By Admin 
Tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan has increased once again. In recent times, Pakistan has carried out frequent air strikes inside the Afghan border, in which many innocent civilians have died. The Taliban government neither has an air force nor an air defense system, that is why Pakistan is attacking with its fighter planes whenever and wherever it wants. The question arises that how much air power does Pakistan have and which aircraft are the backbone of its military power? Let us know the full strength of Pakistan Air Force.
Chengdu J-10 is a modern single-engine multirole fighter aircraft developed by China. It has been named Vigorous Dragon. Its delta wing and canard design gives it greater speed and maneuverability. This aircraft can fly up to a maximum speed of Mach 1.8. That means it is almost twice as fast as the speed of sound. The J-10 is developed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) and is specifically designed for air supremacy and ground attacks. Pakistan has recently purchased these aircraft from China and currently 20 J-10 fighter jets are active in Pakistan Air Force (PAF). This jet has the ability to provide some balance to Pakistan compared to India’s Rafale aircraft.
JF-17 Thunder is the backbone of Pakistan Air Force
Talking about the power of Pakistani Air Force, the most important name is JF-17 Thunder. It is a fourth-generation light, single-engine multirole fighter jet, jointly developed by China’s Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) and Pakistan’s Aeronautical Complex (PAC). The JF-17 is said to be an example of cheap, but deadly technology. This aircraft is equally capable of air-to-air, air-to-ground and anti-ship missions. Pakistan has started assembling it in its domestic industry and so far 156 of its aircraft are in active service.
Block-III, the modern version of JF-17, has added AESA radar, electronic warfare system and modern missile capability, making it at par with any modern fighter aircraft.
F-16 Fighting Falcon, Pakistan’s American weapon
F-16 Fighting Falcon is one of the most reliable aircraft of Pakistan Air Force. It is a supersonic multirole fighter jet made by American company Lockheed Martin. It was originally designed as an air superiority fighter, renowned for its accuracy and speed in dogfights. The F-16 has a maximum speed of more than Mach 2 and is equipped with modern weapons such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile. More than 4,600 F-16s have been built worldwide since 1976. Pakistan currently has 75 active F-16 aircraft, which are its first line force in any possible war or border conflict.
Mirage III The vintage glow of French technology
The Mirage III is one of the oldest, but very reliable, aircraft that Pakistan has. It was developed by the famous French company Dassault Aviation. It is a single-engine supersonic fighter jet, which was the main military force of Pakistan in the 1960s and 70s. At one time Pakistan had 145 Mirage III, but now their number has come down to 49. Although this aircraft is old, Pakistan is still modifying it to use it in surveillance and attack missions under the Mirage ROSE project.
Mirage 5 bomber dragon made for attack
The Mirage 5 is an improved version of the Mirage III, also built by Dassault Aviation. The aircraft was developed specifically for ground-attack missions and featured greater fuel capacity and improved radar systems. Pakistan has upgraded Mirage 5 aircraft several times and they are still used in its old missions. Currently 37 Mirage 5 jets are active in the Pakistani Air Force. These are mainly used for bombing and night attacks.
Chengdu J-7 Classic Warrior
Chengdu J-7 is a Chinese fighter aircraft, which is based on the MiG-21 model of the Soviet Union. It is light, fast and designed for short-range aerial combat. J-7 is equipped with infrared homing air-to-air missiles, which makes it lethal in limited ranges. Although it is technically old, Pakistan still uses it in limited missions. Currently Pakistani Air Force has 53 J-7 aircraft.
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