The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) maintains a technologically diverse combat fleet, combining advanced fighter aircraft from China and the United States with legacy French-origin Mirage jets.
PAF’s frontline inventory includes modern Chinese and American platforms that underpin its air defence and multirole strike capabilities, supported by upgraded avionics, weapons integration, and network-centric systems. Alongside these, Mirage III and Mirage V aircraft – inducted decades ago – remain in service following extensive upgrade programmes.
Defence analysts note that while the Mirages are no longer frontline fighters, they continue to perform specialised roles. The mix of Eastern and Western platforms reflects Pakistan’s long-standing strategy of operational flexibility, supply-chain resilience, and interoperability across different defence ecosystems.
