Pak Inks $65 Million Deal with US for Acquiring Refurbished Frigate Warship

For the ‘hot transfer’ of refurbished American frigate USS McInerney by August 31, Pakistan has inked a $65 million deal with the US, reported PTI.

Senior officials of two countries signed the contract for the ‘hot transfer’ of the USS McInerney, a Perry-class guided missile frigate, in Washington on Tuesday, report said.

As per agreement, the Pakistan Navy will take over the vessel on August 31, said report.

The US Congress had approved the sale of the frigate to Pakistan in September 2008 and it will be inducted into the Pakistan Navy as PNS Alamgir at a ceremony in the US.

The frigate, which was commissioned in 1979, would undergo a refurbishment, including anti-submarine capability paid for with the US foreign military aid, before handing it over to Pakistan, said report.

Refurbishment will complete by January next year and then vessel will sail to Pakistan to join the country’s naval fleet, report said.

Pakistani officials described the deal to acquire the warship as a major ‘milestone’ towards further strengthening the wide-ranging Pakistan-US relationship, said report.

“The successful completion of this contract will pave the way for acquisition of more vessels of the same class for the Pakistan Navy to raise a squadron of eight Perry-class frigates,” a spokesman for the Pakistani embassy was quoted as saying.

“This will greatly enhance the operational readiness of the Pakistan Navy,” he was quoted as saying.

In the last couple of years, USS McInerney has been mainly involved in successful counter-drug operations.

Pakistan plans to raise a squadron of eight Perry Class Frigates.

The frigate is being transferred under the Foreign Assistance ACT and the Arms Export Control Act in which Pakistan is considered a major non-NATO ally and is able to receive older unneeded US military equipment.