PAF Base Bholari

Bholari Airbase
پی اے ایف بیس بھولاری
Part of Southern Air Command
Jamshoro District, Sindh
Near Bholari in  Pakistan
Bholari Airbase is located in Sindh
Bholari Airbase
Bholari Airbase
Location of Bholari airbase in Pakistan
Bholari Airbase is located in Pakistan
Bholari Airbase
Bholari Airbase
Bholari Airbase (Pakistan)
Bholari Airbase is located in Asia
Bholari Airbase
Bholari Airbase
Bholari Airbase (Asia)
Coordinates25°14′35″N 68°02′11″E / 25.24306°N 68.03639°E / 25.24306; 68.03639
TypeAir Force base
CodePK-0070
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defense
Operator Pakistan Armed Forces
Controlled by Pakistan Air Force
ConditionOperational
WebsitePakistan Air Force
Site history
Built1942
Built for Royal Indian Air Force
 Pakistan Air Force
Built by British Raj (foundation)
Sindh Bholari Development Board (later upgradation)
ArchitectProject Bholari
In use1942-1945
2015-Present
Battles/warsOperation Swift Retort
Garrison information
Garrison41 Tactical Wing
Occupants18 OCU "Sharp Shooters"
19 OCU "Sherdils"
53 AEW&C Squadron "Hawks"
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: none, ICAO: none
Runways
Direction Length and surface
04/22 3,365 metres (11,040 ft) Asphalt
04/22 3,365 metres (11,040 ft) Asphalt
Reference(s): [1][2]

Pakistan Air Force Base, Bholari is a PAF Airbase located near the town of Bholari, Jamshoro District in Sindh Province, northeast of Karachi. It is one of Pakistan's most modern main operational bases which was inaugurated in December 2017.[3] Construction of the base started in December 2015.[4] As of now No. 19 Sqn PAF (equipped with the F-16 Block-15 AB) and No. 18 Sqn PAF (equipped with the JF-17 A/B Block-2) are based there.[5][6][7] The base is also home to the SAAB 2000 AEWACs aircraft.

In 2020 the base hosted Exercise Shaheen IX, a joint Pakistani-Chinese aerial exercise.[8]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "PAF Bholari data". Airport Map.
  2. ^ Khan, Farhat; Hashmi, Qadeer (2024). History of the Pakistan Air Force (2014-2023): The Next Generation Air Force (1st ed.). ISBN 978-969-7518-01-2.
  3. ^ Bhat, Col Vinayak (20 April 2018). "Pakistan's newest airbase in Sindh province suspected of storing nuclear weapons". ThePrint. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  4. ^ "Pakistan Air Force Inaugurates Main Operating Base In Sindh Province". www.defenseworld.net. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  5. ^ Kamran, Raja. "PAF Inaugurates New Air Base in Bholari". Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  6. ^ "PAF opens new operational base at Bholari". 26 December 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  7. ^ "PAF's Bholari base inaugurated". 26 December 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  8. ^ "China-Pakistan Air Forces to hold joint exercises - Times of India". The Times of India. 7 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.