November 28, 2014: The U.S. has agreed to sell Pakistan eight Global Response Cutters. These are 43 meter (143 foot), 215 ton coastal patrol ships (which the U.S. Coast Guard calls “cutters”). Top speed is 58 kilometers an hour but cruising at 18 kilometers an hour they can stay at sea for about two weeks at a time. Crew size can vary from 18-24. Weapons consist of a remote controlled 25mm or 30mm autocannon up front and four 12.7mm and four 7.62mm machine-guns that care brought out and mounted as needed. The crew also can use assault rifles and pistols. In the rear there is an eight meter rigid boat for boarding parties. Pakistan will pay $44 million per ship.

These ships are low maintenance (a glass reinforced plastic hull) and highly automated. They are air conditioned, which is an important feature for a ship operating in the tropics. The Pakistani cutters will also have some lightweight (bullet proof) armor protecting the bridge and some other areas. Pakistan has long had problems with seaborne smugglers and foreign fishing boats poaching.