The main combat capabilities of the Pakistan Air Force: The Pakistan Air Force has rich combat experience and has never been inferior when fighting against the Soviet Air Force and the Israeli Air Force. In all previous Indo-Pakistani wars, the Pakistani Air Force has never allowed the Indian Air Force to gain any advantage. By 2023, the Pakistan Air Force owns more than 570 aircraft, including 360 fighters. In the past, the fighter jets of the Pakistani Air Force mainly came from the United States and France, but now the main fighter jets are basically from a major Eastern country. The fighter jets of the Pakistan Air Force are mainly deployed in 12 air force bases with complete support systems. They also have 18 forward operational airports, and additionally set up reserve airports with 15 hardened runways for dispersing aircraft. All major air force bases and reserve airports have reinforced concrete hangars and underground hangars that can accommodate all fighter squadrons. Main combat aircraft: Mirage III, Mirage V, F-16, F-7 (J7), JF-17 "Gripen" and J-10 "Dragon". As of early 2022, approximately 60 Mirage III fighters are still in flight condition, operated by the 7th squadron, mainly stationed at Mushaf Air Base and Masroor Air Base in Karachi. These old French fighters are gradually being retired and replaced by "Gripen" and "Dragon" fighters. As of now, the Pakistan Air Force still retains about 50 Mirage V fighters, which belong to the 25th and 50th fighter squadrons and are deployed at Rafiqui Air Base, located 340 kilometers south of Islamabad. Most of these old fighter-bombers have been retired, with only a few upgraded ones still in service. The Pakistan Air Force currently has 75 F-16 fighters in active service, with a total procurement of 85. Most of them are early F-16 A/B Block 15 (equipped with APG-66 radar and Sparrow medium-range missiles). There are 18 F-16 C/D Block 52 (equipped with APG-68 radar and AIM-120 medium-range missiles). Subsequently, through cooperation with Turkey, the first 41 F-16 A/B were upgraded under MLU standards, mainly for life extension and upgrades to onboard electronic equipment. Thirteen early models purchased from Jordan also reached MLU standards, and this upgraded version is said to improve combat capability by thirty percent compared to the original version. F-16s are primarily equipped in five squadrons, including the 9th squadron (A/B) and 29th squadron (A/B) stationed at Mushaf Air Base, the 5th squadron (C/D) and 11th squadron (A/B) stationed at Shahbaz Air Base, as well as the 19th training squadron (unupgraded A/B) stationed at Burari Air Base. Western media believes that the F-16s of the 9th squadron and 11th squadron have been modified into nuclear weapon carriers. In fact, the fighter jet that Pakistan has always favored is the F-16. They wanted to rely on F-16C/D Block 52 equipped with AIM-120 to counter India's Su-30, but the Americans did not genuinely sell it, so they chose to jointly develop JF-17 with the East Great Country. Pakistan purchased 70 F-7P (J7) from the East Great Country, and currently about 50 are still in service, mainly used for second-line interception and training. It is currently planned to gradually retire and replace them with JF-17 and J-10. These F-7s with flight capabilities will be converted into remote-controlled target drones or unmanned aerial vehicles. By 2022, the Pakistan Air Force had 160 JF-17 "Gripen" fighters (there may be around 200 now), which is an alternative plan to replace the embargoed weapons from the U.S. under the "Super-7" project. Pakistan produces 58% of the components, while the East Great Country produces 42%, with final assembly completed in Pakistan. Mass production of Block 1 type (RD-93 engine and KLJ-7 Doppler radar with a detection range of 150 kilometers) began in 2009. Mass production of Block 2 type (extensive use of composite materials in the fuselage, improved radar and avionics, aerial refueling, new data link, and active interference devices with digital processors) took place between 2015 and 2017. Mass production of the single-seat Block 3 type (KLJ-7A active phased array radar, detection range of 200 kilometers for a 5-square-meter target, WS-13 engine with greater thrust and smaller exhaust plume, equipped with infrared search and track systems and passive electro-optical reconnaissance systems, and larger-scale use of composite materials) began at the end of 2020. Block 3 type can use PL-15E long-range air-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, and guided bombs. The Pakistan military ordered 50 Block 3 types and plans to upgrade most of the other Type 2 and Type 1 to Type 3. In terms of performance, the Block 3 of the "Gripen" is fully comparable to the latest improved versions of the F-16, but it is much cheaper. Currently, the "Gripen" has also been exported to Azerbaijan, Nigeria, and Myanmar. The Pakistan Air Force has seven squadrons equipped with "Gripen" fighters, including the 18th squadron stationed at Burari Air Base, the 2nd and 8th squadrons stationed at Masroor Air Base, the 16th squadron stationed at Minhas Air Base, the 26th squadron stationed at Peshawar Air Base, the 14th squadron stationed at Rafiqui Air Base, and the 28th squadron stationed at Samungli Air Base. The Pakistan Air Force has ordered a total of 36 J-10C "Dragon" fighters, making it the first overseas customer for the J-10. It performed excellently in the Indo-Pakistani conflicts, shooting down several Indian Air Force fighters, including the "Rafale". The Pakistan Air Force purchased J-10Cs mainly for long-range interception and air superiority. J-10Cs are equipped with more powerful active phased array radars and more powerful WS-10B turbofan engines, combined with PL-15E missiles with a range exceeding 150 kilometers, allowing the Pakistan military to completely overwhelm the Indian Air Force. Currently, the 15th squadron stationed at Minhas Air Base is equipped with 20 J-10Cs. Given the production speed of the East Great Country, the 36 units may have already been delivered. Due to its excellent performance against India, orders will soon follow. All photos are pictures of Pakistan Air Force aircraft. Photos 1-5 are "Gripen" fighters, photos 6-9 are "Dragon" fighters, photos 10-13 are F-7 fighters, photos 14-16 are F-16 fighters, photos 17-18 are Mirage III and Mirage V fighters. [Resumed content] [Link to image] Reprinted from: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1831700104592394/ Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's personal views.