Pakistan Air Force: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Military Unit |
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|unit_name = Pakistan Air Force |
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|image = [[Image:Pakistani Air Force Ensign.svg|150px|Pakistan Air Force Ensign]] |
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|caption = Pakistan Air Force Ensign |
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|start_date = [[1947]] (as the Royal Pakistan Air Force) |
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|country = [[Pakistan]] |
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|allegiance = |
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|branch = |
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|type = |
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|role = |
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|size = 65,000 personnel<br>10,000 reservists |
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|command_structure = [[Military of Pakistan|Pakistan Armed Forces]] |
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|garrison = [[Islamabad]] |
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|garrison_label = Air Headquarters |
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|equipment = |
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|equipment_label = |
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|nickname = |
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|motto = |
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|colors = |
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|colors_label = |
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|march = |
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|mascot = |
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|battles = |
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|anniversaries = |
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|decorations = |
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|battle_honours = |
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<!-- Commanders --> |
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|current_commander= [[Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed|Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed]] |
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|current_commander_label= [[Chief of Air Staff (Pakistan)|Chief of the Air Staff]] |
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|ceremonial_chief= |
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|ceremonial_chief_label= |
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|colonel_of_the_regiment= |
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|colonel_of_the_regiment_label= |
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|notable_commanders= |
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<!-- Insignia --> |
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|identification_symbol= [[Image:Pafbadge.png|75px]] |
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|identification_symbol_label= PAF Logo |
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|identification_symbol_2= [[Image:Roundel of the Pakistani Air Force.svg|75px]] |
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|identification_symbol_2_label= The Roundel |
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<!-- Aircraft --> |
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|aircraft_attack= |
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|aircraft_bomber= |
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|aircraft_electronic= |
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|aircraft_fighter= |
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|aircraft_interceptor= |
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|aircraft_recon= |
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|aircraft_patrol= |
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|aircraft_trainer= |
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|aircraft_transport= |
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}} |
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'''Pakistan Air Force''' ([[Urdu]]: '''پاک فضائیہ''', ''Pak Faza'ya'') ('''PAF''') is the [[aircraft|Aviation]] branch of the [[Military of Pakistan|Pakistan armed forces]] and is responsible for defending Pakistani air-space from intrusions. It also provides air support for ground troops. Every year the 7th of September, as day after the annual celebration of the Pakistan Defense Day, the day is celebrated as the Air Force day in Pakistan. That day Air shows and other programs mark the PAF's role in defending the nation. |
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==Mission statement== |
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[[Image:Pafbadge.png|thumb|left|150px|Pakistan Air Force Logo]] |
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[[Image:Roundel of the Pakistani Air Force.svg|thumb|140px|right|The PAF's insignia resembles the low-visibility [[roundel]] used by the [[Royal Air Force]]. The tail marking is the [[flag of Pakistan]]]] |
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The primary mission statement of the PAF was given by [[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:<ref> [http://www.defencejournal.com/march98/paf1.htm] Quaid-e-Azam, 13 April 1948, during his visit |
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to the PAF Flying Training School at Risalpur </ref> |
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:{{cquote|''A country without a strong air force is at the mercy of any aggressor, Pakistan must build up her Air Force as quickly as possible, it must be an efficient Air Force, second to none...''|20px|20px|}} |
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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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:{{cquote|''To provide, in synergy with other Armed Forces, an efficient, assured and cost-effective aerial defense of Pakistan''|20px|20px|}} |
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==History== |
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===Origin (1947 - 1951)=== |
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[[Image:PakFury.jpg|thumb|left|280px|PAF Hawker Fury]] |
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The '''Royal Pakistan Air Force''' (RPAF) was formed in [[1947]] following the [[Partition of India]]. The RPAF began with 2,332 personnel, a fleet of 24 [[Hawker Tempest|Tempest II]] fighter-bombers, 16 [[Hawker Typhoon]] fighters (also called Tempest I), two [[Handley Page Halifax|H.P.57 Halifax]] bombers, 2 [[Auster]] aircraft, twelve [[T-6 Texan|T-6G Harvard]] trainers and ten [[De Havilland Tiger Moth|Tiger Moth]] [[biplanes]]. It also got eight [[C-47 Dakota]] cargo planes which it used to transport supplies to soldiers fighting in the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947|1947 War]] in [[Kashmir]] against [[India]]. However, it allegedly never received all the planes it was alloted at the time of partition of sub-continent<ref>[http://www.defencejournal.com/2001/september/wars.htm]The table below gives an idea of the number of aircraft allotted to Pakistan and the number initially given</ref>. 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). |
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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]]. |
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===The jet age (1951 - 1961)=== |
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[[Image:PAFF-86s.jpg|thumb|220px|PAF F-86 Sabres]] |
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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-94 Starfire|F-94Cs]], [[F-86 Sabre|F-86s]], or [[F-84 Thunderjet|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. |
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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. |
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The PAF recorded its first kill on [[10 April]] [[1959]] when an [[Indian Air Force]] [[English Electric Canberra]] plane allegedly on photo reconnaissance mission over [[Rawalpindi]] was shot down.<ref>Aces High [http://jaganpvs.tripod.com/combatfaq.htm#2 Combat Pilots of the Subcontinent] Retrieved on [[January 31]], [[2008]]</ref> |
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===Indo-Pakistan War of 1965=== |
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{{main|Indo-Pakistani War of 1965}} |
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[[Image:B-57s.jpg|thumb|200px|[[PAF]] B-57s dropped over 600 tons of bombs on enemy territory during the 1965 war]] |
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On [[September 6]], [[1965]] war broke out between India and Pakistan. The first PAF [[F-104]] kill of an Indian Air Force [[Dassault Mystère|Mystère IV]] with one of its Sidewinders came on the afternoon of [[September 7]], making it the first combat kill with a Mach 2-capable aircraft. Pakistan attacked India using F-104, F-86, B-57 and [[T-33 Shooting Star|RT-33A]]. In addition to blunting the Indian army's attacks in several sectors, and inflicting damage to some IAF bases, PAF claimed 104 aircraft destroyed for a loss of 19 aircraft. |
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===The Six Day War=== |
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{{main|Six-Day War}} |
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In between the [[Second Kashmir War|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 [[Royal Jordanian Air Force|Jordan]], [[Egypt Air Force|Egypt]] and [[Iraq]], recording 3 confirmed kills against the Israeli Air Force (including [[Mirage (aircraft)|Mirages]], [[Dassault Super Mystère|Mystères]] and [[Sud Aviation Vautour|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.<ref>[http://www.defencejournal.com/2002/april/combat.htm Defence Journal: Excellence in Air Combat: PAF's Forte]</ref> |
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===Indo-Pakistani War of 1971=== |
