Pakistan Air Force

Tahira Bibi
Fatima Nisar
INTRODUCTION:
The Pakistan Air Force is the aerial warfare branch of the
Pakistan Armed Forces, tasked primarily with the aerial
defense of Pakistan, with a secondary role of providing air
support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy.
The PAF has a tertiary role of providing strategic air
transport and logistics capability to Pakistan.
As of 2017, per IISS, the PAF has 70,000 personnel. It
operates 883 aircraft. Its primary mandate and mission is to
provide in synergy with other inter-services, the most
efficient, assured and cost effective aerial Defense of
Pakistan.
Since its establishment in 1947, the PAF has been involved
in various combat operations, providing aerial support to
Inter–Services's operations and relief The Pakistan Air
Force is currently commanded by Air Chief Marshal
Mujahid Anwar Khan.
Bases:
 The PAF has 21 air bases, comprising 13 flying bases and 8 non-flying
bases. Flying bases are operational bases from which aircraft operate
during peacetime and wartime; whereas non-flying bases conduct
either training, administration, maintenance, Air Defense operations
or mission support.

Flying bases:
• PAF Base Peshawar (Peshawar)
• PAF Base M.M. Alam (Mianwali)
• PAF Base Nur Khan (Rawalpindi)
• PAF Base Faisal (Karachi)
• PAF Base Risalpur (Pakistan Air Force Academy)

Non-flying bases:
• PAF Base Korangi Creek (Karachi)
• PAF Base Malir (Karachi)
• PAF Base Kallar Kahar (Kallar Kahar)
• PAF Base Kohat (Kohat)
• PAF Base Kalabagh (Nathia Gali)
Aircraft:
 Initially, the institution was equipped with Harvard,
Tiger Moth, Auster, Fury and Tempest aircraft. A major
change came with the introduction of the Lockheed T-33
jet trainer in 1955 and the air fleet of the academy was
transformed from propeller to jet engine aircraft.
 Currently, the trainer aircraft at the PAF Academy are T-
37, Mushshak MFI-17 and the K-8, the last of which was
brought into service with the PAF in 1995. The academy
has two aviation wings and a squadron.
 The Primary Flying Training Wing consists of MFI-17
while Basic Flying Training Wing consists of T-37 aircraft.
An Advance Flying Training squadron is composed of K-
8 aircraft. Additionally, the Academy has a fleet of Para
Motor Gliders which are used to provide aerial
experience to the cadets. These gliders are being looked
after by Military Training Wing.
AIRCRAFT GALLERY:

Name of Aircraft Tenure

F-16 1983 To Date
DA-20 FALCON 1973 To Date
F-27 FOKKER 1965 To Date
HALIFAX 1948 - 1954
MIRAGE 1968 To Date
MUSHSHAK MFI-17 1974 To Date
F-104 STAR FIGHTER 1961 - 1972
TIGER MOTH 1947 - 1957
VISCOUNT 1956 - 1968
JF-17 THUNDER 2005 To Date
Military Training Wing:
 The role of the Military Training Wing formerly Cadet's Wing
aimed to impart general service training and develop physical
fitness, discipline, personal and leadership qualities in cadets.
The subjects covered include:
• Air operations
• Use of Small Arms
• Field craft (camping, field exercises etc.)
• Leadership
• Character building
• Physical exercises
• Military drill
• Sports activities
• The cadets mess
• Extracurricular activities
• Literary activities
• Educational visits
• Student counseling
Passing Out Parade:
 The Passing Out Parade is held every six months, when
the graduating cadets of flying and engineering pass
out.
 The end of the parade is marked by the aerobatics
display of the PAF Aerobatic team renowned as the
Sherdils. The awards presented to the cadets at this
occasion are:
• Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee's Trophy (for
Best performance in General Service Training in CAE)
• Chief of Air Staff's Trophy (for Best performance in
Engineering Discipline)
• Chief of Air Staff's Trophy (for Best performance in
Flying)
• Sword of Honor (for Best performance in CAE)
• Sword of Honor (for Best performance in CFT)