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PAF Base Murid

Coordinates: 32°54′36″N 72°46′26″E / 32.91000°N 72.77389°E / 32.91000; 72.77389
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
PAF Base Murid
Murid, Chakwal District in Pakistan
Site information
TypeAir base
CodePK-0009
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorPakistan Air Force
Controlled byNorthern Air Command
ConditionOperational
Location
PAF Base Murid is located in Punjab, Pakistan
PAF Base Murid
PAF Base Murid
Shown within Punjab, Pakistan
PAF Base Murid is located in Pakistan
PAF Base Murid
PAF Base Murid
PAF Base Murid (Pakistan)
Coordinates32°54′36″N 72°46′26″E / 32.91000°N 72.77389°E / 32.91000; 72.77389
Site history
Built1942 (1942) & 2013
Built byBritish Raj & Pakistan Air Force
In use1942 – present
Battles/wars
Garrison information
Garrison42 Flying Wing
Airfield information
Elevation540 metres (1,772 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
14/32 3,584.4 metres (11,760 ft) Asphalt
Source: Scramble.nl[1]

Pakistan Air Force Base Murid or simply PAF Base Murid (Urdu: پی اے ایف بیس مرید) is an operational flying base of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) located near the village of Murid in the Chakwal District of Punjab, Pakistan. It houses the UCAV and UAV fleet of the PAF.[2][3][4][5][6][7]

History

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See also: RAF India and Royal Indian Air Force

The airfield was established by the British in 1942 as an RIAF Air Station. After Pakistan gained independence in 1947, the airfield was renamed as the No. 784 Readiness Flight and served as a Forward operating base for the PAF.[5]

Gradually, the airfield was installed with Airfield Lightening Systems (AFLS) and PAR systems. In 2013, the airfield was re-structured and subsequently named PAF Base Murid with its operational status being upgraded to Main operating base in December 2014. As the PAF's drone fleet expands, the No. 42 Flying Wing has been established at the base with major infrastructure plans to transform the base.[5] 8 hangars constructed to house various kinds of combat drones. 3 were under construction.[citation needed]

2025 Indian Airstrikes

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Amidst the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict, Murid airbase was amongst three bases that were targeted by the Indian Air Force during the midnight hours of 10 May 2025.[8][9][10] The airbase faced missile attacks however, the Pakistan Armed Forces claimed their air defense systems had intercepted the incoming Indian missiles and reported all assets at the base were safe and operational. [11][12][13]

Citing reported satellite imagery released by Indian MEA, it was only Indian media that suggested there was a nearly 3-metre-wide crater allegedly just 30 metres from the entrance of a heavily fortified sub-complex within the Murid air base. Indian media further claimed the supposed crater could be an attempt to target some underground structure. The Indian media then further speculated that instead of Indian missiles missing their mark, the crater hinted at deep-buried assets, and again without any independent corroboration suggested that these hypothetical assets could be linked to command-and-control functions or drone operations. The Indian media reports further conjectured, without any independent verification or corroboration that the strike hinted at the use of precision-guided munitions and deep-penetration targeting.[14][15]

On 2 June 2025, satellite images provided by Maxar Technologies claimed that a green tarpaulin was hiding what appeared to be repair work on a command and control centre that was struck on 10 May.[16]

Units

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Various UAV and UCAV squadrons of the 42 Flying Wing operate out of Murid Airbase.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "PAF ORBAT". Scramble.nl. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  2. ^ Khan, Arslan (2 June 2022). "Pakistan is confirmed as a TB2 user". Shephard Media. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  3. ^ Kadidal, Akhil; Parakala, Akshara (13 October 2022). "Pakistan integrating TB2 into air-defence network". Janes. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Islamabad prepares to receive Turkish Akinci observation drone in Murid". Intelligence Online. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d Khan, Farhat; Hashmi, Qadeer (2024). History of the Pakistan Air Force (2014-2023): The Next Generation Air Force (1st ed.). pp. 235–237. ISBN 978-969-7518-01-2.
  6. ^ Islam, Syed Aseem Ul (5 July 2020). "PAKISTAN'S UAV DEVELOPMENT, DEPLOYMENT, AND FUTURE". Quwa. Retrieved 1 January 2024. The backbone of Pakistan's drone fleet comprises by three UAV platforms: the Leonardo Falco, NESCOM Burraq, and GIDS Shahpar. Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Mujahid Anwar Khan visited PAF Murid Airbase on 1st July 2020 and was photographed with all three UAVs.
  7. ^ "Air Chief Visits An Operational Base And Special Services Wing Of PAF". Daily Times. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Pakistan says India fired ballistic missiles at three of its air bases". euronews. 2025-05-10. Retrieved 2025-05-10.
  9. ^ Hussain, Abid (2025-05-10). "Pakistan launches Operation Bunyan Marsoos: What we know so far". Al Jazeera.
  10. ^ "Pakistan says Indian missiles strike air bases as conflict spirals". The Japan Times. 2025-05-10. Retrieved 2025-05-10.
  11. ^ "May 9, 2025 - India-Pakistan news". CNN.
  12. ^ "India targeted Nur Khan Airbase, Murid base, Shorkot base but all PAF assets safe: DG ISPR". Dawn. 2025-05-10.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ "Satellite pics show India hit underground site complex at Pak's Murid air base". India Today. 2025-05-28.
  15. ^ "Satellite Images Reveal Damage Near Underground Facility At Murid Air Base : Did India Strike It?". The Daily Guardian. 2025-05-28.
  16. ^ "Parde mein rehne do: Pakistan's cover-up operation after Sindoor strikes". India Today. 2025-06-11. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
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