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{{main|Bangladesh Liberation War|Indo-Pakistani War of 1971}} |
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[[Image:Pafsabres np s.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Two PAF Sabres pull-away after a low level attack{{puic|Image:Pafsabres np s.jpg|log=2008 March 13}}]] |
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Despite its considerably smaller size and limited capabilities, the PAF launched a [[Preemptive war|pre-emptive]] strike, [[Operation Chengiz Khan]], against Indian airbases. The PAF's strikes were based on the same strategy of preemptive neutralization of enemy air capability followed by the [[Israeli Air Force]] on [[Egyptian Air Force|Egyptian]] and [[Syrian Air Force|Arab]] air forces in [[Operation Focus]] during the [[six day war]]. This strike, took the IAF by surprise and managed to overwhelm the Indians on the western front. However, on the eastern front, it did not achieve its mission objectives of completely neutralizing the [[Indian Air Force|IAF]] because the PAF only had one operational squadron stationed in [[East Pakistan]]. The IAF was able to regroup and launch retaliatory strikes that same night and focused their strategy on the Eastern wing, thus avoiding a major confrontation along the western border. This allowed the [[Indian Air Force|IAF]] to achieve air supremacy towards the end of the war in the East Pakistan since the airbase in Dhaka suffered extensive damage. Although at least 32 Indian fighters were shot down in the Eastern wing.<ref name="PAF 71 war kills/claims">[http://www.pakdef.info/pakmilitary/airforce/1971war/pafkills71.html PAF Kills/Claims - 1971 War]. Retrieved on [[February 13]], [[2008]]</ref> |
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The PAF found itself outgunned in East Pakistan. It only had one squadron of 16 old vintage [[F-86 Sabre]] aircraft facing fourteen squadrons of [[Indian Air Force]]. On the night of 3rd and 4th December, this squadron fought against 11 squadrons of [[IAF]] and was surprisingly able to repulse the attack.<ref>Shabbir, Usman [http://www.pakdef.info/pakmilitary/airforce/1971war/warinwest.html PAF Begins War in the West : 3 December]. Retrieved on [[February 13]], [[2008]]</ref> However, it was taken out of the war when [[IAF]] bombed the only airfield in Dhaka, twice <ref>[http://www.geocities.com/menofvalor2001/ Geocities: Men of Valor]</ref>. As a result the airspace over East Pakistan could not be effectively patrolled by the PAF, this adversely effected the ability of the Pakistan army to defend East Pakistan. The PAF claims to have destroyed 107 Indian fighters planes during the war.<ref name="PAF 71 war kills/claims"/> |
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===Yom Kippur War=== |
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{{main|Yom Kippur War}} |
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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 Air Force|Syrian]] [[Mig-21]] aircraft conducting CAP missions for the Syrians. [[Flt. Lt. A. Sattar Alvi]] became the first [[Pakistan]]i pilot, during the [[Yom Kippur War]], to shoot down an Israeli Mirage in air combat<ref>[http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/2848/foes/pakistan.htm Geocities: Shabaz Over Golan]</ref><ref>[http://www.mabaig.co.uk/paf/PAINTINGS/mideast/MidEast.html MA Baig.co.uk: PAF Action - Middle East Conflicts]</ref>. He was honored by the Syrian government<ref name="scramble">[http://www.scramble.nl/pk.htm PAF Overview] from [[Scramble (magazine)|''Scramble'': Dutch Aviation Society Magazine]]</ref>. Other aerial encounters involved Israeli F4 [[F-4 Phantom II|Phantoms]]; Pakistan Air Force did not lose a single pilot or aircraft during this war. The [[Pakistan]]i pilots stayed on in [[Syria]] until 1976, training [[Syrian Air Force|Syrian]] pilots in the art of air warfare. |
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===Soviet-Afghan War=== |
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{{main|Soviet war in Afghanistan|Soviet-Afghan War}} |
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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. |
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Between May 1986 and January 1989, PAF F-16s shot down at least ten intruders from Afghanistan<ref>{{cite web | title=Pakistan Border Battles | work=Pakistan Military Consortium | url=http://www.pakdef.info/pakmilitary/airforce/war/indexafghanwar.html | accessdate=2006-05-20}}</ref>. 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 <ref name="scramble"/>. 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.<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_337.shtml ACIG: Indian-Subcontinent Database]</ref><ref>[http://airwar.ru/history/locwar/afgan/awar/awar.html AirWar: Афганистан. Война в возду]</ref><ref>[http://www.sci.fi/~fta/ruaf-3-6.htm Russian Air Force, Chapter 3]</ref> |
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===The new generation (1983 - 1989)=== |
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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 Fighting Falcon|F-16]] or [[F/A-18 Hornet|F-18L]] and instead offered [[F-20 Tigershark|F-20]], [[Northrop F-5|F-5E/F]] or [[A-10 Thunderbolt II|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. |
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The [[F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16]]s 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. |
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Pakistani F-16s typically carry two all-aspect [[AIM-9 Sidewinder|AIM-9L]]s 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{{Fact|date=February 2007}}. 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.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} |
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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]]. |
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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. |
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===The "lost" decade (1991 - 2001)=== |
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<!--Someone should explain what the "lost" means. Does it refer to the planes lost due to sanctions etc.?--> |
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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. |
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This forced Pakistan to rely heavily on China for military aircraft. Pakistan and China worked together to develop the [[Hongdu JL-8|K-8]] trainer, and continue to cooperate on the [[JF-17]] project which aims to provide both nations with a new-generation fighter. This project is a major joint venture between Pakistan Air Force and China 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 up to 50%-59% by the government of Pakistan. Estimated cost per aircraft will be around 20 million US dollars. As of 2007, Pakistan had started manufacturing [[JF-17]]s 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. |
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===Kargil war=== |
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[[Image:IAFshotdown.PNG|right|thumb|220px|Tail of a downed Mig-27 of Indian Air Force]] |
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During the [[Kargil War]] with India, while none of the PAF aircraft played a role, the Pakistan Air Force Air Defence unit shot down an [[Indian Air Force]] [[MiG-27]] on [[May 27]], [[1999]] which had entered Pakistani air-space. Pakistan also shot down another [[Mig-21]],<ref> [http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/may/27kash5.htm Two IAF planes shot down]. ''Rediff''. Retrieved on [[February 13]], [[2008]]</ref> which had come into the area in search of the earlier downed pilot. Pakistan claimed that these two aircraft had violated the LoC and crossed 7 miles in to Pakistani air space before being shot down by PAF Air Defence and Pakistan Army [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM]] and [[Air-to-air missile|AAM]], though India maintains that it was in Indian territory and that the aircraft were shot down by the infiltrators using [[FIM-92 Stinger|Stinger]] missiles that they claim were later recovered.<ref>[http://www.acdis.uiuc.edu/Research/OPs/Chandran/contents/chapter2.html Limited War with Pakistan: Will It Secure India’s Interests? by Suba Chandran], ACDIS, [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]]</ref> |
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The Mig-27 pilot, Flt Lt [[Kambampati Nachiketa|Nachiketa]] successfully ejected, and he was captured by Pakistani ground forces as a [[Prisoner of War|POW]]. Post Kargil war and ceasefire, he was returned to India. |
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Four [[Indian Air Force|IAF]] personnel were killed on [[May 28]] when a [[MI-17]] helicopter was shot down by Pakistan air defence units.<ref> [http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99may29/head.htm IAF MI-17 helicopter shot down: 4 killed]. ''The Tribune''. Retrieved on [[February 13]], [[2008]]</ref> |
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==Pakistan Air Force today== |
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The PAF today operates [[F-16]]s, [[Chengdu J-7|F-7PG]]s, [[Chengdu J-7|F-7MP]]s, [[Dassault Mirage III|Mirage-III]]s, [[JF-17 Thunder]]s, A-5Cs and [[Dassault Mirage 5|Mirage-V]]s, around 500 to 530 fighters<ref>[http://www.defence.pk/inventory.html PAF Inventory]</ref> 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 [[Beyond Visual Range missile|BVR]], and Mirage ROSE-III that can carry out surgical strike missions using long-range glide bombs. According to some resources, these planes match or exceed the performance of [[F-16]]s in some aspects.<ref>[http://www.defencejournal.com/2002/april/combat.htm Excellence in Air Combat: PAF’s Forte]</ref> 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]]. |
