PAF Base Nur Khan

PAF Base Nur Khan
IATA: ISB – ICAO: OPRN
Summary
Airport type Military
Owner Pakistan Armed Forces
Operator Pakistan Air Force
Serves Chaklala, Rawalpindi
Location Rawalpindi, Punjab
Commander Air Commodore Tariq Zaheer
Occupants

Pakistan Air Force

PAF Base Nur Khan (previously known as PAF Base Chaklala) is an active Pakistan Air Force airbase located in Chaklala, Rawalpindi, Punjab province, Pakistan.[4] It also forms part of the Benazir Bhutto International Airport. Fazaia Intermediate College, Nur Khan is also located in the base.

History

USAF C-17 at Chaklala AirBase Rawalpindi

The base was originally operated by the Royal Air Force as R.A.F. Chaklala and, during World War 2, parachute training operations were conducted there.[5]

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.[6]

During the Pakistani floods of 2005, 300 troops of the United States as well as U.S. aircraft were deployed to Chaklala to aid in relief efforts. According to an anonymous source, the U.S. has a permanent military presence at Chaklala since late 2001 for handling logistics efforts and other movements in relation to the war in Afghanistan.[7]

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.[1]

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, 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.

Location

The base is located in a very populated area. Surrounding facilities include the Frontier Works Organization Headquarters, Chaklala Railway Station and the Joint Services Headquarters (JSHQ).

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Warnes, Alan (July 2010). "On The Edge". Air Forces Monthly (United Kingdom: Key Publishing Limited) (July 2010): Page 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.
  2. ↑ Syed Omar Ali. "Unofficial Website Of Pakistan Air Force - Air Base Chaklala". geocities.ws. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  3. ↑ "PAF Falcons - PAF s' Squadrons". paffalcons.com. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  4. ↑ "PAKISTAN AIR FORCE - Official website". paf.gov.pk. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  5. ↑ "Parachute training at R.A.F. Chaklala". Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  6. ↑ "PAF Chaklaka". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  7. ↑ "CIA drones quit one Pakistan site – but US keeps access to other airbases". The Bureau of Investigative Journalism. Retrieved 24 March 2013.

External links