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PAF Base Nur Khan

Coordinates: 33°36′59″N 073°05′59″E / 33.61639°N 73.09972°E / 33.61639; 73.09972
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(Redirected from Chaklala Airbase)

PAF Base Nur Khan
پی اے ایف بیس نور خان
Chaklala, Punjab in Pakistan
Site information
TypeMilitary airbase
OwnerMinistry of Defense
OperatorPakistan Air Force
Controlled byFederal Air Command
Open to
the public		Partially
Location
PAF Base Nur Khan is located in Punjab, Pakistan
PAF Base Nur Khan
PAF Base Nur Khan
Location of Nur Khan airbase in Pakistan
PAF Base Nur Khan is located in Pakistan
PAF Base Nur Khan
PAF Base Nur Khan
PAF Base Nur Khan (Pakistan)
PAF Base Nur Khan is located in Asia
PAF Base Nur Khan
PAF Base Nur Khan
PAF Base Nur Khan (Asia)
Coordinates33°36′59″N 073°05′59″E / 33.61639°N 73.09972°E / 33.61639; 73.09972
Site history
Built1935 (1935)
Built forBritish Indian Air Force
Built byBritish Raj
Pakistan Air Force
In use1935 – Present
Battles/warsWorld War II
1st Kashmir War
1965 Indo-Pakistani War
1971 Indo-Pakistani War
Operation Bedaar
Operation Sentinel
Operation Swift Retort
Garrison information
Garrison35th Air Mobility Wing
Occupants6 Squadron "Antelopes"
10 Squadron "Bulls"
12 Squadron "Burraqs"
41 Squadron "Albatross"
52 Squadron "Markhors"
No. 130 Air Engineering Depot
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: NRK, ICAO: OPRN
Elevation508.4 metres (1,668 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
12/30 3,291 metres (10,797 ft) Asphalt
Reference(s): [1]

Pakistan Air Force Base Nur Khan (originally founded as RAF Chaklala and formerly known as PAF Base Chaklala) is a major Pakistan Air Force airbase located in Chaklala, Rawalpindi, Punjab province.

The former Benazir Bhutto International Airport is integrated into the airbase's infrastructure.[2] The base also hosts educational institutions such as PAF College, Chaklala, dedicated to Aviation Cadets, and Fazaia Inter College Nur Khan.

The base is part of Federal Air Command. It was damaged by Indian airstrikes in 2025 India-Pakistan conflict.[3]

Background

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PAF Base Nur Khan, formerly known as Chaklala Airbase, is a critical facility for the Pakistan Air Force. It serves as the headquarters of the Air Mobility Command and plays a key role in logistics, VIP transport, and strategic operations. The base is known to host aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules and ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) platforms.

History

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PAF Base Nur Khan

The base was originally operated by the Royal Air Force as RAF Chaklala and, during the Second World War, parachute training flights were conducted.

The following squadrons were here at some point:

Once transferred to the then Royal Pakistan Air Force the base came into use as a transport hub, with the PAF's fleet of various transport aircraft operating from it.[12][13]

During 1979 the base was home to both 15 and 26 Squadron's with the North American F-86F Sabre and 6 Squadron with the Lockheed C-130B/E Hercules & Lockheed L-100 Hercules.[14]

After the Pakistan earthquake of 2005, 300 U.S. troops as well as U.S. aircraft were deployed to Chaklala to aid in relief efforts. According to an anonymous 2013 source, the U.S. had maintained a permanent military presence at Chaklala since late 2001 for handling logistics efforts and other movements in relation to the war in Afghanistan.[15]

In 2009 the PAF's first of four Il-78 aerial refuelling tanker aircraft was delivered to PAF Base Chaklala and the No. 10 MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transport) squadron was established there.[16]

The name of the base was changed in 2012 from PAF Base Chaklala to PAF Base Nur Khan in remembrance of its first Base Commander in 1947, Air Marshal Nur Khan. Nur Khan was also the second Pakistani chief of the Pakistan Air Force and a veteran of several conflicts fought by Pakistan.[17]

In January 2025, the newly formed No. 5 AJT Squadron (Griffins) of PAF College Chaklala, equipped with Karakoram-8 aircraft, was deployed to PAF Base Qadri in Skardu. Commanded by Wing Under Officer Sameer Shah also named as Shehzada Syed Sameer Ali Shah Ayasho and widely known as the "Prince of Punial", a member of the ruling House of Ayasho, the ruling family of Punial, the squadron was stationed to enhance High Altitude Rescue Operations. The move, directed by Northern Air Command, aimed to improve rescue missions in mountainous regions where Pakistan Army Aviation helicopters face difficulties, improving detection and rescue capabilities for stranded mountaineers.