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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-10]] fighter aircraft<ref>[http://news.ft.com/cms/s/77f14c88-ca52-11da-852f-0000779e2340.html Finacial Times: Pakistan to buy F-16s from US]</ref><ref>[http://www.dawn.com/2006/04/13/top8.htm Cabinet okays F-16 purchase]</ref> |
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PAF also received its first of five Saab 2000 AWACS aircraft from [[Sweden]], on [[April 3]] [[2008]].<ref>http://www.geo.tv/home/16281.htm</ref> |
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==PAF Awards for valor== |
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{{main|Nishan-e-Haider}} |
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The [[Nishan-e-Haider]] (Urdu: نشان حیدر) (Order of Bravery), 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: |
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* [[Squadron Leader]] [[Muhammad Mahmood Alam]] also known as [[M. M. Alam]] who shot down five IAF jets in less than 30 seconds |
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* [[Squadron Leader]] [[Sarfraz Rafiqui]] who did not leave the battle even with his jammed guns kept chasing an Indian Air Force pilot (Adi Rustom Gandhi) until finally being shot down by Gandhi. |
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On March 15, Pakistan received 6 JF-17 fighters from China. The Pakistan Air Force currently has 8 JF-17 Thunder aircraft in service. |
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==PAF Command structure== |
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===Personnel and command=== |
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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. |
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===Ranks=== |
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The current officer rank structure follows Royal Air Force designations: |
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{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" align="center" width="100%" |
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!colspan=12 bgcolor="green"| '''PAF Commissioned Officer Ranks''' |
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|- |
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!''Rank'' |
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![[Air Chief Marshal]] |
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![[Air Marshal]] |
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![[Air Vice Marshal]] |
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![[Air Commodore]] |
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![[Group Captain]] |
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![[Wing Commander (rank)|Wing Commander]] |
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![[Squadron Leader]] |
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![[Flight Lieutenant]] |
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![[Flying Officer]] |
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![[Pilot Officer]] |
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|- |
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!''Uniform insignia'' |
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|align="center"| <!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:Badge Air Chief Marshal.JPG|60px]] --> |
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|align="center"| <!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:Badge Air Marshal.JPG|60px]] --> |
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|align="center"| <!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:Badge Air Vice Marshal.JPG|60px]] --> |
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|align="center"| <!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:Badge Air Commodore.JPG|60px]] --> |
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|align="center"| <!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:Badge Group Captain.JPG|60px]] --> |
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|align="center"| <!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:Badge Wing Commander.JPG|60px]] --> |
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|align="center"| <!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:Badge Squadron Leader.JPG|60px]] --> |
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|align="center"| <!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:Badge Flight Lieutenant.JPG|60px]] --> |
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|align="center"| <!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:Badge Flying Officer.JPG|60px]] --> |
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|align="center"| <!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:Badge Pilot Officer.JPG|60px]] --> |
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|} |
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{| border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" align="center" width="100%" |
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!colspan=12 bgcolor="green"| '''PAF Junior Commissioned Officers and enlisted Ranks''' |
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|- |
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!''Rank'' |
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!Chief Warrant Officer |
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![[Warrant Officer]] |
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!Assistant Warrant Officer |
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!Senior Technician |
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!Corporal Technician |
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![[Junior Technician]] |
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![[Senior Aircraftsman]] |
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![[Leading Aircraftsman]] |
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![[Aircraftsman]] |
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|- |
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!''Uniform insignia'' |
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|align="center"| |
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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 <ref>[http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/july-2006/6/index10.php PAF rank insignia change]</ref>. |
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===List of PAF Chiefs=== |
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# Air Vice Marshal [[Allan Perry-Keane]] ([[August 15]], [[1947]] - [[February 17]], [[1949]]) |
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# Air Vice Marshal [[Richard Atcherley|R.L.R. Atcherley]] ([[February 18]], [[1949]] - [[May 6]], [[1951]]) |
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# Air Vice Marshal [[Leslie Cannon (RAF officer)|L.W. Cannon]] ([[May 7]], [[1951]] - [[June 19]], [[1955]]) |
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# Air Vice Marshal [[A.W.B. McDonald]] ([[June 20]], [[1955]] - [[July 22]], [[1957]]) |
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# Air Marshal [[Asghar Khan]] ([[July 23]], [[1957]] - [[July 22]], [[1965]]) |
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# Air Marshal M. [[Nur Khan]] ([[July 23]], [[1965]] - [[August 31]], [[1969]]) |
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# Air Marshal A. [[Rahim Khan]] ([[September 1]], [[1969]] - [[March 2]], [[1972]]) |
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# Air Marshal [[Zafar Chaudhry]] ([[March 3]], [[1972]] - [[April 15]], [[1974]]) |
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# Air Chief Marshal [[Zulfiqar Ali Khan]] ([[April 16]], [[1974]] - [[July 22]], [[1978]]) |
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# Air Chief Marshal [[M. Anwar Shamim]] ([[July 23]], [[1978]] - [[March 5]], [[1985]]) |
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# Air Chief Marshal [[Jamal A. Khan]] ([[March 6]], [[1985]] - [[March 8]], [[1988]]) |
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# Air Chief Marshal [[Hakimullah]] ([[March 9]], [[1988]] - [[March 9]], [[1991]]) |
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# Air Chief Marshal [[Farooq Feroze Khan]] ([[March 9]], [[1991]] - [[November 8]], [[1994]]) |
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# Air Chief Marshal [[Abbas Khattak]] ([[November 8]], [[1994]] - [[November 7]], [[1997]]) |
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# Air Chief Marshal [[Parvaiz Mehdi Qureshi]] ([[November 7]], [[1997]] - [[November 20]], [[2000]]) |
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# Air Chief Marshal [[Mushaf Ali Mir]] ([[November 20]], [[2000]] - [[February 20]], [[2003]]) |
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# Air Chief Marshal [[Kaleem Saadat]] ([[March 18]], [[2003]] - [[March 18]], [[2006]]) |
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# Air Chief Marshal [[Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed]] ([[March 18]], [[2006]] - present) |
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==PAF Special Forces== |
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{{main|Special Service Wing}} |
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Special Service Wing (SSW) is an independent commando division of the [[Pakistan Air Force]]. It is an elite special operations force similar based upon the US Air Force's [[Air Force Special Tactics|Special Tactics]] unit and the US Army's [[United States Army Rangers|Ranger]] unit. This the newest component to the Special Forces of Pakistan. The division is still being trained and built up which will initially field between 700 to 1,000 men in 1 Company and is expected to be combat ready soon. |
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==PAF Bases== |
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<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:1969ranibag.jpg|thumb|PAF Aircraft, nicknamed "Ranibag" from 1969]] --> |
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{{main|Air Bases of Pakistan Air Force}} |
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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 : |
