# List of Pakistan Air Force squadrons

The following is a list of all active aircraft squadrons of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), sorted by type. Squadrons are listed by their current names and roles.

## Aerial Refueling Squadrons

| Squadron | Nickname | Role | Command | Wing | Date Established | Base | Aircraft | Notes |
| No. 10 Squadron | Bulls | Multi-role Tanker Transport | Air Defence Command | 35 Composite Air Transport Wing | 15 August 1959 | PAF Base Nur Khan | Il-78MP | |

## Aerobatics Display Squadrons

| Squadron | Nickname | Role | Command | Wing | Date Established | Base | Aircraft |
| PAF Formation Aerobatics Team | Sherdils | Aerobatics Display | Air Defence Command | College of Flying Training | 17 August 1972 | PAF Academy Asghar Khan | K-8P |
| PAF Falcons | Falcons | Aerobatics Display | | College of Flying Training | 1956 - 1966 | PAF Base Mauripur | F-86 Sabre |
| Paybills | | Aerobatics Display | | | 1952 - 1958 | PAF Station Drigh Road | Supermarine Attacker |

## Airborne Early Warning Squadrons

| Squadron | Nickname | Role | Command | Wing | Date Established | Base | Aircraft |
| No. 3 Squadron | Angels | AEW&C | Northern Air Command | 33 Tactical Wing | 1 July 1957 | PAF Base Minhas | Saab 2000 Erieye |
| No. 4 Squadron(Retired) | Karakoram Eagles | AEW&C | Southern Air Command | 32 TA Wing | 15 August 1959 | PAF Base Masroor | ZDK-03 |
| No. 53 Squadron | Hawks | AEW&C | Southern Air Command | 41 Tactical Wing | 1 July 2021 | PAF Base Bholari | Saab 2000 Erieye |

## Combat Squadrons

| Squadron | Nickname | Role | Command | Wing | Date Established | Base | Aircraft |
| No. 2 Squadron | Minhasians | Multi-role | Southern Air Command | 39 Tactical Wing | 15 April 1956 | PAF Base Masroor | JF-17A |
| No. 5 Squadron | Falcons | Multi-role | Southern Air Command | 39 Tactical Wing | 15 August 1947 | PAF Base Shahbaz | F-16C/D Block 52+ |
| No. 7 Squadron | Bandits | Tactical Attack | Southern Air Command | 32 TA Wing | June 1960 | PAF Base Masroor | Mirage III ROSE I |
| No. 8 Squadron | Haiders | Tactical Attack | Southern Air Command | 32 TA Wing | 11 May 1960 | PAF Base Masroor | JF-17C Block lll |
| No. 9 Squadron | Griffins | Multi-role | Central Air Command | 38 MR Wing | 3 January 1944 | PAF Base Mushaf | F-16AM/BM |
| No. 11 Squadron | Arrows | Multi-role | Southern Air Command | 39 Tactical Wing | 1 January 1949 | PAF Base Shahbaz | F-16 AM/BM |
| No. 14 Squadron | Tail Choppers | Air Superiority | Central Air Command | 34 TA Wing | 1 November 1948 | PAF Base Rafiqui | JF-17A |
| No. 15 Squadron | Cobras | Multi-role | Northern Air Command | 33 Tactical Wing | 5 June 1955 | PAF Base Minhas | J-10C |
| No. 16 Squadron | Black Panthers | Multi-role | Northern Air Command | 33 Tactical Wing | April 1957 | PAF Base Minhas | JF-17C Block lll |
| No. 17 Squadron | Tigers | Air Superiority | Northern Air Command | 36 TA Wing | 1 April 1957 | PAF Base Peshawar | F-7PG |
| No. 25 Squadron | Eagles | Tactical Attack | Central Air Command | 34 TA Wing | January 1966 | PAF Base Rafiqui | Mirage 5 ROSE II |
| No. 26 Squadron | Black Spiders | Multi-role | Northern Air Command | 36 TA Wing | 30 August 1967 | PAF Base Peshawar | JF-17A |
| No. 27 Squadron | Zarrars | Tactical Attack | Central Air Command | 34 TA Wing | April 2007 | PAF Base Rafiqui | Mirage 5 ROSE III |
| No. 28 Squadron | Phoenixes | Multi-role | Western Air Command | 31 AS Wing | 28 February 2018 | PAF Base Samungli | JF-17A |
| No. 50 Squadron | Saf Shikan | Tactical Attack | Central Air Command | 34 TA Wing | 16 December 2021 | PAF Base Rafiqui | Mirage 5PA |