2025 Indian airstrikes

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During the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict, the Indian Air Force carried out precision cruise missile airstrikes on several key military targets in Pakistan which included technical infrastructure, command and control centres, radar sites and weapon storage areas.[18][19]

The attack on Nur Khan airbase, 10 kilometers away from Islamabad and a strategic target in the air strikes, on 10 May involved runway bombings.[20][21][22][23] It was stated that this strike was a "calibrated response" to neutralize Pakistani military installations that were involved in actively supporting and facilitating cross-border attacks on India during the conflict.[24]

The strike was confirmed by Pakistan's military spokesperson, who stated that all Pakistan Air Force assets remained safe, and that the majority of the missiles were intercepted by the country’s air defense system.[21][25][26]

According to a eye-witness and two Pakistani security officials, the attack on Nur Khan air base saw at least two missile strikes as well as drone attacks. The barrage took out two roofs and hit the hangar of a refueling plane, according to one of the officials, who visited the base the next day.[27][19] According to William Goodhind, a geospatial analyst at Contested Ground, two mobile control centers at the Nur Khan airbase were damaged. Further the Post, also reported videos recorded from a parking lot nearby which "showed smoke billowing from the damaged area".[28]

A ceasefire was proposed after these airstrikes.[29][30] India's missile-drone strikes on several Pakistani airbases, especially Nur Khan,[27][31][32] reportedly prompted US intervention for a ceasefire agreement. The base is a strategic asset for PAF as "one of the central transport hubs" and "home to the air refueling capability" (No. 10 Squadron). The facility is also just over a mile from the headquarters of Strategic Plans Division responsible for Pakistan's nuclear arsenal which includes over 170 warheads.[20][33][27]

Squadrons

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The Pakistan Air Force Squadrons at the base are No. 6, 10, 12, and 41, which are of the PAF's fleet.

No. 6 Squadron was formed without any aircraft or equipment on 14 August 1947 at Maripur, Karachi, under its first commanding officer, Flight Lieutenant M. J. Khan. On 16 August 1947, Air Officer Commanding Air Vice Marshal visited the squadron and commissioned it for heavy airlifting and airborne operations. The PAF acquired a Douglas DC-3 Dakota aircraft on 22 October 1947 and later obtained Bristol Freighter, Tiger Moth, and Auster AOP.9 aircraft. On 29 June 1948, a detachment of the squadron provided a guard of honour at Mauripur for Governor-General Muhammad Ali Jinnah on his arrival from Quetta. On 9 September 1948, three Dakota aircraft performed a flypast at the Quaid-e-Azam's funeral ceremony.

In the 1965 India-Pakistan War the Antelopes dropped parachute commandos into Indian territory in a night-time mission involving three C-130B transports. Just before the 1965 war started, the squadron's commanding officer, Wing Commander Eric Gordan Hall, had the idea of making up for the PAF's deficiency in heavy bombers by modifying the Hercules to carry bombs.[34] It was converted to carry 10,000 kg of bombs, which were rolled out on pallets from the rear ramp, and over 21 night-time bombing raids were flown against Indian forces approaching for the Battles of Chawinda and Pul Kanjari. Support missions for troops in the Northern Areas were continued after the war.[citation needed]

With the unstable political situation at the end of 1970 and the resulting civil unrest, the Antelopes moved a large number of troops to East Pakistan and assisted in flood relief operations there. India stopped the PAF flying over its territory in 1971, and the squadron had to fly to East Pakistan via Sri Lanka. Two of the unit's C-130 transports were deployed to Dhaka from March 71 until the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War began on 3 December 1971. They were used to evacuate soldiers and civilians from hostile areas of East Pakistan – in one sortie a single C-130 evacuated 365 people from Sylhet to Dhaka. During the 1971 war, No. 6 Squadron flew bombing missions from West Pakistan in the same manner as those flown during the 1965 war, and no transport aircraft were lost during these sorties.

No. 12 Composite Squadron in September 1953, the Squadron Consists of PAF's elite aircraft amongst which includes Phenom 100 and Gulf Stream IV.

No. 10 Squadron was established as the Tanker Transport (MRTT) Squadron ("Bulls") with delivery of the PAF's first Ilyushin Il-78 in December 2009 and operating from PAF Base Chaklala.

No. 41 Squadron, which consists of Cessna, Beech, and Y-12 amongst other aircraft.

