The F-7P is the PAF's main air defence fighter. The PAF F-7P's are all set to be upgraded with the new Grifo 7 radar, which will soon be built at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra. The latest combat aircraft for the PAF is the F-7MG. Now that the choice has been made to equip them with the GrifoS7 radar the first of a total of nearly 60 F-7MGs is in the process of being delivered, replacing the last two squadrons still operating the F-6. The Primary Flying Training Wing (PAF Academy) at Risalpur has received the first three Super Mushshaks by 10 May 2001. The main improvement on this modified version is a more powerful engine. Notwithstanding the US sanctions the PAF has been keeping the US aircraft types airworthy and maintained, like the F-16s, T-37s, C-130s and B-707. The F-16A/Bs have been allocated to 2 squadrons being the No. 9 Sq. and the No. 11 (OCU) Sq. located at PAF Base Sarghoda.

After the Mirage III/V has been phased out with the French air force the PAF is by far the main user of Mirage III/V aircraft. An impressive 180 Mirages have been delivered to the PAF and at the moment (September 2001) no less than six fighter squadrons and a reconnaissance squadron are equipped with Mirages. The PAF recently took over Mirage III/V aircraft from Lebanon and France with deliveries still taking place.

Four T-37Cs are forming the aerobatic team the Sherdils (Urdu for "lionhearted"). In the coming years the 20 T-37C aircraft will be replaced by the new K-8 Karakorum, of which the first examples already are flying with an Evaluation Flight at the PAF Academy Risalpur. An order for Mi-17 transport helicopters has been placed recently.

The Pakistan Air Force is in great need of hi-tec combat aircraft and plans to acquire the Chinese FC-1 in the near future. Pakistan's aerospace industry is also involved in the development of a hi-tec airplane of which only a full-scale mock-up has been produced so far. It is hoped that the prototype's maiden flight can be carried out in June 2003 but this largely depends on China's will to invest in this aircraft.