No. 11 Squadron Arrows
| No. 11 Squadron Arrows |
|
|---|---|
| Active | 1 January 1949 |
| Country |
 Pakistan
|
| Allegiance |
Pakistan
|
| Branch |
 Pakistan Air Force
|
| Type | Fighter squadron |
| Role | Multi-role, Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) |
| Part of | No. 38 Multi-Role Wing Central Air Command |
| Airbase | PAF Base Mushaf (Sargodha) |
| Nickname(s) | Arrows |
| Motto(s) | Your destination is above everyone else’s destination. |
| Mascot(s) | An arrow pointing up through a circle of stars. |
| Aircraft |
F-16 Fighting Falcon F-16A/B Block 15 |
| Engagements | 1965 Indo-Pak War 1971 Indo-Pak War Operation Sentinel Soviet war in Afghanistan War in North-West Pakistan |
| Battle honours | Sargodha 65 |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
ACM Zulfiqar Ali Khan ACM Anwar Shamim Air Mshl Nur Khan Air Mshl Abdul Rahim Khan Air Cdre Mitty Masud Air Cdre M.M. Allam Air Cdre Sattar Alvi Air Cdre W. J. M. Turowicz |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter |
Supermarine Attacker (1951-1956) F-86F Sabre (1956-1966) Shenyang F-6 (1966-1983) F-16 Fighting Falcon (1983-present) |
No. 11 Squadron, named the Arrows, is a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter squadron assigned to the No. 38 Multi-Role Wing of the PAF Central Air Command. It operates the Block 15 model of the F-16 Fighting Falcon with a multi-role tasking and is also an Operational Conversion Unit (OCU).
The squadron crest has an arrow pointing upwards, circled by 11 stars, and symbolises the pursuit of professional excellence.
The squadron was first established at 1 January 1949 at RPAF Station Mauripur as a light bomber unit. It was supposed to be equipped with the Bristol Brigand but the first aircraft crashed before arriving in Pakistan. The type's procurement was subsequently halted and the unit was disbanded in February 1949. In June 1951 the unit was restored as a fighter interceptor squadron and became the PAF's first jet squadron with the introduction of the Supermarine Attacker. First commanded by Squadron Leader A. Rahim Khan, the unit was to remain the PAF's only jet squadron until 18 January 1956 when the unit was re-equipped with the F-86F Sabre and its role changed to a Fighter Bomber squadron.
The squadron took part in the 1965 Indo-Pak War as part of the No. 33 Wing at PAF Base Sargodha (now PAF Base Mushaf). The Arrows flew 227 sorties, including Air Defence and Close Air Support missions, during the 17-day war. Ten Hawker Hunters and three Folland Gnats of the Indian Air Force were shot down during these missions, with a further three Hawker Hunters damaged. One F-86 was shot down in Indian territory during a fighter sweep mission, flown by Flying Officer Shaukat.
When sanctions and an arms embargo was placed on Pakistan by the U.S. after the war, the Arrows were re-equipped with the Shenyang F-6 in 1966 and their role changed to Air Superiority. The unit moved to PAF Base Rafiqui in January 1971, moving back to Sargodha during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. Again, the squadron flew Air Defence and Close Air Support missions during which a Sukhoi Su-7 and a MiG-21 were shot down. One of the squadron's F-6 fighters were shot down over India. After the war the squadron returned to PAF Base Rafiqui.
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