The No. 10 Squadron nicknamed Bulls, is a Multi-Role Tanker-Transport squadron of the Pakistan Air Force's 35th Air Mobility Wing. Currently deployed at Nur Khan Air Base, the squadron is the PAF's only Aerial Refueling squadron operating 4 IL-78MP Midas and Airbus A319 tankers. [1] [2] [3] [4]
| No. 10 Squadron "Bulls" | |
|---|---|
.jpg) IL-78MP of the 10 Squadron takes off in 2012. | |
| Active | 1959–1960 2010–present |
| Disbanded | 1960–2010 |
| Country | 
Pakistan |
| Allegiance | 
Pakistan Armed Forces |
| Branch | 
Pakistan Air Force |
| Type | Squadron |
| Role | Aerial refueling & Airlift |
| Airbase | PAF Base Nur Khan |
| Nickname(s) | Bulls |
| Motto(s) | شاہین کبھی پرواز سے تھک کر نہیں گرتا ( Urdu for 'The Shaheen never gets tired of flying') |
| Mascot(s) | A Black Bull |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Bomber | Martin B-57 Canberra |
| Transport |
Ilyushin IL-78 Airbus A319 |
History
Raised on 15 August 1959 at PAF Base Mauripur, the No. 10 squadron was the Operational conversion unit for training pilots and navigators on the B-57 Canberra bombers. It kept functioning for 6 months till the No. 7 Squadron PAF was formed and took it's role. As a result, the squadron was number plated on 1 March 1960. [5]
It was re-raised in 2010 equipped with 4 newly purchased Ilyushin IL-78MP Midas tankers. These were fitted with removable fuel tanks and UPAZ aerial refueling pods. [6] Besides being assigned aerial refueling role, the squadron also provides logistics support services. [2] [1]
In 2020, the IL-78s of the squadron ferried crucial medical supplies from China to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan. [7]
During the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, an IL-78 of the squadron undertook relief operations in Turkey transporting 16.5 tons of humanitarian aid to Adana. [8] Moreover, in 2024, an IL-78 of the squadron delivered 20 tons of medical supplies and food items to affected Palestinians of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war. [9]
In July 2023, an Airbus A319 was added to the squadron's fleet. The Airbus later proved to be an important role player in evacuating 149 Pakistanis stranded in Sudan after the outbreak of civil war. [2] [10]
In 2020, the squadron's IL-78s were upgraded by Ukrspecexport as part of a $20 Million upgradation project. [11] [12]
References
- ^ a b "Exploring the Squadrons of Pakistan Air Force". Global Defense Insight. 2023-08-29. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
- ^ a b c Khan, Farhat; Hashmi, Qadeer (2024). History of the Pakistan Air Force (2014-2023): The Next Generation Air Force (1st ed.). pp. 268–270. ISBN 978-969-7518-01-2.
- ^ Hashmi, Qadeer. The History of the Pakistan Air Force 1999-2013.
- ^ "Pakistan Air Force ORBAT". Scramble.nl. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
- ^ "10 Squadron PAF". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
- ^ Malyasov, Dylian (2017-01-16). "Russia to refurbish Il-78 refuelling tanker aircraft for Pakistan Air Force". Defense Blog.
- ^ "PAF IL-78 aircraft carrying medical equipment from China lands at Nur Khan airbase". The Nation. 2020-03-30. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
- ^ "PAF's aircraft carrying relief goods arrives in Adana, Turkiye". Radio Pakistan. 2023-02-11.
- ^ "Pakistan send 4th consignment of humanitarian aid for Gaza people". Associated Press of Pakistan. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
- ^ "Second PAF flight brings back stranded Pakistanis from Sudan". ARY News. 2023-04-28. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
- ^ Ponomarenko, Illia (2020-06-04). "Ukraine wins contract to repair Pakistan's aerial refueling tankers". Kyiv Post.
