No 1 Squadron

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In the eastern wing there was only one PAF Fighter Squadron deployed in Dacca. The brave sons of No 14 squadron chopped off the tail of Indian Air Force and earned the title of “tail choppers”. The squadron attacked Kalaikunda air base at 0631 hrs on 7 September and destroyed eleven Canberas, damaged four Canberras and two Hunters on ground. In the second strike at 1030 hrs the same day four PAF pilots destroyed three Indian Canberras and one C-119 aircraft on ground. In addition one Hunter was also damaged in the aerial fight.

 

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The No. 15 Squadron, nicknamed Cobras, is a tactical attack squadron of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). The Squadron is currently based at PAF Base Minhas in Kamra, Punjab, Pakistan and equipped with Chengdu J-10C multirole fighter jets. The Squadron also carries the honour of achieving the first kill for the PAF.[1][2][3][4][5]

 

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PAF First Aerial Victory - April 10, 1959: PAF's No. 15 Squadron "Cobras" Draw First Blood​

April 10, 1959 is enumerated with golden words in history as on this date, two PAF F-86F Sabres from no 15 squadron intercepted and shot down an Indian Canberra PR57 near Rawalpindi for violation of Pakistani airspace.

The Canberra hailing from no 106 squadron of Indian air force was shot down by flight lt. Yunis at an altitude of 50,000 feet marking it the first aerial victory for Pakistan Air Force.

The Indian Canberra PR57 was on a photo-reconnaissance mission over Punjab province, when SQN LDR Naseer Butt and FLT LT Muhammad Yunis scrambled on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr to intercept the intruding enemy aircraft.

The Indian crew, SQN LDR Jagdish Chandra Sengupta and FLT LT Satendra Nath Rampal, after being hit ejected over Pakistani territory and were later arrested.

The captured aircrew during interrogation revealed that they chose 10th April as the mission date, thinking PAF pilots would be busy with Eid prayers.

In recognition of his professional Accumen and Valour, FLT LT Yunis was awarded Sitara-i-Jurat.

 

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Remembering the sacrifices of our martyrs​

Fighters of Cobra 15 squadron continue serving as protectors of nation
BILAL GHAURI | September 05, 2021

LAHORE:

Pakistan, on September 6, commemorates the sacrifices made by its armed forces during the 1965 war.
To this day, Pakistan Air Force (PAF)’s Cobra 15 squadron is ensuring the security of the country's borders.
In 2019, the PAF pilots of Cobra 15 squadron successfully shot down the aircraft of Indian Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.
The air force squadron, formed for technical attack, is the fourth oldest fighter squadron in the history of PAF Cobra.
The squadron was founded on June 15, 1956 in Maripur. It was named ‘Tactical Attack’ squadron and the squadron's symbol is the ‘King Cobra.’
By mid-June 1956, the Cobras had been assigned its first aircraft, a T-33, for instrumentation.
The Cobra 15 squadron has the honour of having the first F-86 aircraft flying in Pakistan's skies.
Flight Lieutenant Younis of Cobra 15 squadron had made history by becoming the first Pakistani pilot to shoot down an enemy aircraft. Even today at PAF's Rafiqui air base, fighters are always ready to face the enemy and while engaging in their routine training, they are demonstrating their expertise in their respective sections.
Squadron 15's fighter pilots Danial and Arsalan said that the squadron’s Cobra 15 fighters were on standby 24 hours a day to hit their target. "We do our usual exercises and each fighter keeps training in their own section.”
“The passion we have in our squadron was why we have achieved success,” they stated.
“The Cobra 15 squadron continues to serve as guardians of the nation and a beacon of hope for the future. The squadron actively participates in all exercises and performs impressively in times of peace as well as during times of war.”
Squadron Commander S M Ahmed became the first pilot to exceed the sound barrier in Pakistani airspace.
In 1958, Cobra squadron moved to Peshawar.


On April 10, 1959, Squadron 15’s Flight Lieutenant Younis made history by becoming the first Pakistani pilot to shoot down an enemy plane. In September 1965, the squadron flew from Sargodha to defend the country during the war.
Flight Lieutenant Imtiaz Ahmed Bhatti shot down two enemy planes.
He was awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat for his bravery, dedication and service.
During the 1971 war, Squadron 15’s Flight Lieutenant Mujahid Salik, intending to kill the enemy, successfully shot down an Indian Air Force aircraft.
The squadron was re-equipped with F-6 aircraft in July 1973 and shifted to Peshawar. The role of the squadron was also changed to an aerial superiority squadron.
The air force squadron was transferred to Minhas base in June 1989.
The squadron was re-equipped with F-7P fighter interceptor aircraft in June 1993.
The squadron was numbered on August 31, 1997, due to the PAF's restructuring programme and F-7Ps were distributed on its inventory.
In 2000, the Cobra squadron was revived with changed uniform and a new location.
This time the squadron was equipped with Mirage 5 aircraft.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6th, 2021.

 

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Defence

Pakistan air force inducts J-10C fighter​

By Greg Waldron15 March 2022

The Pakistan air force (PAF) has inducted the Chengdu J-10C fighter, becoming the second air force globally to operate the single-engined type.
The fighter will serve with the air force’s No. 15 Sqn, according to a video posted on the PAF’s Facebook page.

Source: Pakistan air force
A J-10C of the Pakistan air force
An officer in the video notes that No. 15 Sqn scored the first kill in the history of the PAF, and that “when the time comes, being equipped with this aircraft, we’ll be at the forefront in defence of the motherland”.


