Pakistan to get US frigate this year
ISLAMABAD, April 26 Pakistan will get the first of eight Perry Class guided missile frigates from the United States on Aug 31.
Sources in Pakistan Navy said the frigate would be transferred to the country under the foreign military funding.
He said that two more frigates would be delivered in a year or so and the squadron of eight Perry Class frigates would be raised till 2014.
He rejected reports that Pakistan would have to pay $78 millions for 30-year-old frigate. The foreign military funding is allocated to all three services through the joint services headquarters.
An amount of $64.77 millions which includes the cost of ship, refurbishment, ammunition and crew training will be paid through the foreign military funding. A contract has been signed between the Unites States and Pakistan for the transfer of USS Mclnerney.
The contract will enable Pakistan to take over the frigate at US Naval Station Mayport, Florida, on Aug 31 this year after which it will be commissioned as the PNS Alamgir. A comprehensive refurbishment of the ship will be undertaken under the supervision of US Navy which will be completed by Dec 2010.