PAF Base Murid

History

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.

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. 8 hangars constructed to house various kinds of combat drones. 3 were under construction.

2025 Indian airstrikes

Amidst the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict, Murid airbase was amongst 11 air bases that were targeted with missile attacks by the Indian Air Force during the midnight hours of 10 May 2025. The Pakistan Armed Forces claimed that their air defense systems had intercepted the incoming Indian missiles and reported all assets at the base safe and operational.

Satellite imagery released by Indian MEA showed a nearly 3-metre-wide crater just 30 metres from the entrance of a heavily fortified sub-complex within the Murid air base. The crater's proximity to what is believed to be an underground structure raised speculation that India aimed to strike deep-buried assets, possibly linked to command-and-control functions or drone operations.

On 2 June 2025, satellite images provided by Maxar Technologies indicated that a green tarpaulin was hiding what appeared to be repair work on a command and control centre that was struck on 10 May.

Units

Various UAV and UCAV squadrons of the 42 Flying Wing operate out of Murid Airbase.

• No. 60 Strategic Squadron — Operates Shahpar-1 UAVs
• No. 61 Strategic Squadron — Formerly operated 5 NESCOM Burraqs. Currently undergoing training on Shahpar-I.
• No. 64 CUAS Squadron — Operates Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs.
• No. 65 MR UAS Squadron — Operates Baykar Bayraktar Akıncı HALE UCAVs.

References

References

1. "PAF ORBAT".
2. Khan, Arslan. (2 June 2022). "Pakistan is confirmed as a TB2 user".
3. (13 October 2022). "Pakistan integrating TB2 into air-defence network".
4. (14 September 2023). "Islamabad prepares to receive Turkish Akinci observation drone in Murid".
5. Khan, Farhat. (2024). "History of the Pakistan Air Force (2014-2023): The Next Generation Air Force".
6. Islam, Syed Aseem Ul. (5 July 2020). "PAKISTAN'S UAV DEVELOPMENT, DEPLOYMENT, AND FUTURE".
7. (2025-05-10). "Pakistan says India fired ballistic missiles at three of its air bases".
8. Hussain, Abid. (2025-05-10). "Pakistan launches Operation Bunyan Marsoos: What we know so far".
9. (2025-05-10). "Pakistan says Indian missiles strike air bases as conflict spirals".
10. "May 9, 2025 - India-Pakistan news".
11. (2025-05-10). "India targeted Nur Khan Airbase, Murid base, Shorkot base but all PAF assets safe: DG ISPR".
12. (9 May 2025). "ISPR says main logistics hub in Rawalpindi among 3 Pakistan Air Force bases targeted by Indian missiles". ThePrint.
13. (2025-05-28). "Satellite pics show India hit underground site complex at Pak's Murid air base".
14. (2025-05-28). "Satellite Images Reveal Damage Near Underground Facility At Murid Air Base : Did India Strike It?".
15. (2025-06-11). "Parde mein rehne do: Pakistan’s cover-up operation after Sindoor strikes".