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* [[Mushaf Airbase|PAF Mushaf]] ([[Sargodha]]) |
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* [[Masroor Airbase|PAF Masroor]] ([[Karachi]]) |
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* [[Rafiqui Airbase|PAF Rafiqui]] ([[Shorkot]]) |
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* [[Peshawar Airbase|PAF Peshawar]] ([[Peshawar]]) |
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* [[Samungli Airbase|PAF Samungli]] ([[Quetta]]) |
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* [[Mianwali Airbase|PAF Mianwali]] ([[Mianwali]]) |
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* [[Minhas Airbase|PAF Minhas]] ([[Kamra]]) |
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* [[Chaklala Airbase|PAF Chaklala]] ([[Rawalpindi]]) |
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* [[Faisal Airbase|PAF Faisal]] ([[Karachi]]) |
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* [[Risalpur Airbase|PAF Risalpur]] ([[Risalpur]]) |
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==Female role in PAF== |
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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.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4861666.stm BBC:Pakistan gets women combat pilots]</ref> |
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On March 31st 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<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4533367.stm Pakistan's first women fighter pilots]</ref> 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. |
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==PAF Fleet== |
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[[Image:PAF F-16A Lahore.jpg|thumb|200px|A Pakistan Air Force F-16A approaching the runway at Lahore.]] |
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[[Image:PAFC-130.jpg|thumb|200px|PAF C-130 Hercules]] |
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{{main|List of aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force}} |
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PAF currently has an inventory of 500 to 530 fighter planes<ref>[http://www.defence.pk/Aircraft_Inventory/ Pakistan Defense]</ref>. However, at any given instance, around 400 fighters are operational<ref>PAF ACM's interview to Alan Warnes in the Air Force Monthly, June 2007</ref>. 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-7P is a limited interceptor/ground-strike aircraft. It is likely however that the PAF will procure another 26 F-16A/Bs to start retiring its F-7Ps. |
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{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0 0 1em 1em; border:5px solid # #3cb371; font-size:90%; font-family:Arial, Helvetica" |
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|- bgcolor="green" |
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| align="center" colspan="5"| Current Aircraft |
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|- bgcolor="efefef" |
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|+ '''Pakistan Air Force Aircraft Fleet''' |
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! Aircraft || Inducted || Attrition || Current || Role |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|CHN}}/[[Image:Flag of Pakistan.svg|border|25px]] [[JF-17|Chengdu JF-17 Thunder]] || 10 || 0 || 10 || Multi-Role (240 more planned) |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|CHN}} [[Chengdu J-10|Chengdu J-10 Vigorous Dragon]] || 0 || 0 || 0 || Multi-Role 36 planned |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|USA}} [[F-16|General Dynamics F-16A Block-15 Fighting Falcon]] || 30 || 6 || 24 || Multi-Role <ref>[http://www.defence.pk/inventory.html Aircraft Inventory<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|USA}} [[F-16|General Dynamics F-16B Block-15 Fighting Falcon]] || 12 || 2 || 11 || Training & Multi-Role <ref>[http://www.f-16.net/f-16_users_article14.html Pakistan Fiza'ya |
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Pakistan Air Force - PAF]</ref> |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|USA}} [[F-16|General Dynamics F-16 C/D Block 52 Fighting Falcon]] || 0 || 0 || 0 ||Multi-Role 18 ordered + 18 options <ref>[http://www.defence.pk/news/publish/Pakistan_opted_for_F-16_than_JAS_Grippen_20070916.php Pakistan opted for F-16 than JAS Gripen<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> <ref>[http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.mhtml?d=111611 Northrop Grumman to Provide Pakistan Air Force with F-16 Fire Control Radar Systems<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|CHN}} [[Chengdu F-7|Chengdu F-7PG Skybolt]] ||48||2||46 || Interceptor <ref>[http://www.defence.pk/inventory.html Aircraft Inventory<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|CHN}} [[Chengdu J-7|Chengdu F-7MP Skybolt]] || 120 || 30 || 90 || Interceptor & Ground-Support <ref>[http://www.paktribune.com/exclusive/exclusivedetails.php?id=66 Pakistan News PakTribune.Com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|CHN}} [[Chengdu J-7|Chengdu FT-7P Skybolt]] ||15||0||15|| Training |
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<ref>[http://www.defence.pk/inventory.html Aircraft Inventory<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|CHN}} [[Chengdu J-7|Chengdu FT-7PG Skybolt]] ||9||0||9|| Training |
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<ref>[http://www.defence.pk/inventory.html Aircraft Inventory<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Dassault Mirage III|Dassault Mirage ROSE-I (Mirage-IIIO)]] (Refurbished: Ex-Australian)<ref name="ROSE-I">'''ROSE-I:''' Retrofit Of Strike Element (ROSE) is actually the major (Avionics + Radar) upgrade that the PAF Mirage fleet under went during the 90s. ROSE-I includes upgraded cockpit instrumentation, Grifo-M Radar and weapons system reconfiguration. (BVR-able).</ref> || 32 || 4 || 28 || Interceptor |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Dassault Mirage III|Dassault Mirage ROSE-I (Mirage-IIIDP)]]<ref name="ROSE-I"/> || 5 || 1 || 4 || Training & Interceptor |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Dassault Mirage 5|Dassault Mirage ROSE-II (Mirage-VEF)]] (Refurbished: Ex-French)<ref name="ROSE-II">'''ROSE-II:''' This included the Sagem implemented MAESTRO Nav/Attack System. (Strike).</ref> || 19 || 3 || 16 || Strike & Ground-Support |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Dassault Mirage 5|Dassault Mirage ROSE-II (Mirage-VDF)]] (Refurbished: Ex-French)<ref name="ROSE-II"/> || 6 || 0 || 6 || Training & Strike & Ground-Support |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Dassault Mirage 5|Dassault Mirage ROSE-III (Mirage-VEF)]] (Refurbished: Ex-French)<ref name="ROSE-III">'''ROSE-III:''' This included the Sagem MAESTRO Nav/Attack and FLIR. (Precision Strike).</ref> || 14 || 0 || 14 || Precision Strike |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Dassault Mirage III|Dassault Mirage-IIIEP]] || 18 || 6 || 16 || Interceptor & Ground-Support |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Dassault Mirage III|Dassault Mirage-IIIEL]] (Refurbished: Ex-Lebanese) || 10+1DP || 0 || 11 || Interceptor & Ground-Support |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Dassault Mirage III|Dassault Mirage-IIIDA]] (Refurbished: Ex-Australian) || 7 || 0 || 7 || Training |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Dassault Mirage III|Dassault Mirage-IIIRP]] || 13 || 3 || 10 || Reconnaissance |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Dassault Mirage 5|Dassault Mirage-VPA3]] || 12 || 3 || 9 || Naval Support |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Dassault Mirage 5|Dassault Mirage-VPA2]] || 18 || 3 || 35 || Ground Support |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Dassault Mirage 5|Dassault Mirage-VPA]] || 28 || 0 || 28 || Ground Support |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Dassault Mirage 5|Dassault Mirage-VDPA2]] || 2 || 0 || 2 || Training |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Dassault Mirage 5|Dassault Mirage-V]] (Refurbished: Ex-Libyan) || 10 || 0 || 10 || Interceptor & Ground-Support |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|CHN}} [[Nanchang Q-5|Nanchang Q-5/A-5C Fantan]] || 52 || 12 || 40 || Ground-Support & Tactical Strike (Currently being phased out). |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|CHN}} [[Shenyang J-5|Shenyang J-5 Fresco]] || 20 || 0 || 20 || Fighter Conversion (Advanced Jet Training) |
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|- |
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| [[Image:Flag of Pakistan.svg|border|25px]] [[Hongdu JL-8|Karakoram K-8]] || 150 || 0 || 150 || Basic & Intermediate Jet Training |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Cessna 172]] || || || 50 || |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Cessna T-37]] || 67 || 0 || 98 || Basic Jet Training |
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|- |
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| [[Image:Flag of Pakistan.svg|border|25px]] [[Super Mushak|Super Mushak MFI-395]] || 20 || 0 || 20 || Primary Training |
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|- |
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| [[Image:Flag of Pakistan.svg|border|25px]] [[Mushak|Mushak MFI-17]] || 80 || 0 || 80 || Primary Training |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Dassault Falcon 20]] || 2 || 0 || 2 || ELINT/ECM |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|USA}} [[C-130 Hercules|Lockheed Martin C-130B/E]] || 18 || 6 || 12 || Medium-Lift Transport |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Antonov An-26|Antonov An-26 'Curl']] || 1 || 0 || 1 || Medium-Lift Transport |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|Spain}}/{{flagicon|Indonesia}} [[CASA CN-235|CN-235]] || 4 || 0 || 4 || V.I.P & Light-Lift Transport |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|CHN}} [[Harbin Y-12|HAMC Y-12(II)]] || 1 || 0 || 1 || Light-Lift Transport |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Boeing 707]] || 3 || 0 || 3 || VIP Transport |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|NED}} [[Fokker F27|Fokker F-27 200]] || 2 || 1 || 1 || Light Transport |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Dassault Falcon 20]] || 11 || 0 || 1 || VIP Transport |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Beechcraft Super King Air]] || 1 || 0 || 1 || Light Transport |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Lockheed L-100]] || 1 || 0 || 1 || Tactical Transport |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Airbus A310]] || 1 || 0 || 1 || VIP Transport |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Saab 2000]] || 5(order)<ref>http://www.dawn.com/2008/04/04/nat5.htm</ref> || 0 || 1<ref>http://www.geo.tv/home/16281.htm</ref> || Airborne Early Warning |
