PAKISTAN AIR FORCE (PAF) • Pakistan Faza'ia
Air Force 70,000 personnel. Modernization Strategy: Prioritizing indigenous production via the JF-17 program, increasing high-end Chinese platforms (J-10C), and expanding ISR/AEW&C capabilities.
Forces by Role & Equipment by Type
Tactical Air Command
• AIRCRAFT 452 combat capable. Total approx. 850+ Aircraft.
Fighter & Fighter Ground Attack with 452 Ftr/FGA ac:
- 126 Chengdu/PAC JF-17 Thunder (Block I/II/III) (32 additional on order).
- 90 Dassault Mirage 5 (5EF/F/PA).
- 72 Chengdu F-7/PG Airguard.
- 69 Dassault Mirage III (IIIEP/OF/RP).
- 44 Lockheed Martin F-16A/C Fighting Falcon.
- 20 Chengdu J-10C Firebird (5 additional on order).
- (Note: J-10C fleet was successfully utilized in a cross-border clash in May 2025).
Special Mission (AEW&C / EW) with 13 ac:
- 7 Saab 2000 Erieye (Airborne Early Warning).
- 4 Shaanxi ZDK-03 (Y-8) (Airborne Early Warning).
- 2 Dassault Falcon 20F (Electronic Warfare/ELINT).
Tanker with 4 ac:
Transport with 43 ac:
- 23 Lockheed Martin C-130B/E/H/L-100 Hercules.
- 6 Saab 2000.
- 3 CASA CN235.
- 2 Harbin Y-12.
- 1 Airbus A319.
- (Note: VIP transport assets include Gulfstream IV-SP, Global 6000, and Phenom 100).
Training with 332 Trg ac:
- 119 PAC MFI-395 Super Mushshak.
- 37 AVIC K-8 Karakorum.
- 31 Lockheed Martin F-16B/D (OCU role).
- 27 Cessna T-37 Tweet.
- 25 Chengdu/PAC JF-17B Thunder (Twin-seat trainer).
- 21 Chengdu FT-7.
- 18 Dassault Mirage IIIBE/D/DP.
- 9 Shenyang FT-6.
- 8 Aerospatiale SA316 Alouette III.
- 2 Dassault Mirage 5DPA2.
• HELICOPTERs with 33 hel:
- 12 AgustaWestland AW139.
- 10 Aerospatiale SA316 Alouette III.
- 6 Mil Mi-171.
- 4 Bell 205.
- 1 Bell 412.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (CISR)
- Akinci (Heavy CISR - 1 active).
- Wing Loong I/II.
- CH-3 (Burraq) / CH-4.
- Bayraktar TB2 (3+ active).
- Falco (ISR - Medium).
Air Defence
- SAM (Long-range): HQ-9/P (reporting suggests some systems active).
- SAM (Medium-range): 6 HQ-2 (CH-SA-1).
- SAM (Short-range): 144 Crotale; ε40 SPADA 2000.
- SAM (Point-defence): Anza-II; FN-6; 9K310 Igla-1.
Armament
- Air-to-Air Missiles (AAM): AIM-9L/P Sidewinder, AIM-120C AMRAAM, PL-5, PL-10, PL-12, PL-15.
- Air-to-Surface Missiles (ASM): AGM-65 Maverick, Raptor II.
- Anti-Ship Missiles (AShM): AM39 Exocet, C-802.
- Land-Attack Cruise Missiles (LACM): Ra'ad (Nuclear capable).
- Bombs: Paveway II (Laser-guided); FT-6 REK (INS/SAT-guided).
Note: By 2026, the PAF has significantly reduced its reliance on Western platforms for front-line roles, with the JF-17 and J-10C forming the new backbone of its tactical fleet. Pakistan is also in talks to join the Turkish Kaan fifth-generation fighter program to further diversify its future procurement. Aviation wings are also maintained by the Pakistan Army (primarily attack helicopters like AH-1F and T129) and the Pakistan Navy (MPA assets including P-3C and ATR 72).
4/5 Generation Fighters 
