| Ensign | Air Force Ensign of Pakistan.svg |
|---|---|
| Native name | پی اے ایف بیس منہاس |
| Location | Attock District, Punjab |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 33°52′8″N 72°24′3″E |
| Ownership | Ministry of Defense |
| Operator | Pakistan Air Force |
| Controlledby | Northern Air Command |
| Condition | Operational |
| Site other | Air University Kamra Campus Pakistan Aeronautical Complex NASTP Kamra |
| Website | Pakistan Air Force |
| Built | 1942 (established) 1984 (upgradation) |
| Built for | British India Pakistan Air Force |
| Builder | British Raj (foundation) Pakistan Air Force (later upgradation) |
| Used | 1942 - present |
| Battles | Soviet–Afghan War Operation Sentinel War on terror Operation Swift Retort |
| Current commander | Air Commodore Asad |
| Garrison | 33 Tactical Wing |
| Occupants | 3 AEW&C Squadron "Angels" 15 MR Squadron "Cobras" 16 MR Squadron "Black Panthers" 87 Combat Support Squadron "Dragonflies" |
| Iata | ATG |
| Icao | OPMS |
| Elevation | 312 metres (1,024 ft) |
| R1-number | 12R/30L (main) |
| R1-length | 3,033 metres (9,951 ft) |
| R1-surface | Concrete |
| R2-number | 12L/30R (secondary) |
| R2-length | 3,020 metres (9,908 ft) |
| R2-surface | Asphalt |
Pakistan Air Force Base Minhas is a Pakistan Air Force airbase located at (Kamra Cantt) Attock District, Punjab, Pakistan. It was named in the honour of Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas, who was awarded the Nishan-e-Haider for valor in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Pakistan Aeronautical Complex is located in Minhas Airbase which manufactures aircraft like CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder, PAC MFI-17 Mushshak, and Hongdu JL-8. It also rebuilds aircraft like the Dassault Mirage and Chengdu F-7.[1] Currently, PAF Base Minhas is equipped with JF-17 aircraft operated by No.16 Squadron also called "Black Panthers".
2012 terrorist attack
On 16 August 2012, nine Tehrik-e-Taliban militants assaulted PAF Base Minhas at about 2 am. After a pitched battle all nine attackers were killed while two Pakistani security officials also died.[2] The base commander, Air Commodore Muhammad Azam, who led the operation against the attackers, was also shot in the shoulder, but his injury was not serious.[3][1] The militants also destroyed one Saab 2000 Erieye plane[4] and damaged one[5] or two others.[6]
See also
References
- ^ "Operation completed at Kamra base, all 8 militants killed". Geo TV News website. 1 July 2011. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ "Kamra base attack: Soldier succumbs to injuries, takes death toll to 2". The Express Tribune (newspaper). 17 August 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ "Taliban attacks major Pakistani air base, 10 dead". The Christian Science Monitor (newspaper). 16 August 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ "Tax-payers kept in the dark about loss of plane worth $250m". The News International. 9 February 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
- ^ Ansari, Usman (1 April 2014). "Pakistani Air Force Wary of Terrorist Threat to Airbases". Defense News website. Archived from the original on 2 April 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ "Aerial Eyes: Pakistan's New AWACS Fleets". defenseindustrydaily.com. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
External links
- Airport information for Minhas Airbase at World Aero Data