Pakistan Air Force is tasked with the aerial defense of the country, at the same time, they are entrusted to support Army and Navy, for strategic and logistic air transport. The operative abilities of the forces are strengthened with almost 1000 aircrafts enhanced with dedicated and extremely professional personnel. In the last 70 years, the PAF has seen many crises, battles and challenges but they have always met every challenge with bravery and more determination.
The 11 of total 18 bases are dedicated to purely flying purposes. The 7 non-flying bases are dedicated to the training, maintenance and professional support to the Air Force. Pakistan air force war planes and other aircrafts operate from these 11 bases.
Pakistan Air Force Ranking in the World
The financial restraints and the limited budget given to PAF has not deterred them to become one of the noted and prominent aerial defence forces in the world. Considering the changing strategies and technologies in modern air combat, it has also become vital for the aerial forces to take part in humanitarian activities in and outside their countries.
- According to ‘World Defence Review’ (https://military-history.fandom.com/), in 2013 Pakistan Air force ranked in the world at no 7, having total of 1531 aircrafts, not including the helicopters.
- In 2014, another article claims to give 6th rank to PAF with 502 combat fighters.
- In 2015, an article published in https://www.globalfirepower.com/ claims that PAF is ranked at 6, with almost 902 aircrafts.
List of Pakistan Air Force Aircrafts
| Number of Crafts | Name of Crafts | |
| Fighter Planes in Pakistan Airforce (Combat Aircrafts) 450 – 4 different types | Total number of f-16 in Pakistan (450) | |
| 76 in-service F-16 | F-16 A/B blockF-16 C & DF-16 D block 52 | |
| 70 in-service J-F17 | CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder | |
| 70 in-service Mirage III 82 in-service Mirage 5 | Dassault Mirage IIIDassault Mirage 5 | |
| 184 Chengdu F-C | Chengdu F-C F-7P/PG | |
| Special Mission Aircraft Airborne Early & Warning Control | 7 | Saab 2000 ErieyeZDK-03 AEW&C inflight |
| Transport Aircraft | 18 | C-130 HerculesC-130B & E |
| 4 | CASA CN-235-220 | |
| 1 | Antonov An-26 | |
| Aerial Refueling Aircraft | 4 | Il-78 |
| Drone Technology | 12 | Burraq |
| Trainer | 60 | Hongdu K-8Karakorum K-8, K-8P |
| 39+34 | Cessna T-37, T-37B, T-37C | |
| 145 | PAC MFI-17 Mushak | |
| 45 | SATUMA Jasoos II | |
| Note: Mirage III and 5 will be replaced by J-F 17 |
How many fighter planes are there in Pakistan? Why is this even a question?
As a nation that is surrounded by such nations which are stronger in military strength, which are stronger in population, which are stronger in their intelligence; still Pakistan is a nation which has become a source of threat for many – even globally. For security reasons, and like any other nation in the world; we cannot have the exact facts and figures related to PAF. Therefore, all the numbers mentioned above are the stats that are available online, which might not match each other. Such secrecy should make sense to any sane individual who understands the security related issues and especially the cyber security. The rest, who believe in the openness of everything can continue their search.
The Joint Fighter-17 (JF-17) Thunder multi-role fighter is developed jointly by Pakistan and China.
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