He adds that as a “4.5-generation” fighter, the type is “unparalleled in the region”, and is equipped with an advanced electronic warfare suite as well as an active electronically scanned array radar.
It is not clear how many J-10Cs Pakistan will obtain, but one squadron contains about 20 fighters. Media reports suggest that about 25 fighters will be acquired. The only other operators of the J-10 are China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force, and its naval air force.

Source: Pakistan Air Force
The Pakistan Air Force released a video to commemorate the J-10C induction
In late January and February, images started emerging on Chinese social medias of J-10Cs bearing PAF markings in the skies over Chengdu, where the jet is produced.


In addition to the Pakistan buy being the first export win for the type, it also marks the first time China has sold an advanced fighter engine overseas. Pakistan’s J-10Cs are powered by the Shenyang WS-10B. Previous versions of the combat aircraft – the J-10A and J-10B – used Russia’s Saturn AL-31F.
No. 15 Sqn, nicknamed the “Cobras” is based at PAF Base Minhas in Northern Pakistan.

 

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MOTORWAY OPERATIONS BY NO.15 SQUADRON
EXERCISE HIGHMARK 2010, SITE BB433 – 1100 HOURS, 2 APRIL 2010
Pakistan’s motorways have by design multiplied the PAF’s operational flexibility and options. During Exercise Highmark 2010’s surge phase, several types of the PAF’s combat and support aircraft are given missions that involve Operations from different locations on Pakistan’s network of motorways.
The assigned pilots take in their stride the relatively narrow width of their makeshift runways, the near proximity of towering trees and the telephone pole obstructions on either side during take of1 and landings. While rolling down the roads they have to get used to the absence of DMBs (Distance Marker Boards) and find, instead, eye catching signs telling them how many kilometres short they are of sizzling fast food and chilled beverages. But the pilots of this two-seat Mirage 5DD have other things on their minds. They must refuel and rearm quickly and get airborne again to make a Time on Target (TOT) given in their Tasking Order.

 

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Monthly Defense News Recap – June 2022​

DEFENSE NEWS QUWA PREMIUM EXCEPT by Quwa Team June 26, 2022

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is to receive another batch of J-10CEs, while the Pakistan Navy (PN) inducted its second Type-054A/P or Tughril-class frigate.
However, while new Chinese systems headline Pakistan’s efforts, it seems that the PAF is acquiring used C-130s from Belgium. Could this be part of a wider effort to shore up mainstay U.S.-origin equipment with used airframes? Can mothballed F-16s be next?
Finally, the PAF seems to have inducted the Turkish-origin Bayraktar TB2 drone. This could be a sign that the footage from the promotional video (showcasing the AVIC Wing Loong 2 as well as Bayraktar TB2 and Akıncı) is accurate. If so, how far do Pakistan’s drone ambitions truly go?

CAC Preps Second Batch of J-10CEs for Pakistan​

Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) is preparing the second batch of J-10CE Firebird multi-role fighter aircraft for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). According to observers, a photo emerged of a Pakistani J-10CE sporting the serial number 22-111.
The PAF officially inducted the J-10CE in March 2022. Pakistan ordered the J-10CE from the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) in June 2021.
Joining the PAF’s No.15 Squadron, Cobras, CATIC and CAC delivered the first J-10CE batch in around nine months. This was an exceptionally fast turnaround period as it typically takes around two years to induct a new fighter aircraft from contract date to delivery.
The J-10CE is the culmination of the PAF’s efforts to acquire an alternate 4+/4.5-generation fighter to the F-16. In 2015, the PAF had intended to grow its F-16C/D fleet. However, a chill in Pakistan’s ties with the U.S. resulted in the stoppage of Coalition Support Funds (CSF) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF). The freeze in CSF and FMF prevented Pakistan from financing new American-origin weapons…
End of excerpt. Subscribe to Quwa Premium to read the rest of this section.

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Yunus draws " First Blood "

 

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No. 16 Squadron, nicknamed the Black Panthers, is a multi-role squadron of the Pakistan Air Force's Northern Air Command. It is currently based at Minhas Airbase and operates the PAC JF-17 Thunder multi-role jets.[2]

 

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JF-17 Thunder from No.16 Squadron "Black Panthers" At Dubai Air Show​

HQ Video of Aerial Display by JF-17 at Dubai Air Show 2011





Pakistan Air Force has sent 3 JF-17 Thunders of the No. 16 Squadron 'Black Panthers' to participate in the Dubai Air Show in UAE. The PAF has indicated the it may acquire as many as 250 JF-17 Thunders to replace its fleet of aging aircraft.

 

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Pakistan Air Force's JF-17 Thunder Completes 10,000 Sorties​

Pakistan Air Force's Air Commodore Khalid Mahmood has said that airforces around the world are looking to replace their ancient Russian MiG-21s, MiG-23s, American Northrop F-5s and French Mirage-III/V wit forth generation fighter jets and total market is for over 4000 aircraft.

Air Commodore who is the deputy chief project director of the JF-17 Thunder fighter jet programme has said, "There is no plane that gives this much capability at this cost."



Air Commodore Khalid Mahmood informed the media that JF-17 Thunder as already completed 10,000 sorties in Pakistani service. He added that two squadrons of JF-17 are fully active with the air force and third is in process of being equipped with the thunder and it will be activated in the coming months.

 

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Getting Up Close and Personal Tour of RD-93 Engine of JF-17​

Getting Up Close and Personal Tour of RD-93 Engine of JF-17 Thunder Fighter Jet.