US okays sale of 8 Global Response Cutters to Pakistan

[Yeti]

These cutters are being inducted into the Pakistan Navy, so yes, these are military assets.

I know they are military assets but they are to be used to safeguard against threats like counter narcotics and terrorism etc and uncle sam does not sell without strings attached which are binding in contracts.

 

[Yeti]

This sale will enhance Pakistan’s ability to enforce the rule of law over its coastal areas to safeguard seaborne energy corridors deter the outbreak of piracy along the north Arabian Sea and curtail the trafficking of narcotics and other illicit goods.

 

[Kompromat]

These cutters are being inducted into the Pakistan Navy, so yes, these are military assets.

Coast Guard

 

[VCheng]

Coast Guard

You may be correct, I was going by this which identifies the recipient as the Navy:

Pakistan requests GRC43M cutters from US - Naval Technology

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of a potential foreign military sale (FMS) of global response cutters (GRC43M), support and associated equipment to Pakistan.

Under the estimated $350m FMS programme, Pakistan has requested eight GRC43M cutters, in addition to eight outfitted 25mm or 30mm naval gun systems, 32 M2-HB .50 calibre machine guns and 32 7.62mm guns.

The proposed package comprises eight 8m rigid inflatable boats, ballistic / armour protection of critical spaces, command and control equipment, communication equipment, navigation equipment, support equipment, spare and repair parts, tools, and test equipment.

Also included is technical data and publications, personnel training, US Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, as well as other associated elements of logistics and programme support.

Mainly aimed at improving Pakistan's potential to implement the rule of law over coastal areas, the latest procurement will help protect seaborne energy corridors, disrupt piracy along the north Arabian Sea, and limit the trafficking of narcotics and other illegal goods.

The new vessels will also provide the Pakistan Navy with the potential for medium-to-long endurance coverage of 660 miles of coastline.

WSY in Port Angeles, Washington, US, has been named as the prime contractor for the FMS programme.

 

[Thorough Pro]

Looking at the short video, these look ideal for patrolling, search and rescue and interdiction of small unidentified vessels. Ability to launch scan eagle and speed boat, provides additional "Coverage" range. Addition of man portable missiles like Tow or Baktar Shikan would give some additional offensive punch against smaller targets like pirate/terrorist vessels.

Regarding Price, consider that as an investment in acquisition and learning of new technology. JF-17 would never have been as advanced as it is now, had we not acquired "expensive" F-16's.

Not exactly. These boats are not easy to form and are much more durable than any Chinese counterpart. They are also well suited for the sea and coastal conditions prevailing in Pakistan.

 

[Sugarcane]

Courtesy of US taxpayers.

Actually Courtesy of Chinese & Japanese (Who buy US treasury securities)

PS: Article talk about sale not aid

 

[graphican]

350 millions for coast guard vessels? usually USA supports anti piracy activities and provides ships itself for such operations. Also why do you need 8 vessels of special characteristics to deal with pirates?

I don't have positive or negative opinions instead I am more into specifications and trying to think why does a struggling Navy needs to spend 350 millions on 8 anti-piracy vessels of expensive kind with following characteristics.

"Each Cutter will be a mono-hull design made of Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP). Also included in this sale: outfitted 8 25mm or 30mm Naval Gun Systems, 32 M2-HB .50 caliber machine guns, 32 7.62mm guns, 8 8- meter Rigid Inflatable Boats, ballistic/armor protection of critical spaces, command and control equipment, communication equipment, navigation equipment..."

Is it really for anti-piracy operations?

 

[banvanaxl]

Waste of money If Pakistan is paying for them if they are aid package no issue

For $350 million we could get 16 such cutter from China with ToT

We could build maybe half of them in Pakistan after all right now Karachi dockyard isn't busy and they need work after delivering last few units of warships

Bad move in my opinion very bad move

You need TOT for a cutter?? Like seriously?

Next thing i know and you'll be saying like lets import 160 tons of instant noodles from China with full TOT ..

Dude ...... .. .. .

 

[Donatello]

You need TOT for a cutter?? Like seriously?

Next thing i know and you'll be saying like lets import 160 tons of instant noodles from China with full TOT ..

Dude ...... .. .. .

Ships bigger and more complex than these can already be built in Pakistan. But these are Fiber Glass hulls, a new product. So it might be good idea to get some ToT, so similar, small designs can be built in house when the demands arise.

 

[C130]

Waste of money If Pakistan is paying for them if they are aid package no issue

For $350 million we could get 16 such cutter from China with ToT

We could build maybe half of them in Pakistan after all right now Karachi dockyard isn't busy and they need work after delivering last few units of warships

Bad move in my opinion very bad move

exactly you should get everything from Uncle Chang from now on
the sooner the better

 

[VCheng]

Actually Courtesy of Chinese & Japanese (Who buy US treasury securities)

PS: Article talk about sale not aid

No, the cutters are being financed by USA to support its valuable ally Pakistan.

 

[Secur]

But these are Fiber Glass hulls, a new product.

Had Pakistan paid a little attention on composite manufacture, it wouldn't have so new and ground breaking for us. These are things of the past, which we should have mastered and started to utilize, but hey why invest in R&D?

 

[VCheng]

Had Pakistan paid a little attention on composite manufacture, it wouldn't have so new and ground breaking for us. These are things of the past, which we should have mastered and started to utilize, but hey why invest in R&D?

R&D is an expensive endeavor without immediate dividends. Pakistan has chosen to spend its resources on applied technologies with direct benefits.

 

[surya kiran]

The website, is quite amateurish. The Legal section looks like a copy paste job. The site is registered with Westport Yachts, but the corporate website does not mention this model. If it were not for, the US government talking about it, the site would have been a scam site.

Westport is a luxury yatch builder. This company got taken over by American Custom Yatchs, which, is part of the same group which owns Edison Chouset (another shipping solutions firm). But, none of these sites too offer any military solutions.

Looks like Pakistan is the first customer AND if its really so, surprising Pakistan is requesting for a untested solution using the FMS route.

 

[Donatello]

The website, is quite amateurish. The Legal section looks like a copy paste job. The site is registered with Westport Yachts, but the corporate website does not mention this model. If it were not for, the US government talking about it, the site would have been a scam site.

Westport is a luxury yatch builder. This company got taken over by American Custom Yatchs, which, is part of the same group which owns Edison Chouset (another shipping solutions firm). But, none of these sites too offer any military solutions.

Looks like Pakistan is the first customer AND if its really so, surprising Pakistan is requesting for a untested solution using the FMS route.

I can show you tons of websites that look copy/paste and amateurish at best, but they are professional firms engaged in activities that really don't need any flashy 'Apple Inc.' style advertising or websites. Customers know them and hence go about directly engaging with the company. People looking to buy multi million dollar equipment don't sit on Internet like you and me. you'll see a brochure here and there, that's it. It's not a TATA Nano you know.

The company in question here builds yachts bigger than the cutters, and i have no reason, so far, to believe that it will be an unproven system or unreliable system.

Someone has to be a first you know.

Yacht Maker Tests Homeland Security Waters


Now, to add a bit of spice according to your flags, did India test the auto eject feature on it's MKIs before it bought the un-tested system?

Seriously, don't be stupid.