No. 11 Squadron, named the Arrows, is a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter squadron assigned to the No. 39 multi-role Wing of the PAF Southern Air Command. It operates the Block 15 MLU model of the F-16 Fighting Falcon with a multi-role tasking and is also an Operational Conversion Unit (OCU).
The 11 Squadron became the winners of the 2019 Inter Squadron Armament Competition (ISAC-2019) which was held at Sonmiani firing range in October 2019.
History
When sanctions and an arms embargo was placed on Pakistan by the U.S. after the 1965 war, the Arrows were re-equipped with the Shenyang F-6 in 1966 and their role changed to Air Superiority. The unit moved to PAF Base Rafiqui in January 1971, moving back to Sargodha during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. Again, the squadron flew Air Defence and Close Air Support missions during which a Sukhoi Su-7 and a MiG-21 were shot down. One of the squadron's F-6 fighter was shot down over India. After the war, the squadron returned to PAF Base Rafiqui. During these wars, the Arrows were credited with the highest number of kills of any PAF squadron.
2019 Jammu and Kashmir Airstrikes
The No. 11 Squadron played a vital role during hostilities in 2019 with India. An F-16B Block-20 MLU (S. No. 84606) flown by Squadron Leader Hasan Siddiqui also supposedly shot down an Indian SU-30MKI from the No. 221 Squadron IAF with an AIM-120 BVR missile.
Aircraft Flown No. 11 Squadron Arrows Role Operational Aircraft NotesFighter Interceptor 1951–1956 Supermarine AttackerType 538 Attacker FB.50 A land-based variant of the naval Attacker, powered by RR Nene 4, 36 built for the PAF, first delivered in 1953.Fighter Bomber 1956–1966 F-86 SabreF-86FAir Superiority 1966–1983 Shenyang F-6F-6C Multi-roleOperational Conversion Unit 1983—Present F-16 Fighting FalconF-16AM/BM Block 15 MLU The PAF's first F-16 squadron.
Gallery
See also List of Pakistan Air Force squadrons No. 9 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force) No. 16 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force) No. 26 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)
References