but other Western nations as well; it would not be until 2002 when the U.S. finally ended most of the embargoes. During the 1990s the Pakistan Air Force strived for alternative sources for its new generation fighter requirement; the French Dassault Mirage 2000-5 was chosen but was too expensive to obtain.
This forced Pakistan to rely heavily on China for military aircraft which are often plagued with issues of quality. Pakistan and China worked together to develop the K-8 trainer. Pakistan has funded the development the cost-effective JF-17 aircraft by China which would then be inducted into the Pakistan Air Force and the Air Forces of other impoverished Third World countries. China has no plans to induct the JF-17 into its Air force [No plant has been set up for serial production of the aircraft in China]. This project is a major joint venture between Pakistan Air Force and China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation along with Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC). The research and development cost of this project is between 450 to 500 million US dollars. It is financed almost completely by the government of Pakistan. Estimated cost per aircraft will be around 20 million US dollars. As of 2007, Pakistan had started manufacturing JF-17s in Kamra and the first delivery of two planes has taken place in March, 2007.But the mass production started in January 2008 the 8 JF-17 delivered to Pakistan and two are in transit.
Kargil war
The Pakistan Air Force did not take part in the Kargil War. Several sources claim that this decision was taken so as to prevent the escalation of the conflict.
Pakistan Army forces shot down an Indian Air Force fighter aircraft, a Mig-21, on 27 May 1999 near the India-Pakistan border. This aircraft had allegedly violated the LoC and crossed into Pakistani air space (searching for an Indian Air Force Mig-27 that had come down earlier due to a engine flame-out) before being shot down by Pakistani surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems, most likely the american Stinger system. Reportedly, an Indian Mi-8 transport helicopter was also shot down by Pakistani forces.
According to Indian sources, MiG-29 combat aircraft of the Indian Air Force, equipped with beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missiles, locked on to Pakistan Air Force combat aircraft, reportedly the F-16s, numerous times during the conflict but did not engage them because India and Pakistan were not officially at war
Age of counter-terrorism (2001-Present)
In light of Pakistan's significant contribution to the War on Terror, the United States and Western European countries, namely Germany and France, lifted their defense related sanctions on Pakistan; enabling the country to once again seek advanced Western military hardware. Since the lifting of sanctions, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) became heavily active in evaluating potential military hardware; such as new fighter planes, radars, land based air-defense systems, etc. The key factor had been the lifting of American sanctions on Pakistan; including restrictions on military combat aircraft - namely the Lockheed Martin F-16. However the urgent relief needed in Kashmir after the October 8 Earthquake forced the Pakistan Military to stall its modernization programme; so it could divert its resources for fuel and operations during the rescue effort.
The Bush administration on July 24, 2008 informed the US Congress it plans to shift nearly $230 million of $300 million in aid from counterterrorism programs to upgrading Pakistan's aging F-16s. The Bush administration previously announced on June 27, 2008 it was proposing to sell Pakistan ITT Corporation's electronic warfare gear valued at up to $75 million to enhance Islamabad's existing F-16s. Pakistan has asked about buying as many as 21 AN/ALQ-211(V)9 Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suite pods, or AIDEWS, and related equipment. The proposed sale will ensure that the existing fleet is "compatible" with new F-16 Block 50/52 fighters being purchased by Islamabad. Electronic warfare targets such things as radars, communications links, computer networks and advanced sensors.
The modernization stall would end in April 2006 when the Pakistani cabinet approved the Pakistan Air Force's proposal to procure 350 new fighters from the U.S. and China. The Pakistan Government has launched the Armed Forces Development Programme - 2019 (AFFDP-2019); this programme will oversee the modernization of the Pakistan Air Force from now to 2019. Some of the latest advanced combat aircraft are being sought from the US and China.
PAF will be looking for additional F-16 MLU from third parties. In July 2007 Commander of Central Air Command of US Air Force Lt-Gen Gary L. North, and another US Aviator flew a pair of F-16s to Pakistan for them to be handed to the Pakistan Air Force. This was very extraordinary and unforeseen, because US CENTCOM commandants don't distribute jet aircraft to other partner nations. The Pakistan Air Force will consist of a variety of air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions.
On December 13, 2008, the Government of Pakistan alleges that two Indian Air Force aircraft were intercepted by the PAF kilometres within Pakistani airspace. This charge was denied by the Indian government.
Awards for valor
The Nishan-e-Haider (Urdu: ???? ????) (Order of Ali), is the highest military award given by Pakistan. Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas (1951–August 20, 1971) is the only officer of the PAF to be awarded the Nishan-e-Haider. Other heroes of the PAF include:
- Squadron Leader Muhammad Mahmood Alam also known as M. M. Alam who supposedly shot down five IAF jets in less than 30 seconds, though the claim is not proven.