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|- |
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| {{flagicon|USA}} [[MQ-1 Predator]] || || || || UAV |
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|- |
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| [[Image:Flag of Pakistan.svg|border|25px]] Baaz<ref name="UAV">Both UAVs are manufactured at [[Pakistan Aeronautical Complex]] in Kamra, Pakistan.</ref> || ?? || ?? || ?? || Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) |
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|- |
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| [[Image:Flag of Pakistan.svg|border|25px]] Ababeel<ref name="UAV"/> || ?? || ?? || ?? || Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) |
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|- |
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| [[Image:Flag of Pakistan.svg|border|25px]] Uqaab<ref name="UAV"/> || ?? || ?? || Pakistan || Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) |
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|} |
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====Ground SAM vehicles==== |
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<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:Spada 2000.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Spada 2000 system]] --> |
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*[[Crotale missile|Crotale 2000/3000/4000]], approx 25 systems |
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*[[FIM-92 Stinger]] |
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*[[RBS 70|RBS-70 Rayrider]], 133 Launchers, 400 Missiles |
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*[[S-75 Dvina|HQ-2B(SA-2)]], approx 32 launchers 400msl |
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*[[PL-9]], combined with twin 35/37mm guns |
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*GDF-002 35 mm radar Controlled Systems, approx 200 |
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* Order of Spada 2000, 10 systems |
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* Hijara Anti Armour Bomb (Indigenously Produced) |
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==Engineering & maintenance capability== |
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Since independence the PAF has developed and nurtured an extensive in house engineering, maintenance and repair capability. 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. |
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The [[College of Aeronautical Engineering]] (CAE) situated at [[Pakistan Air Force Academy|PAF Academy Risalpur]] graduates engineers in aerospace and avionics specialty and is a world class institute with a high reputation for the quality of its graduates and fulfills requirements for both army & navy as well as a number of foreign countries. |
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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. |
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==Future plans== |
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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 8th Earthquake forced the Pakistan Military to stall its modernization programme; so it could divert its resources for fuel and operations during the rescue effort. |
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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. According to the [[Business Recorder]], a leading financial newspaper in Pakistan, PAF is interested to increase its strength.<ref>[http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=409827&currPageNo=1&query=&search=&term=&supDate= Pakistan to buy 98 hi-tech aircraft from US and China]</ref> The list includes: |
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*36 [[J-10|J-10A/B]] Vanguard fighters from China |
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*37 F-16A/B Block 15OCU MLU-3 Fighting Falcon (ex-Peace Gate III/IV aircraft) from United States |
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*18 F-16C/D Block 52 Fighting Falcon from United States, with an option for another 18<ref name="F16">''The PAF may procure an additional 18 F-16C/D Block 52.''</ref><ref name="F-16.net">[http://www.f-16.net/news_article2419.html US starts delivery of F-16s to Pakistan]</ref> |
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*250 [[JF-17]] Thunder <ref>''JF-17 fleet may rise upto 250''</ref><ref> GEO News. [http://www.geo.tv/geonews/details.asp?id=3323¶m=1 Two JF-17s Delivered to Pakistan]. ''12 March,2007''</ref> |
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*6 [[Saab 2000]] Erieye [[AWACS]] + 1 Training Aircraft |
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*4 [[Ilyushin Il-78|IL-78 Midas]] Air-to-Air Refueling Aircraft |
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*12 C-130H w/6 reserve C-130H Medium Lift Transport Aircraft |
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*80+ K-8 Intermediate Jet Trainer<ref>''Plans to procure an Advanced K-8 Lead in Jet Trainer to replace the FT-5 and the FT-6 in a fighter conversion role.''</ref> |
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PAF will be looking for additional F-16 [[Mid-life update|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-16]]s 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. Known systems include the following: |
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*500 AIM-120C5 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles. |
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*300 SD-10 Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missiles. |
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*200 AIM-9M-8/9 Within Visual Range Air-to-Air Missiles. |
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*300 AIM-9M-1/2 Within Visual Range Air-to-Air Missiles.(UPGRADED TO AIM-9M-8/9 STANDARD) |
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*500 PL-9C Within Visual Range Air-to-Air Missiles. |
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*300 Harpoon Block II Anti-Ship Missile |
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* 18 targeting pods. |
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==See also== |
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{{commons}} |
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*[[Air Bases of Pakistan Air Force]] |
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*[[Pakistan Aeronautical Complex]] |
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*[[PAF Museum, Karachi]] |
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*[[Mirage in PAF]] |
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*[[List of F-104 Starfighter operators]] |
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==Footnotes== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==References== |
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<div class="references-small"> |
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*[http://www.defence.pk/ Info on Pakistani Defense Site & Online Forum] |
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*[http://www.paffalcons.com/todayhistory/history.php PAF Falcons - Today In History] |
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*[http://www.pakdef.info/ PakDef Site & Online Forum] |
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*[http://orbat.com/site/history/library-new/1946-1990/southasia/paf1947.html History of PAF] |
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*[http://www.paktribune.com/exclusive/exclusivedetails.php?id=77 Pak Tribune on PAF's history] (story 01) |
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*[http://www.paktribune.com/exclusive/exclusivedetails.php?id=63 Pak Tribune on PAF's history] (story 02) |
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*[http://www.defence.pk/Pakistan_Air_Force/ Evaluation of Pakistan Air Force] |
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*[http://www.strategycenter.net/research/pubID.48/pub_detail.asp/ Strategy Center] |
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*[http://www.awc.com.pk/ Air Weapons Complex] |
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*[http://www.paffalcons.com/squadron/index.php PAF s' Squadron] |
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*[http://www.pac.org.pk/ Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) at Kamra] |
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*[http://www.pakistani-weapons.cjb.net/ Pakistani Defense Industry - Export Prospects] |
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*[http://www.paffalcons.com/main.php PAF Enthusiast Website] |
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*[http://www.paffalcons.com/ Deterrence of Pakistan Air Force] |
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*[http://www.asianaviation.com/feature.php#2 PAF Fleet Upgrades & Strength] |
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*[http://www.pakdef.info/pakmilitary/airforce/index.html Mirage Fleet Acquisition History] |
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*[http://forums.pakmilitary.net/index.php?showtopic=5793 Mirage-IIIRP attrition] |
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*[http://www.pakdef.info/forum/showthread.php?p=48531&highlight=85-609#post48531 F-16 Attrition history] |
