In February 1971, as the Fighter Leaders School, the unit was assigned to train senior pilots in advanced tactics.

Although the squadron was not employed in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, its pilots were transferred to PAF Base Peshawar, where they flew with the No.

It was decided that the Panthers would be the first squadron to be reequipped with the Nanchang A-5C attack fighter, and personnel were sent to China to be trained on it.

In November 1985, the unit began practicing with live 750 lb bombs and extensive Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT) with the PAF's F-16 squadrons.

Five A-5Cs were added to the squadron's fleet in May 1989, and in mid-1990 Wing Commander Zafar evaluated the upgraded A-5M and A-5F attack fighters in China.

In 1997 the squadron was again temporarily transferred to PAF Base Minhas and Murid during runway recarpeting at the unit's parent airbase.

A defense journalist from Pakistan who wished to remain anonymous told EurAsian Times that about 12 fighters were indeed inducted into service with the 16 Squadron in a very small-scale ceremony.