PAF Base Murid, (Urdu: پی اے ایف بیس مرید) is an operational flying base of the Pakistan Air Force located near the village of Murid in the Chakwal District of Punjab. It houses the UCAV and UAV fleet of the PAF.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
| Murid Airbase | |
| Ensign: | Air Force Ensign of Pakistan.svg |
| Location: | Murid, Chakwal District |
| Country: | Pakistan |
| Type: | PAF Base |
| Pushpin Map: | Punjab Pakistan#Pakistan |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Murid Airbase in Pakistan |
| Pushpin Relief: | y |
| Ownership: | Ministry of Defence (Pakistan) |
| Operator: | Pakistan Air Force |
| Controlledby: | Northern Air Command |
| Open To Public: | No |
| Used: | 1942 – present |
| Builder: | British Raj |
| Condition: | Operational |
| Garrison: |
|
| Elevation: | 540m (1,770feet) |
| R1-Number: | N14/32 |
| R1-Length: | 3584.4m (11,759.8feet) |
| R1-Surface: | Asphalt |
| Footnotes: | Source: Scramble.nl[7] |
See also: RAF India and Royal Indian Air Force. The airfield was established by the British in 1942 as an RIAF Air Station. After Pakistan gained independence in 1947, the airfield was renamed as the No. 784 Readiness Flight and served as a Forward operating base for the PAF.[4]
Gradually, the airfield was installed with Airfield Lightening Systems (AFLS) and PAR systems. In 2013, the airfield was re-structured and subsequently named PAF Base Murid with its operational status being upgraded to Main operating base in December 2014. As the PAF's drone fleet expands, the No. 42 Flying Wing has been established at the base with major infrastructure plans to transform the base.[4] 8 hangers constructed to house various kinds of combat drones. 3 under construction.
Various UAV and UCAV squadrons of the No. 42 Flying Wing operate out of Murid Airbase.[4]