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*[http://www.paffalcons.com/cas/index.php PAF s' Chief of the Air Staffs] |
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*[http://www.pakdef.info/forum/showthread.php?p=49911&highlight=serial#post49911 F-7 Fleet Serial# and Strength] |
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*[http://www.geocities.com/Baja/Dunes/1107/inven01.htm PAF Fleet Strength: Without Attrition Adjustments] |
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*[http://www.defence.pk/Aircraft_Inventory/ PAF Fleet Strength: Without Attrition Adjustments] |
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*[http://babriet.tripod.com/airforce/attrition/pattrition05.htm PAF Attrition History] |
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*[http://www.warbirds.in/Crashes/crpage.php?qacid=AL&qafdb=PAF&datesall=ON PAF Attrition - Queryable Database] |
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*[http://www.vectorsite.net/avcfury.html Number of Tempest II flights that were divided amongst India & Pak.] |
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</div> |
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==External links== |
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<div class="references-small"> |
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*[http://www.paf.gov.pk/ Pakistan Air Force Official Website] |
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*[http://www.ispr.gov.pk/ Inter Services Public Relations] |
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*[http://www.defence.pk/air_force.html Pakistan Air Force] Comprehensive Database |
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*[http://www.paffalcons.com/ PAF Falcons website] PAF Falcons Website |
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*[http://www.defence.pk/news/publish/aviation.php Pakistan Air Force] Daily News Updates |
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*[http://www.paffalcons.com/news/index.php PAF Falcons News Section] Air Force News Section |
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*[http://www.pafcombat.com Pakistan Air Force Air Combat Website] |
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*[http://www.scramble.nl/pk.htm Pakistan Air Force Overview] courtesy of [[Scramble (magazine)|Scramble]] |
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*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/pakistan/air-force-equipment.htm Information on the Pakistan Air Force] by GlobalSecurity.org |
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*[http://www.pakaviation.com/PVA/Projects/Pakistan_Airfields/ 3D images of major Pakistan Airfields] |
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*[http://www.paktribune.com/exclusive/exclusivedetails.php?id=65 Pakistan Tribune] Article on PAF Fighter Planes: Mirage III/V |
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*[http://www.concordiaexpeditions.com/history.htm Memoirs of a Pakistan Air Force pioneer - 'A Lucky Pilot'] |
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*[http://pak-military.com/index.php?showtopic=6441&st=0 Shahpar - A 31 part Pakistani television seriel based on the daily life in the PAF] |
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*[http://www.xairforces.net/airforces.asp?id=47 Pakistan Fiza'ya - Pakistan Air Force (PakAF)] |
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*[http://www.idaerospace.com Integrated Dynamics Systems,Pakistan] |
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{{Pakistan Military Topics}} |
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[[Category:Pakistan Air Force| ]] |
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[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1947]] |
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[[he:חיל האוויר הפקיסטני]] |
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Revision as of 21:13, 12 May 2008
| Pakistan Air Force | |
|---|---|
 Pakistan Air Force Ensign | |
| Founded | 1947 (as the Royal Pakistan Air Force) |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Size | 65,000 personnel 10,000 reservists |
| Part of | Pakistan Armed Forces |
| Air Headquarters | Islamabad |
| Commanders | |
| Chief of the Air Staff | Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed |
| Insignia | |
| PAF Logo | File:Pafbadge.png |
| The Roundel |  |
Pakistan Air Force (Urdu: پاک فضائیہ, 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. Every year the 7th of September, as day after the annual celebration of the Pakistan Defense Day, the day is celebrated as the Air Force day in Pakistan. That day Air shows and other programs mark the PAF's role in defending the nation.
Mission statement
The primary mission statement of the PAF was given by 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:[1]
A country without a strong air force is at the mercy of any aggressor, Pakistan must build up her Air Force as quickly as possible, it must be an efficient Air Force, second to none...
But the present scenario has required and enabled the Force to come up with an improved and up-to-date Mission Statement:
To provide, in synergy with other Armed Forces, an efficient, assured and cost-effective aerial defense of Pakistan
History
Origin (1947 - 1951)
The Royal Pakistan Air Force (RPAF) was formed in 1947 following the Partition of India. 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 T-6G Harvard trainers and ten 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 sub-continent[2]. 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 allegedly on photo reconnaissance mission over Rawalpindi was shot down.[3]
Indo-Pakistan War of 1965
On September 6, 1965 war broke out between India and Pakistan. The first PAF F-104 kill of an Indian Air Force Mystère IV with one of its Sidewinders came on the afternoon of September 7, making it the first combat kill with a Mach 2-capable aircraft. Pakistan attacked India using F-104, F-86, B-57 and RT-33A. In addition to blunting the Indian army's attacks in several sectors, and inflicting damage to some IAF bases, PAF claimed 104 aircraft destroyed for a loss of 19 aircraft.
The 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.[4]
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Despite its considerably smaller size and limited capabilities, the PAF launched a pre-emptive strike, Operation Chengiz Khan, against Indian airbases. The PAF's strikes were based on the same strategy of preemptive neutralization of enemy air capability followed by the Israeli Air Force on Egyptian and Arab air forces in Operation Focus during the six day war. This strike, took the IAF by surprise and managed to overwhelm the Indians on the western front. However, on the eastern front, it did not achieve its mission objectives of completely neutralizing the IAF because the PAF only had one operational squadron stationed in East Pakistan. The IAF was able to regroup and launch retaliatory strikes that same night and focused their strategy on the Eastern wing, thus avoiding a major confrontation along the western border. This allowed the IAF to achieve air supremacy towards the end of the war in the East Pakistan since the airbase in Dhaka suffered extensive damage. Although at least 32 Indian fighters were shot down in the Eastern wing.[5]
The PAF found itself outgunned in East Pakistan. It only had one squadron of 16 old vintage F-86 Sabre aircraft facing fourteen squadrons of Indian Air Force. On the night of 3rd and 4th December, this squadron fought against 11 squadrons of IAF and was surprisingly able to repulse the attack.[6] However, it was taken out of the war when IAF bombed the only airfield in Dhaka, twice [7]. As a result the airspace over East Pakistan could not be effectively patrolled by the PAF, this adversely effected the ability of the Pakistan army to defend East Pakistan. The PAF claims to have destroyed 107 Indian fighters planes during the war.[5]
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[8][9]. He was honored by the Syrian government[10]. Other aerial encounters involved Israeli F4 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[11]. 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 [10]. 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.[12][13][14]
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[citation needed]. 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.[citation needed]
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.
The "lost" decade (1991 - 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. Pakistan and China worked together to develop the K-8 trainer, and continue to cooperate on the JF-17 project which aims to provide both nations with a new-generation fighter. This project is a major joint venture between Pakistan Air Force and China 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 up to 50%-59% 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
During the Kargil War with India, while none of the PAF aircraft played a role, the Pakistan Air Force Air Defence unit shot down an Indian Air Force MiG-27 on May 27, 1999 which had entered Pakistani air-space. Pakistan also shot down another Mig-21,[15] which had come into the area in search of the earlier downed pilot. Pakistan claimed that these two aircraft had violated the LoC and crossed 7 miles in to Pakistani air space before being shot down by PAF Air Defence and Pakistan Army SAM and AAM, though India maintains that it was in Indian territory and that the aircraft were shot down by the infiltrators using Stinger missiles that they claim were later recovered.[16]
The Mig-27 pilot, Flt Lt Nachiketa successfully ejected, and he was captured by Pakistani ground forces as a POW. Post Kargil war and ceasefire, he was returned to India.
Four IAF personnel were killed on May 28 when a MI-17 helicopter was shot down by Pakistan air defence units.[17]
Pakistan Air Force today
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[18] 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. According to some resources, these planes match or exceed the performance of F-16s in some aspects.[19] 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.
