{{Short description|Operational flying base of the Pakistan Air Force}} {{Infobox military installation | name = PAF Base Murid | ensign = Air Force Ensign of Pakistan.svg | ensign_size = 90px | location = Murid, Chakwal District | country = Pakistan | type = Air base | coordinates = {{Coord|32|54|36|N|72|46|26|E|type:airport|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_map = Punjab Pakistan#Pakistan | pushpin_map_caption = Shown within Punjab, Pakistan | pushpin_label = PAF Base Murid | ownership = Ministry of Defence | operator = Pakistan Air Force | controlledby = Northern Air Command | open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc --> | built = {{Start date|1942}} & 2013 | used = 1942 – present | builder = British Raj & Pakistan Air Force | condition = Operational | battles = * 2025 India–Pakistan standoff ** Operation Bunyanun Marsoos | garrison = 42 Flying Wing | code = PK-0009 | elevation = {{Convert|540|m|0}} | r1-number = 14/32 | r1-length = {{Convert|3584.4|m|0}} | r1-surface = Asphalt | footnotes = '''Source:''' Scramble.nl<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scramble.nl/planning/orbats/pakistan/pakistan-air-force|title=PAF ORBAT|website=Scramble.nl|access-date=21 June 2024}}</ref> }}
'''Pakistan Air Force Base Murid''' or more simply '''PAF Base Murid''' ({{langx|ur|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 Pakistan Air Force.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air-warfare/pakistan-is-confirmed-as-a-tb2-user/|title=Pakistan is confirmed as a TB2 user|last=Khan|first=Arslan|date=2 June 2022|website=Shephard Media|access-date=1 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/pakistan-integrating-tb2-into-air-defence-network|title=Pakistan integrating TB2 into air-defence network|last1=Kadidal|first1=Akhil|last2=Parakala|first2=Akshara|date=13 October 2022|website=Janes|access-date=1 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.intelligenceonline.com/government-intelligence/2023/09/14/islamabad-prepares-to-receive-turkish-akinci-observation-drone-in-murid,110043157-art|title=Islamabad prepares to receive Turkish Akinci observation drone in Murid|date=14 September 2023|website=Intelligence Online|access-date=1 January 2024}}</ref><ref name=ng>{{Cite book |title=History of the Pakistan Air Force (2014-2023): The Next Generation Air Force |last=Khan |first=Farhat |year=2024 |edition=1st |pages=235–237 |last2=Hashmi |first2=Qadeer|isbn=978-969-7518-01-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://quwa.org/2020/07/05/pakistans-uav-development-deployment-and-future-2/|title=PAKISTAN'S UAV DEVELOPMENT, DEPLOYMENT, AND FUTURE|last=Islam |first=Syed Aseem Ul|date=5 July 2020|website=Quwa|access-date=1 January 2024|quote=The backbone of Pakistan’s drone fleet comprises by three UAV platforms: the Leonardo Falco, NESCOM Burraq, and GIDS Shahpar. Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Mujahid Anwar Khan visited PAF Murid Airbase on 1st July 2020 and was photographed with all three UAVs.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--not stated-->|date=1 July 2020|title=Air Chief Visits An Operational Base And Special Services Wing Of PAF |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/634546/air-chief-visits-operational-base-paf/|work=Daily Times|access-date=1 January 2024}}</ref>
== History == {{see also|RAF India|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.<ref name=ng/>
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.<ref name=ng/> 8 hangars constructed to house various kinds of combat drones. 3 were under construction.{{Source needed|date=May 2025}}
=== 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-10 |title=Pakistan says India fired ballistic missiles at three of its air bases |url=https://www.euronews.com/2025/05/10/pakistan-says-india-fired-ballistic-missiles-at-three-military-bases-inside-the-country |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=euronews |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pakistan launches Operation Bunyan Marsoos: What we know so far |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/10/pakistan-launches-operation-bunyan-marsoos-what-we-know-so-far |last=Hussain |first=Abid |date=2025-05-10 |website=Al Jazeera}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-10 |title=Pakistan says Indian missiles strike air bases as conflict spirals |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/05/10/asia-pacific/india-pakistan-missile-strikes/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=The Japan Times |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=May 9, 2025 - India-Pakistan news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/india-pakistan-operation-sindoor-05-09-25-intl-hnk |website=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=India targeted Nur Khan Airbase, Murid base, Shorkot base but all PAF assets safe: DG ISPR |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1909839/india-targeted-nur-khan-airbase-murid-base-shorkot-base-but-all-paf-assets-safe-dg-ispr |date=2025-05-10 |website=Dawn}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Philip |first1=Snehesh Alex |title=ISPR says main logistics hub in Rawalpindi among 3 Pakistan Air Force bases targeted by Indian missiles |url=https://theprint.in/defence/ispr-says-main-logistics-hub-in-rawalpindi-among-3-pakistan-air-force-bases-targeted-by-indian-missiles/2620950/ |access-date=12 May 2025 |work=ThePrint |date=9 May 2025 |quote=Explosions were reported in the early hours of Saturday from three Pakistan air bases including the military’s primary logistics hub the Nur Khan base in Rawalpindi, hours after Pakistan launched a fresh wave of drones and loitering munitions targeting several Indian cities, and particularly the Sirsa air base of the Indian Air Force (IAF). Pakistan military’s information wing the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed the explosions, blaming them on an Indian missile attack. ISPR DG in a late night statement said India has targeted the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) Nur Khan (Chaklala, Rawalpindi district), Murid (Chakwal) and Rafiqui (Shorkot, Jhang district) air bases.}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Satellite pics show India hit underground site complex at Pak's Murid air base|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/satellite-pics-show-india-targeted-underground-facility-pakistan-murid-nur-khan-base-damage-crater-2731644-2025-05-28|date=2025-05-28 |website=India Today}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Satellite Images Reveal Damage Near Underground Facility At Murid Air Base : Did India Strike It?|url=https://thedailyguardian.com/viral-news/satellite-images-reveal-damage-near-underground-facility-at-murid-air-base-did-india-strike-it/|date=2025-05-28 |website=The Daily Guardian}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-11 |title=Parde mein rehne do: Pakistan’s cover-up operation after Sindoor strikes |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/operation-sindoor-strikes-pakistan-cover-up-air-bases-hidden-by-tarpaulin-2739066-2025-06-11 |access-date=2025-06-16 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>Further imagery revealed that the structure was demolished for reconstruction works by March 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MSN |url=https://www.msn.com/en-in/money/news/repairs-failed-pakistan-demolishes-murid-air-base-building-hit-during-operation-sindoor/ar-AA1XT1nd |access-date=2026-03-10 |website=www.msn.com}}</ref>
== Units == Various UAV and UCAV squadrons of the 42 Flying Wing operate out of Murid Airbase.<ref name=ng/> * 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.
== See also == * List of Pakistan Air Force bases
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060322131600/http://www.pakaviation.com/PVA/Library/World_Airport_Data/airport_dtl.php?DAFIF_ID=PK46178 Pakistan Aviation] *[http://www.divineislam.co.uk/PVA/Library/Charts/chart.php?ID=54 Chart at Pakistan Aviation] *[http://www.globalsecurity.org/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/webinator/search/?query=george+tenet+iraq+al&pr=default&order=r&cmd=context&id=42b6197ef2 Pakistani Nuclear Forces at Global Security] *[https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/pakistan/murid.htm Global Security] {{authority control}} {{Pakistan Air Force main}} {{Active Pakistan Air Force bases}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mujtaba}} Murid Category:Military installations in Punjab, Pakistan Category:World War II sites in Pakistan Category:Military airbases established in 1942