- Squadron Leader Sarfraz Rafiqui who did not leave the battle, and even with his jammed guns continued to chase an Indian Air Force pilot until finally being shot down by a Hunter aircraft, flown by the IAF.
Personnel and command structure
The Air Force has about 65,000 active personnel with about 10,000 reserves. The Chief of the Air Staff holds the operational and administrative powers. He is assisted by a Vice Chief of Air Staff and six Deputy Chiefs of the Air Staff who control and administer the Administration, Operations, Engineering, Supply (logistics), Personnel, and Training divisions of the PAF respectively. Recently, the Air Headquarters (AHQ) has been moved from Chaklala to Islamabad. Major Air force bases are at Shorkot, Karachi, Quetta, Kamra, Peshawar, Mianwali, Sargodha and Risalpur. There are many war-time operational forward bases, civilian airstrips and runways as well as emergency motorways.
Ranks
The current officer rank structure follows Royal Air Force designations:
In 2006 the Pakistan Air Force changed the rank insignia for its officers, abandoning the ring insignia in favour of an army-style one based on stars.
Air Force General Staff
- Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed — Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) (to retire on 18 March, 2009)
- Air Marshal Shahid Lateef — Vice Chief of Air Staff (VCAS) (superseded)
- Air Marshal Hifazatullah Khan — Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Personnel) (superseded)
- Air Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman — Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Operations) (Chief of the Air Staff-designate)
- Air Marshal Muhammad Yousaf — Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Supply)
- Air Vice Marshal Faaiz Amir — Air Officer Commanding, Northern Air Command (NAC)
- Air Vice Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt — Air Officer Commanding, Southern Air Command (SAC)
- Air Vice Marshal Farhat Hussain Khan — Chief Project Director JF-17 Thunder
- Air Vice Marshal Atique Rafique — Air Officer Commanding, Central Air Command (CAC)
- Air Vice Marshal Wasimuddin — Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Administration)
- Air Vice Marshal Mohammad Hassan — Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Training)
- Air Vice Marshal Aftab Hussain — Air Officer Commanding, Air Defence Command (ADC)
- Air Vice Marshal Sohail Gul Khan — Director General Air Force Strategic Command (AFSC) and Inspector General Air Force (IGAF)
- Air Vice Marshal Qasim Masood Khan — Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Engineering)
List of Chiefs
- Air Vice Marshal Allan Perry-Keene (August 15, 1947 - February 17, 1949)
- Air Vice Marshal Richard Atcherley (February 18, 1949 - May 6, 1951)
- Air Vice Marshal Leslie William Cannon (May 7, 1951 - June 19, 1955)
- Air Vice Marshal Arthur McDonald (June 20, 1955 - July 22, 1957)
- Air Marshal Asghar Khan (July 23, 1957 - July 22, 1965)
- Air Marshal Nur Khan (July 23, 1965 - August 31, 1969)
- Air Marshal Abdul Rahim Khan (September 1, 1969 - March 2, 1972)
- Air Marshal Zafar Chaudhry (March 3, 1972 - April 15, 1974)
- Air Chief Marshal Zulfiqar Ali Khan (April 16, 1974 - July 22, 1978)
- Air Chief Marshal Anwar Shamim (July 23, 1978 - March 5, 1985)
- Air Chief Marshal Jamal A. Khan (March 6, 1985 - March 8, 1988)
- Air Chief Marshal Hakimullah (March 9, 1988 - March 9, 1991)
- Air Chief Marshal Farooq Feroze Khan (March 9, 1991 - November 8, 1994)
- Air Chief Marshal Abbas Khattak (November 8, 1994 - November 7, 1997)
- Air Chief Marshal Parvaiz Mehdi Qureshi (November 7, 1997 - November 20, 2000)
- Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir (November 20, 2000 - February 20, 2003)
- Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat (March 18, 2003 - March 18, 2006)
- Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed (March 18, 2006 - March 18, 2009)
- Air Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman (Inauguration on March 19, 2009)
Special Forces
Special Service Wing (SSW) is an independent commando division of the Pakistan Air Force. It is an elite special operations force based upon the US Air Force's 1st Special Operations Wing unit and the US Army's Ranger units. This the newest component to the Special Forces of Pakistan. The division has recently been created and is fielding between 700 to 1,000 men in one company.
Women in PAF
Females have been enrolled in the Pakistan Air Force since its creation, but their induction had been limited to administrative branches only. However, females are now allowed to enroll in the aerospace engineering and fighter pilot programs of the nation's air force academy. Two batches of female fighter pilots graduated in year 2006 bringing out the first female pilots of the Pakistan Air Force.
On March 31 2006, Saba Khan, Nadia Gul, Mariam Khalil and Saira Batool were among 36 aviation cadets who received their wings after three and a half years of regular training. Saira Amin, a female cadet, has made history by being the first woman pilot to have won the Sword of Honour in any defence academy of Pakistan, at the passing out parade of the 117th GD (P) at Risalpur Of the first four female pilots, none qualified for a fighter aircraft squadron of the Air Force. They are therefore now part of the light communication squadron of Pakistan Air Force.
