Non-Subscriber Extract
Pakistan in the frame for Type 42 destroyers
By Richard Scott
27 May 2009
The Type 42 Batch 2 ship HMS Exeter was due to be decommissioned on 27 May, leaving six destroyers in UK service. (Gary Davies/Maritime Photographic)
The UK and Pakistan are discussing a deal under which the Pakistan Navy (PN) could acquire up to three Type 42 Batch 3 destroyers following their retirement from the Royal Navy (RN), Jane's has learned.
Meanwhile, Pakistan is conducting a separate dialogue with the United States regarding the availability of additional FFG 7 frigates, as the PN looks to recapitalise a large part of its surface combatant force through second-hand acquisitions.
The PN frigate force currently comprises six ex-RN Type 21s constituting the 25th Destroyer Squadron. Transferred between 1993 and 1994, these ships – now known as the Tariq class – have undergone significant modernisation since transfer, but all are now over 30 years old and becoming increasingly difficult to support.
Pakistan also has four F22P frigates on order from China with the first, Zulfiquar, due to be accepted into service later this year.