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-10 fighter aircraft[20][21] PAF also received its first of five Saab 2000 AWACS aircraft from Sweden, on April 3 2008.[22]
PAF Awards for valor
The Nishan-e-Haider (Urdu: نشان حیدر) (Order of Bravery), 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 shot down five IAF jets in less than 30 seconds
- Squadron Leader Sarfraz Rafiqui who did not leave the battle even with his jammed guns kept chasing an Indian Air Force pilot (Adi Rustom Gandhi) until finally being shot down by Gandhi.
On March 15, Pakistan received 6 JF-17 fighters from China. The Pakistan Air Force currently has 8 JF-17 Thunder aircraft in service.
PAF Command structure
Personnel and command
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:
| PAF Commissioned Officer Ranks | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Air Chief Marshal | Air Marshal | Air Vice Marshal | Air Commodore | Group Captain | Wing Commander | Squadron Leader | Flight Lieutenant | Flying Officer | Pilot Officer | |
| Uniform insignia | |||||||||||
| PAF Junior Commissioned Officers and enlisted Ranks | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Chief Warrant Officer | Warrant Officer | Assistant Warrant Officer | Senior Technician | Corporal Technician | Junior Technician | Senior Aircraftsman | Leading Aircraftsman | Aircraftsman | ||
| Uniform insignia | |||||||||||
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 [23].
List of PAF Chiefs
- Air Vice Marshal Allan Perry-Keane (August 15, 1947 - February 17, 1949)
- Air Vice Marshal R.L.R. Atcherley (February 18, 1949 - May 6, 1951)
- Air Vice Marshal L.W. Cannon (May 7, 1951 - June 19, 1955)
- Air Vice Marshal A.W.B. McDonald (June 20, 1955 - July 22, 1957)
- Air Marshal Asghar Khan (July 23, 1957 - July 22, 1965)
- Air Marshal M. Nur Khan (July 23, 1965 - August 31, 1969)
- Air Marshal A. 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 M. 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 - present)
PAF Special Forces
Special Service Wing (SSW) is an independent commando division of the Pakistan Air Force. It is an elite special operations force similar based upon the US Air Force's Special Tactics unit and the US Army's Ranger unit. This the newest component to the Special Forces of Pakistan. The division is still being trained and built up which will initially field between 700 to 1,000 men in 1 Company and is expected to be combat ready soon.
PAF 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 :
- PAF Mushaf (Sargodha)
- PAF Masroor (Karachi)
- PAF Rafiqui (Shorkot)
- PAF Peshawar (Peshawar)
- PAF Samungli (Quetta)
- PAF Mianwali (Mianwali)
- PAF Minhas (Kamra)
- PAF Chaklala (Rawalpindi)
- PAF Faisal (Karachi)
- PAF Risalpur (Risalpur)
Female role 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.[24]
On March 31st 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[25] 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.
PAF Fleet
PAF currently has an inventory of 500 to 530 fighter planes[26]. However, at any given instance, around 400 fighters are operational[27]. 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-7P is a limited interceptor/ground-strike aircraft. It is likely however that the PAF will procure another 26 F-16A/Bs to start retiring its F-7Ps.
| Current Aircraft | ||||
| Aircraft | Inducted | Attrition | Current | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 / Chengdu JF-17 Thunder |
10 | 0 | 10 | Multi-Role (240 more planned) |
| Chengdu J-10 Vigorous Dragon |
0 | 0 | 0 | Multi-Role 36 planned |
 General Dynamics F-16A Block-15 Fighting Falcon |
30 | 6 | 24 | Multi-Role [28] |
| General Dynamics F-16B Block-15 Fighting Falcon |
12 | 2 | 11 | Training & Multi-Role [29] |
| General Dynamics F-16 C/D Block 52 Fighting Falcon |
0 | 0 | 0 | Multi-Role 18 ordered + 18 options [30] [31] |
| Chengdu F-7PG Skybolt |
48 | 2 | 46 | Interceptor [32] |
| Chengdu F-7MP Skybolt |
120 | 30 | 90 | Interceptor & Ground-Support [33] |
| Chengdu FT-7P Skybolt |
15 | 0 | 15 | Training |
| Chengdu FT-7PG Skybolt |
9 | 0 | 9 | Training |
 Dassault Mirage ROSE-I (Mirage-IIIO) (Refurbished: Ex-Australian)[36] |
32 | 4 | 28 | Interceptor |
| Dassault Mirage ROSE-I (Mirage-IIIDP)[36] |
5 | 1 | 4 | Training & Interceptor |
| Dassault Mirage ROSE-II (Mirage-VEF) (Refurbished: Ex-French)[37] |
19 | 3 | 16 | Strike & Ground-Support |
| Dassault Mirage ROSE-II (Mirage-VDF) (Refurbished: Ex-French)[37] |
6 | 0 | 6 | Training & Strike & Ground-Support |
| Dassault Mirage ROSE-III (Mirage-VEF) (Refurbished: Ex-French)[38] |
14 | 0 | 14 | Precision Strike |
| Dassault Mirage-IIIEP |
18 | 6 | 16 | Interceptor & Ground-Support |
| Dassault Mirage-IIIEL (Refurbished: Ex-Lebanese) |
10+1DP | 0 | 11 | Interceptor & Ground-Support |
| Dassault Mirage-IIIDA (Refurbished: Ex-Australian) |
7 | 0 | 7 | Training |
| Dassault Mirage-IIIRP |
13 | 3 | 10 | Reconnaissance |
| Dassault Mirage-VPA3 |
12 | 3 | 9 | Naval Support |
| Dassault Mirage-VPA2 |
18 | 3 | 35 | Ground Support |
| Dassault Mirage-VPA |
28 | 0 | 28 | Ground Support |
| Dassault Mirage-VDPA2 |
2 | 0 | 2 | Training |
| Dassault Mirage-V (Refurbished: Ex-Libyan) |
10 | 0 | 10 | Interceptor & Ground-Support |
| Nanchang Q-5/A-5C Fantan |
52 | 12 | 40 | Ground-Support & Tactical Strike (Currently being phased out). |
| Shenyang J-5 Fresco |
20 | 0 | 20 | Fighter Conversion (Advanced Jet Training) |
| Karakoram K-8 |
150 | 0 | 150 | Basic & Intermediate Jet Training |
| Cessna 172 |
50 | |||
| Cessna T-37 |
67 | 0 | 98 | Basic Jet Training |
| Super Mushak MFI-395 |
20 | 0 | 20 | Primary Training |
| Mushak MFI-17 |
80 | 0 | 80 | Primary Training |
| Dassault Falcon 20 |
2 | 0 | 2 | ELINT/ECM |
| Lockheed Martin C-130B/E |
18 | 6 | 12 | Medium-Lift Transport |
 Antonov An-26 'Curl' |
1 | 0 | 1 | Medium-Lift Transport |
 / CN-235 |
4 | 0 | 4 | V.I.P & Light-Lift Transport |
| HAMC Y-12(II) |
1 | 0 | 1 | Light-Lift Transport |
| Boeing 707 |
3 | 0 | 3 | VIP Transport |
 Fokker F-27 200 |
2 | 1 | 1 | Light Transport |
| Dassault Falcon 20 |
11 | 0 | 1 | VIP Transport |
| Beechcraft Super King Air |
1 | 0 | 1 | Light Transport |
| Lockheed L-100 |
1 | 0 | 1 | Tactical Transport |
| Airbus A310 |
1 | 0 | 1 | VIP Transport |
 Saab 2000 |
5(order)[39] | 0 | 1[40] | Airborne Early Warning |
| MQ-1 Predator |
UAV | |||
| Baaz[41] |
?? | ?? | ?? | Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) |
| Ababeel[41] |
?? | ?? | ?? | Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) |
| Uqaab[41] |
?? | ?? | Pakistan | Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) |
Ground SAM vehicles
- Crotale 2000/3000/4000, approx 25 systems
- FIM-92 Stinger
- RBS-70 Rayrider, 133 Launchers, 400 Missiles
- HQ-2B(SA-2), approx 32 launchers 400msl
- PL-9, combined with twin 35/37mm guns
- GDF-002 35 mm radar Controlled Systems, approx 200
- Order of Spada 2000, 10 systems
- Hijara Anti Armour Bomb (Indigenously Produced)
Engineering & maintenance capability
Since independence the PAF has developed and nurtured an extensive in house engineering, maintenance and repair capability. 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 graduates engineers in aerospace and avionics specialty and is a world class institute with a high reputation for the quality of its graduates and fulfills requirements for both army & navy as well as a number of foreign countries.