## Combat Commanders' School Squadrons

| Squadron | Nickname | Role | Command | Wing | Date Established | Base | Aircraft |
| CCS F-16 Squadron (No. 29 Squadron) | Aggressors | Advanced Air Combat Tactics Development & Training | Central Air Command | PAF Airpower Centre of Excellence | 16 July 1988 | PAF Base Mushaf | F-16A/B MLU |
| CCS JF-17 Squadron | Fierce Dragons | Advanced Air Combat Tactics Development & Training | Central Air Command | PAF Airpower Centre of Excellence | 26 January 2015 | PAF Base Mushaf | JF-17A/B |
| CCS Mirage Squadron | Sky Bolts | Advanced Air Combat Tactics Development & Training | Central Air Command | PAF Airpower Centre of Excellence | 5 May 1976 | PAF Base Mushaf | Dassault Mirage IIIEA, Dassault Mirage 5PA |
| CCS F-7PG Squadron (No. 23 Squadron) | Talons | Advanced Air Combat Tactics Development & Training | Central Air Command | PAF Airpower Centre of Excellence | 16 March 1961 (transferred to CCS from 31 AS Wing (Western Air Command), PAF Base Samungli (Quetta) in February 2023) | PAF Base Mushaf | F-7PG/FT-7PG |

## Electronic Warfare Squadrons

| Squadron | Nickname | Role | Command | Wing | Date Established | Base | Aircraft | Notes |
| No. 24 Squadron | Blinders | EW | Central Air Command | 38 MR Wing | December 1962 | PAF Base Mushaf | Falcon 20 | |

## Search and Rescue Squadrons

| Squadron | Nickname | Role | Command | Wing | Date Established | Base | Aircraft |
| No. 81 Squadron | Kangaroos | SAR | Northern Air Command | 36 TA Wing | 1965 | PAF Base Peshawar | Alouette III |
| No. 82 Squadron | Stallions | Combat Support | Central Air Command | 38 MR Wing | 1967 | PAF Base Mushaf | AW139 |
| No. 83 Squadron | Kites | SAR | Central Air Command | 34 TA Wing | 1972 | PAF Base Rafiqui | Alouette III |
| No. 84 Squadron | Dolphins | Combat Support | Southern Air Command | 32 TA Wing | 1968 | PAF Base Masroor | AW139 Mi-171Sh |
| No. 85 Squadron | Saviours | SAR | Southern Air Command | 31 AS Wing | 12 March 1968 | PAF Base Samungli | Alouette III |
| No. 86 Squadron | Ababeel | SAR | Northern Air Command | 37 Combat Training Wing | October 1983 | PAF Base M. M. Alam | Alouette III |
| No. 87 Squadron | Dragonflies | SAR | Northern Air Command | 33 Tactical Wing | July 1997 | PAF Base Minhas | Alouette III Mi-171Sh |
| No. 88 Squadron | Rams | Combat Support | Southern Air Command | 39 Tactical Wing | | PAF Base Shahbaz | AW139 |