Bases
These are the bases from which the PAF planes operate during peace time. They have complete infrastructure of hardened shelters, control towers, workshops, ordnance depots etc. These are ten in number and are:
Fleet
The PAF today operates F-16s, F-7PGs, F-7MPs, Mirage-IIIs, JF-17 Thunders, A-5Cs and Mirage-Vs, around 500 to 530 fighters organized in 27 front-line squadrons, the total of aircraft exceeds over 700. The PAF is upgrading fighter aircraft such as the Mirage ROSE-I that can utilize BVR, and Mirage ROSE-III that can carry out surgical strike missions using long-range glide bombs. Pakistan has also started manufacturing 150 (can go up to 250-300 fighters) JF-17 Thunder fighters at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex at Kamra. The first batch of two aircraft were commissioned in PAF on 23 March 2007.
PAF currently has an inventory of around 523 fighter planes. However, at any given instance, around 400 fighters are operational. Some 70 of the Mirages have been given ROSE upgrades - allowing them to engage in BVR combat; and also allowing them to either perform high-altitude air-superiority missions or specialized surface strike missions. The F-7PGs and F-16s are the PAF's main multi-role fighter aircraft - while the F-7MP is a limited interceptor/ground-strike aircraft. It is likely however that the PAF will procure another 14 F-16A/B MLU-3 and 18 F-16C/D Block-52+ and start retiring its F-7MPs and non ROSE Mirages.
On April 12, 2006, the Government of Pakistan authorized the purchase of up to 77 F-16 fighter planes from the US. But this number was reduced to 40 when US declined to reduce the unit price of the aircraft. The Government of Pakistan had also authorized the purchase of 36 Chinese J-10B fighter aircraft
PAF also received its first of five Saab 2000 AWACS aircraft from Sweden, on April 3, 2008..
On March 15, 2008, Pakistan received 6 JF-17 fighters from China. The Pakistan Air Force currently has 8 JF-17 Thunder aircraft in service.
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Comments
|-----
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Fighter Aircraft
|-----
| JF-17 Thunder || || Multirole Fighter|| JF-17 || 8|| 150 ordered, a total of 250 expected
|-----
| Chengdu FC-20 || || Advanced Multirole & Air Superiority || FC-20 (J-10B) || 0|| at least 36 expected, to be delivered in 2014/2015
|-----
| Chengdu F-7 || ||
Interceptor
Multirole Fighter
Trainer
Trainer|| Total
F-7PG
F-7MP
FT-7P
FT-7PG || 192
48
120
15
9 ||
|-----
| Nanchang A-5 || || Ground Support || A-5C || 41|| Being phased out
|-----
| Lockheed-Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon || ||
Multirole Fighter
Multirole fighter || Total
F-16A/B
F-16C/D || 44
44
0 || 24 F-16C/D ordered
|-----
| Dassault Mirage III || ||
Strike & Ground Support
Interceptor
Reconnaissance ||Total
Mirage-IIIEP
Mirage-IIIO
Mirage-IIIR/RP ||121
63
43
15 || Mirage-IIIO being phased out; Mirage-IIIEP and Mirage-IIIR/RP undergoing ROSE upgrade program
|-----
| Dassault Mirage 5 || ||
Naval Support
Ground Support
Ground Support
Training || Total
5PA3
5PA2
5PA
5VDPA2 || 60
12
18
28
2 || All Mirage 5's undergoing ROSE upgrade program
|-----
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Trainer Aircraft
|-----
| K-8 Karakorum ||
|| Intermediate Trainer ||K-8P ||20 ||
|-----
| J-7 Trainers (FT) || ||
Advanced trainer
Advanced Trainer
Advanced Trainer ||
FT-5
FT-6
FT-7 ||
25
15
20
|-----
| Mushak || ||
Basic Trainer
Basic Trainer ||
Super Mushak MFI-395
Mushak MFI-17 ||
20
80 ||
|-----
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Transports
|-----
| Ilyushin Il-78 || ||Ariel Refueling Aircraft || IL-78 || 2 || Out of 4 Ordered
|-----
| Antonov An-26 || ||Medium-lift Transport || An-26 || 1 ||
|-----
| C-12 Huron || || Medium-lift Transport || C-12 || 1 ||
|-----
| Boeing 707 || || Heavy-lift Transport || Boeing 707 ||3 ||
|-----
| Lockheed C-130 Hercules || ||
Tactical
Tactical ||Total
C-130B
C-130E ||12
5
7 || Out of 24 ordered.
|-----
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Helicopter
|-----
| Mi-171 || || Transport/Attack ||Mi-8 || 4 ||
|-----
| SA-316/319 || ||
Utility
Utility
Utility || Total
SA-3160
SA-316B
SA-319B ||
15
7
4
4 || Local production of SA319B
|-----
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Airborne Early Warning and Control
|-----
| Saab 2000 || ||AEW&C || Saab 2000 AEW&C || 1 || Out of 5 ordered
|-----
| Dassault Falcon 20 || ||ELINT || 20F || 2 || In service.
|}
Ground SAM vehicles
- FT-2000/HQ-9, In October 2003, it was reported that China had closed a deal with Pakistan to supply an unspecified number of FT-2000 missiles to counter India’s early warning capabilities.
