The Structure and Organization

Currently, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has around 65,000 active and 8,000 reserve personnel. Headquartered in Rawalpindi and under the command of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Abbas Khatak, it comprises of directorates for operations, maintenance, administration, and electronics. There are three air defense districts--north, central, and south and major bases at Sargodha, Malir, Masroor, Gilgit, Mauripur, Lahore, Mianwali, Peshawar, Quetta and Risalpur. It is challanged by the responsibility of providing support to ground, naval and paramilitary security forces and of defending the country against air attacks. Secondary missions include the provisions of air transport to groud troops when needed, the coordination of civil and military aviation activities, and the conduct of technical training for civil aviation specialists.
The air force is organized into eighteen squadrons, with a total of 430 combat aircraft. The mainstay of the air force is the F-16 fighter. Of the 40 aircraft originally acquired, 34 are in service, divided among 3 squadrons. Pakistan has an additional 71 F-16s on order, but delivery has been suspended since 1990 by the United States. Other interceptors include 8 Interceptor squadrons of 160 F-7Ps, 7 Fighter/Ground Attack squadrons of 70 F-6s, 60Q/A5s, 18 Mirage IIIs and 58 Mirage Vs and 1 Recce squadron of 12 Mirage IIPRs, thus constituting a total of 19 squadrons. For transport purposes PAF has 2 squadrons of 16 C-130 Hercules', 1 Lockheed L-100, 1 F-27 and 1 FALCON2+ aircraft for VIP duties. Training aircrafts include 4 squadrons of 80 MFI-17Bs, 25 FT-5s, T-37s, 11 F-16Bs, 15 FT-7Ps, 2 Mirage IIDPs, and 20+ K-8s. Pakistan also has ALOUETTE and PUMA helicopters. Air-to-air missiles include the Exocet, Sparrow, Sidewinder, and Magic.
The Officer Ranks in the order of hierarchy are Marshal of the Air Force, Air Chief Marshal, Air Marshal, Air Vice Marshal, Air Commodore, Group Captain, Wing Commander, Squadron Leader, Fight Lieutenant, Flying Officer and Pilot Officer.
Air Force also operates Air Force College at Risalpur as well as at Peshawar, Air Force Staff College at Karachi and the Air Force College of Aeronautical Engineering at Karachi for academic training.