Old hull refits versus a continuing Perry line

The retired Perrys had accumulated heavy use, and missing weapons would have to be replaced to restore the capability expected of them. Their tightly packed equipment included systems built into the frames, making replacement difficult. Keeping Mark 13 and SM-1MR alive would create a separate support burden, while extensive weapons refits were hard to justify on old hulls. The discussion identifies the expected NFR-90 replacement as a reason another Perry batch was not ordered. Its alternative is a continuing line producing roughly one or two ships annually or every other year through the 1990s. An active line could provide newer hulls and attract foreign orders that helped spread production costs. This is a counterfactual about earlier procurement decisions, distinct from reactivating the worn ships later.