No. 16 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)

No. 16 Squadron Black Panthers
Active	1957 — Present
Country	Pakistan
Allegiance	Pakistan
Branch	Pakistan Air Force
Type	Fighter squadron
Role	Multi-role
Airbase	PAF Base Peshawar
Aircraft	JF-17 Thunder Block 1
Engagements	1971 Indo-Pak War
Aircraft flown
Attack	Nanchang A-5C (1983—2011)
Fighter	F-86F Sabre (1957—1972) Shenyang F-6 (1982—1983) JF-17 Thunder Block 1 (2011-Present)

No. 16 Squadron, named the Black Panthers, is a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter squadron.

History

A model of the Shenyang F-6, armed with air-to-air missiles, on display at the PAF Museum Karachi.

A JF-17 performs at the Zhuhai Air Show 2010.

The squadron was established in 1957, equipped with the F-86F Sabre, commanded by Squadron Leader Imam-ul-Haq Khan and assigned the role of Tactical Attack. Temporarily disbanded in 1963, the unit was re-established on 13 April 1970 at PAF Base Masroor flying the F-86F Sabre and commanded by Wing Commander Sharbat Ali Changazi. In February 1971 the unit was assigned the role of training senior pilots in advanced tactics as the Fighter Leaders School. Although the squadron was not employed in the 1971 Indo-Pak War, its pilots were transferred to PAF Base Peshawar where they flew with the No. 26 Squadron. Wing Commander Changazi lead several strike missions into Indian territory and shot down an Indian Air Force Hawker Hunter. Squadron Leader Cecil Chaudhry, attached to the No. 18 Squadron, was shot down by ground fire but ejected safely and later shot down an Indian Sukhoi Su-7.^[1]

In October 1972 the squadron was disbanded until 1982 when it was re-established at PAF Base Rafiqui and equipped with the Shenyang F-6. It was decided that the Panthers would be the first squadron to be re-equipped with the Nanchang A-5C attack fighter and personnel were sent to China to be trained on the type. The first batch of A-5s was delivered to PAF Base Rafiqui on 12 February 1983, a re-equipment ceremony was held on 21 March 1983, the squadron was assigned the role of tactical attack and Wing Commander Hamid Saeed Khan was put in command. A Pakistan Day fly-past performance on 23 March 1983 earned the squadron a "Best Fly-Past" award. The Panthers also converted pilots of the No. 7 Bandits and No. 26 Black Spiders squadrons to fly the Nanchang A-5C. In November 1985 the unit began practicing with live 750 lb bombs and extensive Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT) with the PAF's F-16 squadrons.^[1]

In 1988 more DACT sorties were flown against the Chengdu F-7P. Five A-5C were added to the squadron's fleet in May 1989 and in mid-1990 Wing Commander Zafar carried out evaluations of the upgraded A-5M and A-5F attack fighters in China. In 1991 three Shenyang FT-6 dual seat fighters, with Martin-Baker ejection seats installed, were inducted for training purposes. In November 1991 the unit was temporarily transferred to Multan and, while deployed there, flew 115 sorties with 100% serviceability and reliability rates. In 1997 was again temporarily transferred to PAF Base Mihas and Murid during runway re-carpeting at the unit's parent airbase. A deployment to PAF Base Chaklala for ADA (Air Defence Alert) duties was also carried out. In 1998 an A-5's canopy jettisoned during an Exercise Wide Awake sortie but the aircraft was landed safely.^[2]

No. 16 Squadron Black Panthers
Role	Operational	Aircraft	Notes
	1957—1963 1971—1972	F-86F Sabre
	1982—1983 1991— ----	Shenyang F-6 Shenyang FT-6
Tactical Attack	1983—2011	Nanchang A-5C	The PAF's first A-5C squadron.
Multi-role	2011—Present	JF-17 Thunder Block 1	The PAF's second JF-17 squadron, A-5C retirement and JF-17 re-equipment ceremony held in April 2011.

Exercises

Regular

Exercise Flat Out 1988 1989 1991 1992 ×3 1996 ×3 1998

Exercise Wide Awake 1988 - ×2 1989 - ×3 1991 1992 - ×4 1996 - ×3 1998

DACT Camps (Dissimilar Air Combat Training) 1985 - extensive training sorties flown against the F-16. 1988 - 1v1 sorties evaluating F-7P against A-5C. 1992 1993 1998 - ×2, PAF Base Minhas

Annual and others

Jetstream 1983 High Mark 85 High Mark 86 - offensive sorties flown. Also participated in a live armament exercise at Thal Range. Long Shadow 88 - February 1988. Shako 88 High Mark 89 - deployed to PAF Base Farid. High Mark 93 - October High Mark 95 Saffron Bandit 95 Hit Hard-VI - April 88 Hit Hard-VII - June 88 Hit Hard-VIII - August 88

Fake-XIV (1988) Hit Hard (1989) Tondo-II, Tondo-III, Tondo-IV (1989) Combat VI (91) Sore Eyes-III (91) Condor-II (91) King Cobra 92 - 100% mission success rate achieved. Fire Fox 97 - March, an Air Defence exercise during which low level sorties were flown to train interceptor pilots. Zarb-e-Aahen 98 Saffron Bandit 98 - PAF Base Sargodha

• Armament exercises
  • December 1988 - Matra Durandal firing, Somniani Range.
  • 1996 - Air-to-air firing, PAF Base Masroor.

• Awards
  • ACES 97 (Air Combat Evaluations) - received ACES Trophy for best performing tactical attack squadron.
  • Inter-Squadron Dive Bombing Competition - No. 16 and 26 squadrons competed, No. 16 won.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "No. 16 Squadron (1948-1988)". Pakistan Military Consortium (www.pakdef.info). http://www.pakdef.info/pakmilitary/airforce/squadrons/sqdr16.html. Retrieved 15 June 2011. 
2. ^ "No. 16 Squadron (1988-1998)". Pakistan Military Consortium (www.pakdef.info). http://www.pakdef.info/pakmilitary/airforce/squadrons/no16_2.html. Retrieved 15 June 2011. 

Sources

• Pakistan Military Consortium
• Pakistan Military Consortium 2