Pakistan Air Force

Pakistan Air Force
Pakistan Air Force emblem
Founded	14 August 1947
Country	Pakistan
Role	Air force
Size	65,000 full-time personnel (including 3,000 pilots) 10,000 reservists 973 aircraft
Part of	Pakistan Armed Forces
Air Headquarters	Air Headquarters Islamabad, Pakistan
Nickname(s)	PAF
Motto(s)	Persian: صحراست که دریاست ته بال و پرِماست English: Let it be deserts or rivers, they all lie under my wings.
Anniversaries	Air Force Day: September 7
Engagements	Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, 1965 Rann of Kutch Skirmishes, Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Six-Day War, Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Yom Kippur War, Soviet war in Afghanistan, 1999 Kargil Conflict, 2001–02 India–Pakistan standoff, War in North-West Pakistan
Website	paf.gov.pk
Commanders
Chief of Air Staff	Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman
Notable Commanders	Air Chf Mrshl Anwar Shamim Air Mrshl Nur Khan
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
Attack	Mirage 5
Electronic warfare	Falcon DA-20, Saab 2000 Erieye, ZDK-03 (AEW)
Fighter	F-16A/B/C/D, JF-17 F-7P/PG
Helicopter	Alouette III, Mi-171
Reconnaissance	Mirage IIIRP, Falco UAV, Jasoos II Bravo+
Trainer	FT-5, K-8P, MFI-17, MFI-395, C-12, T-37
Transport	Boeing 707, Airbus A310, C-130B/E/L, CN-235, Saab 2000 Harbin Y-12
Tanker	Ilyushin Il-78

External video

A news report on the PAF's first operationally qualified female fighter pilots.

An interview with Ambreen Gul. (Urdu language)

External video

A pair of Mirage III fighters are refuelled in the air by the PAF's Il-78 tanker during exercise High Mark 2010.

External video

Mirage III ROSE fighters of the PAF's No. 7 Bandits Squadron take part in the Falcon Air Meet 2010 exercise.

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) (Urdu: پاک فِضائیہ‎—Pāk Fizāʾiyah, Urdu: [pɑːk fɪzɑːɪjəɦ], reporting name: PAF) is the aerial warfare 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 the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport and logistics capability to Pakistan. The PAF employs approximately 65,000 full-time personnel (including approximately 3,000 pilots) and currently operates 1,032 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 Inter–Services's operations and relief efforts. Under the Article 243, the Constitution of Pakistan appoints the President of Pakistan as the civilian Commander-in-Chief. The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), by statute a four-star air chief marshal, 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 Sohail Aman.