No. 11 Squadron PAF

No. 11 Squadron
Arrows
Logo of the squadron
Active1 January 1949
Country Pakistan
Allegiance Pakistan
Branch Pakistan Air Force
TypeFighter squadron
RoleMulti-role, Operational Conversion Unit (OCU)
Part ofNo. 39 Multi-Role Wing
Southern Air Command
AirbasePAF Base Shahbaz (Jacobabad)
NicknameArrows
MottoYour destination is above everyone else’s destination.[1]
MascotAn arrow pointing up through a circle of stars.[1]
AircraftF-16A/B Block 15 MLU
Engagements
Battle honoursSargodha 65
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Nur Khan
Abdul Rahim Khan
FS Hussain
Mitty Masud
Zulfiqar Ali Khan
Anwar Shamim
MM Alam
Sattar Alvi
W. J. M. Turowicz
Yousuf Ali Khan
Rizwan Ullah Khan[2]
Insignia
Patch
Aircraft flown
FighterSupermarine Attacker (1951–1956)
F-86F Sabre (1956–1966)
Shenyang F-6 (1966–1983)
F-16 Fighting Falcon (1983–present)

No. 11 Squadron, named the Arrows, is a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter squadron assigned to the No. 39 multi-role Wing of the PAF Southern Air Command. It operates the Block 15 MLU model of the F-16 Fighting Falcon with a multi-role tasking and is also an Operational Conversion Unit (OCU).

The 11 Squadron became the winners of the 2019 Inter Squadron Armament Competition (ISAC-2019) which was held at Sonmiani firing range in October 2019.[3]

History

When sanctions and an arms embargo was placed on Pakistan by the U.S. after the 1965 war, the Arrows were re-equipped with the Shenyang F-6 in 1966 and their role changed to Air Superiority. The unit moved to PAF Base Rafiqui in January 1971, moving back to Sargodha during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. Again, the squadron flew Air Defence and Close Air Support missions during which a Sukhoi Su-7 and a MiG-21 were shot down. One of the squadron's F-6 fighter was shot down over India. After the war, the squadron returned to PAF Base Rafiqui. During these wars, the Arrows were credited with the highest number of kills of any PAF squadron.[4]

2019 Jammu and Kashmir Airstrikes

The No. 11 Squadron played a vital role during hostilities in 2019 with India. An F-16B Block-20 MLU (S. No. 84606) flown by Squadron Leader Hasan Siddiqui also supposedly shot down an Indian SU-30MKI from the No. 221 Squadron IAF with an AIM-120 BVR missile.[5]

Aircraft Flown

No. 11 Squadron
Arrows
Role Operational Aircraft Notes
Fighter Interceptor 1951–1956 Supermarine Attacker
Type 538 Attacker FB.50		 A land-based variant of the naval Attacker, powered by RR Nene 4, 36 built for the PAF, first delivered in 1953.[6]
Fighter Bomber 1956–1966 F-86 Sabre
F-86F
Air Superiority 1966–1983 Shenyang F-6
F-6C		 [4]
Multi-role
Operational Conversion Unit		 1983—Present F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-16AM/BM Block 15 MLU		 The PAF's first F-16 squadron.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "F-16 Units - PAF 11th squadron". F-16.net. 19 June 2007. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  2. ↑ Shaikh, A. R. (2000). The Story of the Pakistan Air Force, 1988-1998: A Battle Against Odds. (p. 373)
  3. ↑ "PAF's No 11 Multirole Squadron wins Inter Squadron Armament Competition". 30 October 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Final Salute to F-6". Archived from the original on 26 March 2008. Retrieved 8 February 2008.
  5. ↑ Alan Warnes (19 March 2020). "Operation Swift Retort one year on". Key Military.com.
  6. ↑ Bingham, Victor (31 May 2004). Supermarine Fighter Aircraft. Ramsbury, UK: The Crowood Press, 2004. ISBN 1-86126-649-9.


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