Location

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The base has surrounding facilities including the Frontier Works Organization Headquarters, Chaklala Railway Station and the Joint Services Headquarters (JSHQ). Two housing schemes Askaris VIII and IX are also located alongside Nur Khan road that extends to the main entrance of the base from Airport Road. The Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies, a research think tank founded by the Pakistan Air Force, is located next to Nur Khan Base.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Benazir Bhutto International Airport (Islamabad, Pakistan)". Business Air news.
  2. ^ "PAF College Chaklala". PAF College Chaklala. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  3. ^ "India targets Noor Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, marking dangerous escalation in conflict". Turkiye Today. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  4. ^ Jefford 2001, p. 28.
  5. ^ Jefford 2001, p. 30.
  6. ^ Jefford 2001, p. 47.
  7. ^ Jefford 2001, p. 56.
  8. ^ Jefford 2001, p. 69.
  9. ^ Jefford 2001, p. 74.
  10. ^ Jefford 2001, p. 86.
  11. ^ a b Jefford 2001, p. 105.
  12. ^ "PAF Base Chaklaka". GlobalSecurity.org website. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  13. ^ Pakistan Air Force Bases nuke.fas.org website, Retrieved 5 October 2021
  14. ^ Hewish et al. 1984, p. 195.
  15. ^ "CIA drones quit one Pakistan site – but US keeps access to other airbases". The Bureau of Investigative Journalism website. 15 December 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  16. ^ Warnes, Alan (July 2010). "On The Edge". Air Forces Monthly (July 2010). United Kingdom: Key Publishing Limited: 56. Retrieved 9 July 2010. Last year saw the delivery of the first Il-78 Midas air-to-air refueller and also the first Russian aircraft into the inventory - hence the R in front of the serial. The newly established 10 Multi Role Tanker Transport Sqn at Chaklala operates the aircraft, which will be joined by a second example.
  17. ^ "Obituary: National icon Air Marshal M Nur Khan, flies no more". The Express Tribune (newspaper). 16 December 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  18. ^ Ellis-Petersen, Hannah; Baloch, Shah Meer (10 May 2025). "India and Pakistan accuse each other of cross-border attacks on military bases". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 May 2025. Nur Khan airbase is in Rawalpindi, where the military has its headquarters, and is around 6 miles from the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. In the aftermath of the strikes, Pakistan shut down its air space. The strike on Nur Khan caused mass panic in the densely populated area. Video from the scene shared on social media showed flames and smoke billowing into the night sky, with residents running into the streets. "There was a loud explosion which woke everyone up. It was so scary, everyone is still in a panic," said one resident living nearby.
  19. ^ a b Mashal, Mujib. "What We Know About How the 4-Day India-Pakistan Clashes Unfolded". The New York Times. The New York Times. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  20. ^ a b Sanger, David E.; Barnes, Julian E.; Haberman, Maggie (10 May 2025). "Reluctant at First, Trump Officials Intervened in South Asia as Nuclear Fears Grew". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 13 May 2025. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  21. ^ a b Philip, Snehesh Alex (9 May 2025). "ISPR says main logistics hub in Rawalpindi among 3 Pakistan Air Force bases targeted by Indian missiles". ThePrint. Retrieved 12 May 2025. Explosions were reported in the early hours of Saturday from three Pakistan air bases including the military's primary logistics hub the Nur Khan base in Rawalpindi, hours after Pakistan launched a fresh wave of drones and loitering munitions targeting several Indian cities, and particularly the Sirsa air base of the Indian Air Force (IAF). Pakistan military's information wing the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed the explosions, blaming them on an Indian missile attack. ISPR DG in a late night statement said India has targeted the Pakistan Air Force's (PAF) Nur Khan (Chaklala, Rawalpindi district), Murid (Chakwal) and Rafiqui (Shorkot, Jhang district) air bases.
  22. ^ "Why India hit 6 Pak air bases including Chaklala, Rafiqui and Murid". India Today. 10 May 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  23. ^ "India targeted Nur Khan Airbase, Murid base, Shorkot base but all PAF assets safe: DG ISPR". DAWN.COM. 10 May 2025. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  24. ^ Singh, Dalip (10 May 2025). "India hits back hard: Strikes Pakistan air bases at Rafiq, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan". BusinessLine. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  25. ^ "India attacks Pakistan's 3 airbases; all PAF assets safe". Samaa TV. 10 May 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  26. ^ Imran, Kashif (10 May 2025). "Islamabad says targeted Indian military sites in retaliation to attacks on Pakistani airbases". Arab News. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  27. ^ a b c "How India and Pakistan pulled back from the brink with US-brokered ceasefire". Reuters. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  28. ^ Piper, Imogen; Hill, Evan; Javaid, Maham; Noack, Rick (14 May 2025). "Indian strikes on Pakistan damaged six airfields, Post analysis finds". The Washington Post. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  29. ^ "Did India's strike on 6 Pakistan airbases lead to ceasefire talks?". Firstpost. 10 May 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  30. ^ ur-Rehman, Zia; Mashal, Mujib; Das, Anupreeta; K.B, Pragati (10 May 2025). "India and Pakistan Agree to a Cease-Fire: What We Know". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  31. ^ Iyer, Aishwarya S.; Saifi, Sophia; Mogul, Rhea; Regan, Helen; Yeung, Jessie; Tanno, Sophie; Hammond, Elise; Sangal, Aditi (9 May 2025). "May 9, 2025 - India-Pakistan news". CNN. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  32. ^ "India and Pakistan accuse each other of 'violations' after ceasefire deal". BBC News. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  33. ^ "Nur khan base attack prompted US intervention: NYT". The Express Tribune. 11 May 2025. Archived from the original on 13 May 2025. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  34. ^ "Tribute to Pakistan Air Force heros". The Nation. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  • Hewish, Mark; Sweetman, Bill; Wheeler, Barry C.; Gunston, Bill (1984). Air Forces of the World (2 ed.). London, UK: Peerage Books. ISBN 978-0907408932.
  • Jefford, C. G. (2001). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
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