U.S. Explores Japan and South Korea Shipyards to Accelerate Warship Production.

The Pentagon is exploring the use of allied shipyards in Japan and South Korea to accelerate production of warships, aiming to overcome bottlenecks that are slowing the expansion of the US Navy’s fleet. This move reflects growing pressure to field more combat-ready ships faster as maritime competition intensifies, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.

The initiative includes funding to evaluate adopting or co-producing proven foreign frigate and destroyer designs, offering a potential shortcut to increase fleet capacity without overloading US shipyards. This approach could improve deployment speed and force availability while reinforcing allied industrial integration and strengthening collective naval deterrence.

Related Topic: U.S. Navy Looks to Korean and Japanese Shipyards to Address Submarine and Destroyer Delays

The Kongō-class guided-missile destroyer JS Chōkai (DDG-176) arrived in San Diego on October 15, 2025. (Picture source: Naval Base San Diego)

This line of thinking reflects growing concern within the administration over delays affecting several major US Navy programs. The Constellation-class guided-missile frigate (FFG-62), derived from the Italian FREMM design, illustrates these difficulties. Modifications required to meet US Navy survivability standards, combined with labor shortages, have led to multi-year delays and costs exceeding initial projections. Against this backdrop, decision-makers are assessing alternatives capable of delivering hulls more quickly, even if this involves partial reliance on allied industrial capacity.

According to elements drawn from US budget planning for Fiscal Year 2026 and first reported by USNI News on April 24, 2026, the Pentagon has directed the Department of the Navy to evaluate foreign shipyards and designs, with a particular focus on Japan and South Korea. The study covers a range of options, from adopting existing frigate designs to integrating foreign-built modules into US warships. Officials involved indicate that the objective extends beyond procurement to identifying industrial practices that could be transferred to improve efficiency within US shipyards.

In this context, Japanese and South Korean shipbuilders are considered among the most relevant partners. Japan’s Mogami-class frigate features a 5,500-ton stealth hull designed to reduce radar cross-section and incorporates a high level of automation, allowing a crew of around 90 personnel. It is equipped with the MK41 Vertical Launching System (VLS), enabling the deployment of missiles such as the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) as well as potential land-attack munitions. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is able to deliver a unit in approximately two years at an estimated cost of around US$500 million, which remains below current US program benchmarks. At the same time, the growing integration of US systems within Japanese forces reinforces this industrial alignment. The Kongō-class destroyer Chōkai has been present since October 2025 at San Diego, home port of the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet surface forces, where it has undergone modifications required to operate Tomahawk cruise missiles. Following completion of these upgrades and associated crew training, live-fire exercises are planned during the summer to finalize the weapon’s operational integration.

South Korea’s Daegu-class frigate, with a displacement of approximately 3,600 tons, uses a hybrid propulsion system combining gas turbines and electric drive, which reduces acoustic signature and improves anti-submarine warfare performance. It is also fitted with the MK41 VLS and advanced sonar systems, including a towed array designed to detect quiet submarines at extended ranges. These characteristics make it suited for operations in contested littoral environments where discretion and sensor integration are critical.

The Department of the Navy is examining hybrid approaches that would allow part of the construction process to take place in the United States while leveraging foreign expertise. This approach aligns with recent developments in the industrial landscape, including the acquisition of the Philly Shipyard by South Korean firm Hanwha, which is seen in Washington as a potential means to modernize domestic production. Officials consider that the integration of advanced automation methods and modular construction techniques from East Asian shipbuilders could contribute to reducing delays and improving cost control.

In this configuration, the operational interest for the United States lies primarily in achieving greater fleet mass in the near term. Frigates such as the Mogami or Daegu classes, already in serial production, could provide immediate escort, presence, and maritime control capabilities, with delivery timelines shorter than current US programs. Their compatibility with US systems, including the MK41 VLS and elements of combat system architecture, would facilitate integration within carrier strike groups or forward-deployed formations. However, these advantages remain conditional. US requirements for survivability, system redundancy, and damage resistance may require either accepting lower standards or modifying foreign designs, with the risk of introducing delays similar to those experienced in previous programs.

In the Pacific theater, this approach responds to a requirement for increased naval presence in the face of the rapid expansion of China’s fleet. Additional hulls would allow broader deployment patterns, extended maritime surveillance, and a stronger presence in contested areas. At the same time, industrial convergence with Japan and South Korea reflects a broader trend toward allied integration, where production chains, combat systems, and operational practices increasingly align. This dynamic provides the United States with greater strategic depth and adaptability, while also raising questions regarding the acceptable level of reliance on external industrial partners in a context of intensifying naval competition.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.