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.
Future plans
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 8th 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 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. According to the Business Recorder, a leading financial newspaper in Pakistan, PAF is interested to increase its strength.[42] The list includes:
- 36 J-10A/B Vanguard fighters from China
- 37 F-16A/B Block 15OCU MLU-3 Fighting Falcon (ex-Peace Gate III/IV aircraft) from United States
- 18 F-16C/D Block 52 Fighting Falcon from United States, with an option for another 18[43][44]
- 250 JF-17 Thunder [45][46]
- 6 Saab 2000 Erieye AWACS + 1 Training Aircraft
- 4 IL-78 Midas Air-to-Air Refueling Aircraft
- 12 C-130H w/6 reserve C-130H Medium Lift Transport Aircraft
- 80+ K-8 Intermediate Jet Trainer[47]
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. Known systems include the following:
- 500 AIM-120C5 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles.
- 300 SD-10 Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missiles.
- 200 AIM-9M-8/9 Within Visual Range Air-to-Air Missiles.
- 300 AIM-9M-1/2 Within Visual Range Air-to-Air Missiles.(UPGRADED TO AIM-9M-8/9 STANDARD)
- 500 PL-9C Within Visual Range Air-to-Air Missiles.
- 300 Harpoon Block II Anti-Ship Missile
- 18 targeting pods.
See also
- Air Bases of Pakistan Air Force
- Pakistan Aeronautical Complex
- PAF Museum, Karachi
- Mirage in PAF
- List of F-104 Starfighter operators
Footnotes
- ^ [1] Quaid-e-Azam, 13 April 1948, during his visit to the PAF Flying Training School at Risalpur
- ^ [2]The table below gives an idea of the number of aircraft allotted to Pakistan and the number initially given
- ^ Aces High Combat Pilots of the Subcontinent Retrieved on January 31, 2008
- ^ Defence Journal: Excellence in Air Combat: PAF's Forte
- ^ a b PAF Kills/Claims - 1971 War. Retrieved on February 13, 2008
- ^ Shabbir, Usman PAF Begins War in the West : 3 December. Retrieved on February 13, 2008
- ^ Geocities: Men of Valor
- ^ Geocities: Shabaz Over Golan
- ^ MA Baig.co.uk: PAF Action - Middle East Conflicts
- ^ a b PAF Overview from Scramble: Dutch Aviation Society Magazine
- ^ "Pakistan Border Battles". Pakistan Military Consortium. Retrieved 2006-05-20.
- ^ ACIG: Indian-Subcontinent Database
- ^ AirWar: Афганистан. Война в возду
- ^ Russian Air Force, Chapter 3
- ^ Two IAF planes shot down. Rediff. Retrieved on February 13, 2008
- ^ Limited War with Pakistan: Will It Secure India’s Interests? by Suba Chandran, ACDIS, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- ^ IAF MI-17 helicopter shot down: 4 killed. The Tribune. Retrieved on February 13, 2008
- ^ PAF Inventory
- ^ Excellence in Air Combat: PAF’s Forte
- ^ Finacial Times: Pakistan to buy F-16s from US
- ^ Cabinet okays F-16 purchase
- ^ http://www.geo.tv/home/16281.htm
- ^ PAF rank insignia change
- ^ BBC:Pakistan gets women combat pilots
- ^ Pakistan's first women fighter pilots
- ^ Pakistan Defense
- ^ PAF ACM's interview to Alan Warnes in the Air Force Monthly, June 2007
- ^ Aircraft Inventory
- ^ [http://www.f-16.net/f-16_users_article14.html Pakistan Fiza'ya Pakistan Air Force - PAF]
- ^ Pakistan opted for F-16 than JAS Gripen
- ^ Northrop Grumman to Provide Pakistan Air Force with F-16 Fire Control Radar Systems
- ^ Aircraft Inventory
- ^ Pakistan News PakTribune.Com
- ^ Aircraft Inventory
- ^ Aircraft Inventory
- ^ a b ROSE-I: Retrofit Of Strike Element (ROSE) is actually the major (Avionics + Radar) upgrade that the PAF Mirage fleet under went during the 90s. ROSE-I includes upgraded cockpit instrumentation, Grifo-M Radar and weapons system reconfiguration. (BVR-able).
- ^ a b ROSE-II: This included the Sagem implemented MAESTRO Nav/Attack System. (Strike).
- ^ ROSE-III: This included the Sagem MAESTRO Nav/Attack and FLIR. (Precision Strike).
- ^ http://www.dawn.com/2008/04/04/nat5.htm
- ^ http://www.geo.tv/home/16281.htm
- ^ a b c Both UAVs are manufactured at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex in Kamra, Pakistan.
- ^ Pakistan to buy 98 hi-tech aircraft from US and China
- ^ The PAF may procure an additional 18 F-16C/D Block 52.
- ^ US starts delivery of F-16s to Pakistan
- ^ JF-17 fleet may rise upto 250
- ^ GEO News. Two JF-17s Delivered to Pakistan. 12 March,2007
- ^ Plans to procure an Advanced K-8 Lead in Jet Trainer to replace the FT-5 and the FT-6 in a fighter conversion role.
References
- Info on Pakistani Defense Site & Online Forum
- PAF Falcons - Today In History
- PakDef Site & Online Forum
- History of PAF
- Pak Tribune on PAF's history (story 01)
- Pak Tribune on PAF's history (story 02)
- Evaluation of Pakistan Air Force
- Strategy Center
- Air Weapons Complex
- PAF s' Squadron
- Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) at Kamra
- Pakistani Defense Industry - Export Prospects
- PAF Enthusiast Website
- Deterrence of Pakistan Air Force
- PAF Fleet Upgrades & Strength
- Mirage Fleet Acquisition History
- Mirage-IIIRP attrition
- F-16 Attrition history
- PAF s' Chief of the Air Staffs
- F-7 Fleet Serial# and Strength
- PAF Fleet Strength: Without Attrition Adjustments
- PAF Fleet Strength: Without Attrition Adjustments
- PAF Attrition History
- PAF Attrition - Queryable Database
- Number of Tempest II flights that were divided amongst India & Pak.
External links
- Pakistan Air Force Official Website
- Inter Services Public Relations
- Pakistan Air Force Comprehensive Database
- PAF Falcons website PAF Falcons Website
- Pakistan Air Force Daily News Updates
- PAF Falcons News Section Air Force News Section
- Pakistan Air Force Air Combat Website
- Pakistan Air Force Overview courtesy of Scramble
- Information on the Pakistan Air Force by GlobalSecurity.org
- 3D images of major Pakistan Airfields
- Pakistan Tribune Article on PAF Fighter Planes: Mirage III/V
- Memoirs of a Pakistan Air Force pioneer - 'A Lucky Pilot'
- Shahpar - A 31 part Pakistani television seriel based on the daily life in the PAF
- Pakistan Fiza'ya - Pakistan Air Force (PakAF)
- Integrated Dynamics Systems,Pakistan