The U.S. Navy is reportedly reviewing ships built in Korea, Japan and Türkiye as candidates to secure a new frigate. A plan to build the initial batch overseas and then move production to the United States is also being discussed.
USNI News, a U.S. Navy–focused outlet, reported on the 1st (local time) that the White House and the Navy are reviewing ship designs from Korea, Japan and Türkiye for a new frigate program. Three industry sources familiar with the discussions also confirmed this to USNI News.
One of the ships cited as a candidate is the export version of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' Mogami-class frigate. In Korea, the Chungnam-class frigate being built by domestic shipbuilders has reportedly been included in the review.
Türkiye's Istanbul-class frigate is also being mentioned as a candidate. Sources said it was added to the review after the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in July, when the U.S. and Turkish leaders held talks.
The options the United States is reviewing are said to include building up to two ships at overseas shipyards first and then transferring production to U.S. shipyards. If actually pursued, it would mark a change to a principle of building warships in the United States that has lasted for more than 100 years.
The Navy is accelerating the acquisition of frigates to ease the burden on the current fleet, which is centered on large destroyers.
The Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, the Navy's mainstay, are designed for high-intensity naval combat, but in practice they are often assigned to relatively simple missions. The Navy believes that if frigates take on such missions, destroyers can focus on more demanding operations.
Brian Metcalf, the Navy's program executive officer for surface ships, said in July, "The Navy cannot operate with a one-size fleet," adding, "Frigates will fill that gap." He also explained that frigates can be used for missions in waters with a low likelihood of conflict or for escorting high-value ships.
Late last year, the Navy scrapped its existing Constellation-class frigate program and shifted to a patrol frigate program based on the U.S. Coast Guard's National Security Cutter. U.S. shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries has begun pre-production work on the first ship, but a formal construction contract has not yet been signed.
The U.S. review of overseas ship designs was spelled out for the first time in this year's defense budget plan. The administration proposed allocating $1.85 billion to review overseas designs for ships from Japan, Korea and others.
U.S. government interest in Korean shipyards is continuing. Through the Joe Biden and Donald Trump administrations, Navy officials have made successive visits to Korean shipyards.
Late last month, Richard Breckenridge, the Navy Department's senior advisor for shipbuilding, was reported to have visited Korea and toured several shipyards. In July, a delegation from the House Appropriations Committee's Defense Subcommittee also visited the shipyards of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries(329180)·Hanwha Ocean(042660)·Samsung Heavy Industries(010140).
However, it remains uncertain whether the push to build warships overseas will translate into an actual program. That is because there is a move in Congress to limit the exception that allows overseas construction.
A draft of the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act prepared by the Senate Armed Services Committee includes removing the exception that allows the White House to build warships overseas. The House Armed Services Committee's draft also includes a provision barring the use of funds to purchase U.S. warships built at overseas shipyards. The final bill has not yet been decided.