US Considers Foreign Frigate Designs from South Korea, Japan, Turkey for New Warship Class
Quick Look
The United States is evaluating frigate designs from South Korea, Japan, and Turkey for a new warship class, potentially building up to two ships in foreign shipyards before shifting production to U.S. yards, as part of efforts to rebuild its navy and shipbuilding industrial base with allied cooperation.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The U.S. seeks to rebuild its navy and shipbuilding industrial base by considering foreign frigate designs, following a national security memorandum signed by President Trump allowing foreign shipbuilders to construct up to two ships for U.S. delivery.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- The United States is considering frigate designs from South Korea, Japan and Turkey for a new class of warships, a news report said Wednesday, as it is seeking cooperation with trusted allies to rebuild its navy and shipbuilding industrial base.
Citing three industry sources, USNI News, the U.S. Naval Institute's news outlet, reported that the White House and the U.S. Navy are considering the designs from the countries for a competition that could include building up to two of the ships in foreign shipyards before transitioning to U.S. yards.
The warship designs under consideration include the Chungnam-class guided-missile frigate built by a variety of South Korean shipbuilders, the export version of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' FFM Mogami-class guided-missile frigate and the Istanbul-class guided-missile frigate built by several Turkish shipyards, according to the report.
The move to procure foreign-built warships would break with more than a century of U.S. domestic naval construction, the report pointed out.
Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a national security memorandum permitting foreign shipbuilders to build up to two ships in their parent shipyards for delivery to the United States.
After the memo, acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao directed the office of the assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition William Mahan to oversee a study on international combatants, roll-on, roll-off cargo vessels and consolidated cargo replenishment at sea (CONSOL) tankers for Military Sealift Command, the outlet said.
The assessment is due Nov. 12, 2026.
South Korea and the U.S. have been stepping up shipbuilding cooperation as Seoul has committed to investing US$150 billion in the U.S. shipbuilding sector as part of a total $350 billion investment pledge under last year's bilateral trade and investment deal.
What to Watch
AI outlook โ possibilities, not facts
The assessment of international combatants will be completed by November 12, 2026, as directed by the acting Secretary of the Navy.
Very likely ยท Within months
The U.S. will proceed with building up to two frigates in foreign shipyards before transitioning production to domestic yards.
Likely ยท Within months
Open Questions
- Which specific frigate design will be selected for the U.S. Navy's new class?
- How will the transfer of technology and intellectual property be managed in foreign-built ships?
- What is the timeline for transitioning production from foreign to U.S. shipyards?
- How will domestic U.S. shipbuilders respond to the use of foreign yards for initial production?