## Training Squadrons

| Squadron | Nickname | Role | Command | Wing | Date Established | Base | Aircraft |
| No. 1 Squadron | Rahbers | Fighter Conversion Unit | Northern Air Command | 37 Combat Training Wing | 28 April 1975 | PAF Base M. M. Alam | K-8P |
| No. 18 Squadron | Sharp Shooters | Operational Conversion | Southern Air Command | 41 Tactical Wing | 1 February 1958 | PAF Base Bholari | JF-17A JF-17B |
| No. 19 Squadron | Sherdils | Operational Conversion | Southern Air Command | 41 Tactical Wing | 1 February 1958 | PAF Base Bholari | F-16 ADF |
| No. 20 Squadron | Cheetahs | Operational Conversion | Northern Air Command | 37 Combat Training Wing | March 1956 | PAF Base M. M. Alam | F-7PG |
| No. 22 Squadron | Ghazis | Operational Conversion | Southern Air Command | 32 TA Wing | June 1984 | PAF Base Masroor | Mirage IIIEL/DL |
| 1 PFT Squadron | | Primary Training | Air Defence Command | Primary Flying Training Wing | 1947 | PAF Academy Asghar Khan | Mushshak |
| 2 PFT Squadron | | Primary Training | Air Defence Command | Primary Flying Training Wing | 1947 | PAF Academy Asghar Khan | Mushshak |
| 1 BFT Squadron | | Basic Training | Air Defence Command | Basic Flying Training Wing | July 1974 | PAF Academy Asghar Khan | T-37B/C |
| 2 BFT Squadron | | Basic Training | Air Defence Command | Basic Flying Training Wing | July 1974 | PAF Academy Asghar Khan | T-37B/C |
| 1 AJT Squadron | | Advanced Training | Air Defence Command | Advanced Jet Training Wing | 1994 | PAF Academy Asghar Khan | K-8P |
| Flying Instructors School | | Instructor Training | Air Defence Command | College of Flying Training | 15 April 1952 | PAF Academy Asghar Khan | T-37 |
| Helicopter Flying Training School | | Helicopter Conversion | Northern Air Command | 36 TA Wing | 1995 | PAF Base Peshawar | Alouette III |
| Shooter Squadron | | LIFT | Northern Air Command | 37 Combat Training Wing | 11 December 2017 | PAF Base M. M. Alam | F-7P |
| Transport Conversion School | | Transport Conversion | Air Defence Command | 35 Composite Air Transport Wing | April 1975 | PAF Base Nur Khan | C-130 |

## Transport Squadrons

| Squadron | Nickname | Role | Command | Wing | Date Established | Base | Aircraft |
| No. 6 Squadron | Antelopes | Air Mobility | Air Defence Command | 35 Composite Air Transport Wing | 1 December 1942 | PAF Base Nur Khan | C-130B/E/L-100 |
| No. 12 Squadron | Burraqs | VIP Transport | Air Defence Command | 35 Composite Air Transport Wing | March 1950 | PAF Base Nur Khan | GIV-SP Citation Excel |
| No. 21 Squadron | Globe Trotters | Air Transport | Southern Air Command | 40 Air Mobility Wing | 15 November 2006 | PAF Base Faisal | C-130E Saab 2000 |
| No. 41 Squadron | Albatross | VIP Light Communication | Air Defence Command | 35 Composite Air Transport Wing | June 1966 | PAF Base Nur Khan | Phenom 100 Y-12II |
| No. 52 Squadron | Markhors | Air Transport | Air Defence Command | 35 Composite Air Transport Wing | 14 March 2020 | PAF Base Nur Khan | CN-235-220 |

## Unmanned Squadrons

| Squadron | Nickname | Role | Command | Wing | Date Established | Base | Aircraft |
| No. 60 Squadron | Pegasus | Reconnaissance | | No. 42 Wing | April 2007 | PAF Base Murid | GIDS Shahpar |
| No. 61 Squadron | | Armed reconnaissance | | No. 42 Wing | April 2007 | PAF Base Murid | NESCOM Burraq, Shahpar-I |
| No. 62 Squadron | Hoopoes | ISR & OCU | | No. 42 Wing | September 2003 | PAF Base Murid | Selex ES Falco |
| No. 63 Squadron | Harriers | ISR | Northern Air Command | | 10 August 2021 | PAF Base MM Alam | CAIG Wing Loong II |
| No. 64 Squadron | | ISO | Northern Air Command | No. 42 Wing | March 2022 | PAF Base Murid | Bayraktar TB2 |
| No. 65 Squadron | Knights | Multi-role | | No. 42 Wing | March 2023 | PAF Base Murid | Bayraktar Akinci |