- Crotale 2000/3000/4000, approx 25 systems
- MBDA Spada 2000, European missile house MBDA has officially confirmed the sale of its Spada 2000 air defense system to the Pakistan Air Force.Speaking on April 16, Chief Executive Antoine Bouvier said the deal for 10 batteries was worth 415 million euros ($656.56 million) over five years, adding that the contract was signed last August and put into force in February.
- FIM-92 Stinger
- RBS-70 Rayrider, 250 Launchers, 900 Missiles
- HQ-2B(SA-2), approx 32 launchers 600msl
- PL-9, combined with twin 35/37 mm guns
- GDF-002 35 mm radar Controlled Systems, approx 400
Engineering & maintenance capability
Since independence the PAF has developed and nurtured an extensive in house engineering, maintenance and repair capability with significant inputs and guidance from the US. Indigenization of in house maintenance has enabled it to maintain force levels and high serviceability and reliability rates. The premier maintenance organizations supporting the mission of the Pakistan Air Force are Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (which includes F6 Rebuild Factory, Mirage Rebuild Factory, Aircraft Manufacturing Factory, Kamra Avionics Rebuild Factory), No 102 Air Engineering Depot (Aero-Engines Overhaul), No 107 Air Engineering Depot (Avionics), No 108 Air Engineering Depot (Ground Radars), No 109 Air Engineering Depot (Missiles), No 130 Air Engineering Depot (Transport Aircraft Overhaul). R&D work is done at Central Technical Development Unit, Special Task Group & No 118 Software Engineering Depot. The PAF managed / supported Air Weapon Complex (AWC) produces a number of high technology armament and munitions for the air force.
The College of Aeronautical Engineering (CAE) situated at PAF Academy Risalpur is a world class Aeronautical Engineering College which graduates engineers in aerospace and avionics and is one of the best technical institutes in Pakistan and fulfills requirements for both Army & Navy satisfactorily.
Apart from this Pre Trade Training School, School Of Aeronautics, School Of Electronics, Administrative Trades Training School and School Of Logistics fulfills different manpower requirements of Pakistan Air Force.
PAF is also supporting a university (AIR UNIVERSITY and IAA) at PAF complex Islamabad which provide civil students and military cadet with world class engineering facilities.
The Future
Pakistan Air Force has an extensive fleet modernisation plan for 2015, consisting of the following aircraft:.
| Aircraft | Number | Attrition | Current | Role |
|---|
| Chengdu FC-20 | 36 | 0 | 36 | Advanced Multirole & Air Superiority | | 24 | 0 | 24 | Advanced Multi-Role | | 46 | 0 | 46 | Advanced Multi-Role |  PAC JF-17 Thunder | 250 | 0 | 250 | Advanced Multi-Role | | 55 | 0 | 55 | Interceptor | | Dassault Mirage ROSE Upgrade | 138 | 0 | 138 | Naval and Ground Support | | 5 | 0 | 5 | Airborne Early Warning & Control | | ZDK-03 AEW&C | 5 | 0 | 5 | Airborne Early Warning & Control | | 4 | 0 | 4 | Airborne Aerial Refueling Tanker | | Lockheed Martin C-130B/E | 30 | 6 | 24 | Medium-Lift Transport | | CN-235 | 4 | 0 | 4 | Light-Lift Transport | | K-8 Karakorum | 60 | 0 | 60 | Intermediate Jet Trainer |
More future procurements
Pakistan Air Force is also procuring the following weaponry and equipment
- AIM-120C5 AMRAAM beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (500 ordered).
- AIM-9M-8/9 Sidewinder within-visual-range air-to-air missile (200 ordered).
- AIM-9M-1/2 Sidewinder within-visual-range air-to-air missile (upgraded to AIM-9M-8/9, 300 ordered).
- SD-10 beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile.
- PL-9C within-visual-range air-to-air missile.
- Denel A-Darter within-visual-range air-to-air missile.
- Harpoon Block II anti-ship missile.
- Mectron MAR-1 anti-radiation missile (100 ordered).
- Lockheed Martin Sniper XR targeting pod (18 ordered).
- Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW)
- Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM)
See also
Footnotes
External links
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