- ^ "In Ukraine, completed the repair of the Pakistani Air Force IL-78 aerial refueling tanker". MILITARNYI. 2022-02-02. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
Bibliography
Hashmir, Qadeer (2014). History of the Pakistan Air Force (1999-2013): Entering the new century.
| Combat squadrons |    | |
|---|---|---|
| Helicopter squadrons | ||
| Command / transport | ||
| Unmanned | ||
| OCU | ||
| CCS |
| |
| Other |
| |
| Historical |
| |
The No. 10 Squadron nicknamed Bulls, is a Multi-Role Tanker-Transport squadron of the Pakistan Air Force's 35th Air Mobility Wing. Currently deployed at Nur Khan Air Base, the squadron is the PAF's only Aerial Refueling squadron operating 4 IL-78MP Midas and Airbus A319 tankers. [1] [2] [3] [4]
| No. 10 Squadron "Bulls" | |
|---|---|
|
IL-78MP of the 10 Squadron takes off in 2012. | |
| Active | 1959–1960 2010–present |
| Disbanded | 1960–2010 |
| Country |
Pakistan |
| Allegiance |
Pakistan Armed Forces |
| Branch |
Pakistan Air Force |
| Type | Squadron |
| Role | Aerial refueling & Airlift |
| Airbase | PAF Base Nur Khan |
| Nickname(s) | Bulls |
| Motto(s) | شاہین کبھی پرواز سے تھک کر نہیں گرتا ( Urdu for 'The Shaheen never gets tired of flying') |
| Mascot(s) | A Black Bull |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Bomber | Martin B-57 Canberra |
| Transport |
Ilyushin IL-78 Airbus A319 |
History
Raised on 15 August 1959 at PAF Base Mauripur, the No. 10 squadron was the Operational conversion unit for training pilots and navigators on the B-57 Canberra bombers. It kept functioning for 6 months till the No. 7 Squadron PAF was formed and took it's role. As a result, the squadron was number plated on 1 March 1960. [5]
It was re-raised in 2010 equipped with 4 newly purchased Ilyushin IL-78MP Midas tankers. These were fitted with removable fuel tanks and UPAZ aerial refueling pods. [6] Besides being assigned aerial refueling role, the squadron also provides logistics support services. [2] [1]
In 2020, the IL-78s of the squadron ferried crucial medical supplies from China to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan. [7]
During the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, an IL-78 of the squadron undertook relief operations in Turkey transporting 16.5 tons of humanitarian aid to Adana. [8] Moreover, in 2024, an IL-78 of the squadron delivered 20 tons of medical supplies and food items to affected Palestinians of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war. [9]
In July 2023, an Airbus A319 was added to the squadron's fleet. The Airbus later proved to be an important role player in evacuating 149 Pakistanis stranded in Sudan after the outbreak of civil war. [2] [10]
In 2020, the squadron's IL-78s were upgraded by Ukrspecexport as part of a $20 Million upgradation project. [11] [12]
References
- ^ a b "Exploring the Squadrons of Pakistan Air Force". Global Defense Insight. 2023-08-29. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
- ^ a b c Khan, Farhat; Hashmi, Qadeer (2024). History of the Pakistan Air Force (2014-2023): The Next Generation Air Force (1st ed.). pp. 268–270. ISBN 978-969-7518-01-2.
- ^ Hashmi, Qadeer. The History of the Pakistan Air Force 1999-2013.
- ^ "Pakistan Air Force ORBAT". Scramble.nl. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
- ^ "10 Squadron PAF". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
- ^ Malyasov, Dylian (2017-01-16). "Russia to refurbish Il-78 refuelling tanker aircraft for Pakistan Air Force". Defense Blog.
- ^ "PAF IL-78 aircraft carrying medical equipment from China lands at Nur Khan airbase". The Nation. 2020-03-30. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
- ^ "PAF's aircraft carrying relief goods arrives in Adana, Turkiye". Radio Pakistan. 2023-02-11.
- ^ "Pakistan send 4th consignment of humanitarian aid for Gaza people". Associated Press of Pakistan. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
- ^ "Second PAF flight brings back stranded Pakistanis from Sudan". ARY News. 2023-04-28. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
- ^ Ponomarenko, Illia (2020-06-04). "Ukraine wins contract to repair Pakistan's aerial refueling tankers". Kyiv Post.
- ^ "In Ukraine, completed the repair of the Pakistani Air Force IL-78 aerial refueling tanker". MILITARNYI. 2022-02-02. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
Bibliography
Hashmir, Qadeer (2014). History of the Pakistan Air Force (1999-2013): Entering the new century.
| Combat squadrons | | |
|---|---|---|
| Helicopter squadrons | ||
| Command / transport | ||
| Unmanned | ||
| OCU | ||
| CCS |
| |
| Other |
| |
| Historical |
| |