Pakistan Air Force

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is the aerial warfare service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces, tasked primarily with the aerial defence of Pakistan, with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and Navy when required. The PAF has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport and logistics capability to the Government of Pakistan. As of 2017, per the IISS, the PAF has 70,000 active-duty personnel and operates 755 aircraft. Its primary mandate and mission is "to provide, in synergy with other inter-services, the most efficient, assured and cost effective aerial defence of Pakistan." Since its establishment in 1947, the PAF has been involved in various combat operations, providing aerial support to the operations and relief efforts of the Pakistani military. Under Article 243, the Constitution of Pakistan appoints the President of Pakistan as the civilian Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), by statute a four-star commissioned air officer, is appointed by the President with the consultation and confirmation needed from the Prime Minister of Pakistan. The Pakistan Air Force is currently commanded by Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan.

Structure

Commands

Air Force Strategic Command (AFSC), Islamabad

Northern Air Command (NAC), Peshawar

Central Air Command (CAC), Lahore

Southern Air Command (SAC), Karachi

Air Defence Command (ADC), Rawalpindi

Bases

Main article: List of Pakistan Air Force bases

The PAF has 21 airbases of which 13 are flying bases and 8 are non-flying bases. Flying bases are operational bases from which aircraft operate during peacetime and wartime; whereas non-flying bases conduct either training, administration, maintenance, air defence operations or mission support.

Flying bases

PAF Base Mushaf (Sargodha)

PAF Base Bholari (Bholari)

PAF Base Masroor (Karachi)

PAF Base Rafiqui (Shorkot)

PAF Base Peshawar (Peshawar)

PAF Base Murid (Chakwal)

PAF Base Samungli (Quetta)

PAF Base M.M. Alam (Mianwali)

PAF Base Minhas (Kamra)

PAF Base Nur Khan (Rawalpindi)

PAF Base Faisal (Karachi)

PAF Base Risalpur (Pakistan Air Force Academy) (Risalpur)

PAF Base Shahbaz (Jacobabad)

Non-flying bases

PAF Base Korangi Creek (Karachi)

PAF Base Malir (Karachi)

PAF Base Lower Topa (Murree)

PAF Base Kallar Kahar (Kallar Kahar)

PAF Base Kohat (Kohat)

PAF Base Lahore (Lahore)

PAF Base Sakesar (Sakesar)

PAF Base Kalabagh (Nathia Gali)

Rank structure