PAF Base Peshawar (RAF Peshawar)

PAF Base Peshawar is located in the Peshawar District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It serves as the operational headquarters for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Northern Air Command and shares airfield facilities with Bacha Khan International Airport.

The installation was established in 1918 as RAF Peshawar. It served as a Royal Air Force station until 1947, hosting units such as No. 52 (Corps) Wing and No. 1 (British Indian) Wing. During this period, the base operated multiple squadrons including No. 31, No. 5, No. 20, No. 27, No. 28, No. 34, No. 39, No. 60, No. 155, and No. 659. Aircraft types deployed there during the British administration included the Bristol F.2B Fighter, Hawker Tempest F.2, Westland Wapiti, Hawker Audax, Westland Lysander II, Airco DH.9A, Bristol Blenheim IV, and Taylorcraft Auster. Following the British withdrawal, the site was redeveloped and formally opened as a primary PAF installation in November 1957. The base has been involved in the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pakistani wars, as well as Operation Sentinel and Operation Swift Retort.

The base is operated by the Pakistan Air Force and serves as the garrison for the 36 TA Wing. It is currently commanded by Air Commodore Syed Inam. The station houses No. 17 Squadron "Tigers", No. 26 Squadron "Black Spiders", and No. 81 Rescue Squadron "Kangaroos". The installation also hosts the Helicopter Flying Training School. On-site facilities include five concrete and metal hangars, administrative buildings, storage units, and a 41-bed hospital. Infrastructure capacity includes accommodations for 900 personnel and storage for 73,000 gallons of aviation gasoline and jet fuel.