The No. 15 Squadron, nicknamed Cobras, is a Tactical Attack, fighter squadron of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). The Squadron is currently based at Rafiqui Air Base and equipped with Chengdu J-10C multi role fighter jets. The squadron is also honoured with the first kill of Pakistan Air Force.[2][3]

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No. 15 Squadron Cobras
Active	1955 – Present
Country	Pakistan
Allegiance	Pakistan
Branch	Pakistan Air Force
Type	Fighter squadron
Role	Tactical Attack
Airbase	PAF Base Rafiqui
Nickname(s)	Cobras
Engagements	1959 Indian Aerial Intrusion 1965 Indo-Pakistani War War on terror Operation Khwakh Ba De Sham Operation Swift Retort[1]

History

No. 15 Squadron was established on 05 June 1956 at PAF Base Mauripur and was designated as a tactical attack squadron.

1959 Indian Aerial intrusion

On 10 April 1959, while most of Pakistan was celebrating the holy day of Eid ul-Fitr, an Indian Canberra B(I)58 from the 106 Squadron entered Pakistani airspace on a photo reconnaissance mission. Two PAF F-86F Sabres (flown by Flt. Lt. M. N. Butt as the leader and Flt. Lt. M. Yunis as the wingman) from the No. 15 Squadron on Air Defence Alert were scrambled from PAF Base Sargodha to intercept the IAF aircraft. Butt attempted to bring down the Canberra by firing his Sabre's 50 cal machine guns, but the Canberra was flying at an altitude of more than 50,000 feet—beyond the operational ceiling of the F-86F. When Yunis took over from his leader, the Canberra suddenly lost height while executing a turn over Rawalpindi. Yunis then fired a burst from his F-86 (S. No. 5505) machine guns that struck the Canberra at an altitude of 47,500 feet and brought it down over Rawat, marking the first aerial victory of the PAF. Both crew members of the IAF Canberra ejected and were captured by Pakistani authorities.[4][5][6]

1965 War

When hostilities broke out over the disputed Kashmir region, the No. 15 Squadron while equipped with F-86 Sabre jet fighters was deployed at PAF Base Sargodha. From there the squadron performed various combat missions including Close Air Support sorties. On 1st September, the IAF scrambled 12 De Havilland Vampire strike fighters and 14 Dassault Mystere IV fighter-bombers in an attempt to slow down the Pakistani Advance in the Chamb-Jourian sector. On the request of the Pakistan Army, two F-86 Sabres, each armed with a couple of AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles were scrambled to intercept the Indian aircraft. In the ensuing dogfight, Flight Lieutenant Imtiaz Bhatti from the No. 15 Squadron shot down two Indian Vampires over Chumb while Squadron Leader Sarfaraz Rafiqui from the No. 7 Squadron shot down another two Vampires. The remaining Indian aircraft managed to escape. This dogfight was a major blow to the Indian Air Force since it had to recall all Vampires and Mysteres from frontline service.[7][8][9]

2019 Jammu and Kashmir Airstrikes

In February 2019, the Indian Air Force bombed a wooded area in Balakot after violating Pakistan's airspace. In response, then Prime Minister Imran Khan ordered the Air Force to perform retaliatory airstrikes on Indian military installations at Indian Administered Kashmir. The retaliatory airstrikes were codenamed "Operation Swift Retort" and for this purpose Two Dassault Mirage-VPAs armed with H-4 SOW Glide bombs and two dual seat Dassault Mirage-IIIDAs from the No. 15 Squadron were deployed for this mission. In the early hours of 27 February, the No. 15 Squadron carried out the airstrikes while JF-17s and F-16s from other squadrons provided escort and CAP. The Mirage-VPAs dropped their payload while the Weapon Systems Officer seated in the Mirage-IIIDAs guided the bombs to their respective targets, However they were ordered to drop the bombs on open fields near their intended targets since the purpose of the operation was to make India aware about Pakistan's capability to strike back at any aggression. The mission was a success and all aircraft returned safely. Later, the officers from the squadron who participated in this operation including the OC received gallantry awards. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16]

• 
  Pakistani Dassault Mirage-IIIRP from the No. 15 Squadron of Pakistan Air Force.
• 
  MIRAGE-IIIRP of the No.15 Squadron taking off from the runway.

See also

• List of Pakistan Air Force squadrons
• English Electric Canberra
• No. 15 Squadron RAAF
• No. 15 Squadron RAF

References

External links

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