The U.S. is considering frigate designs from Türkiye, South Korea, and Japan as it explores an international competition for a new class of Navy warships, according to USNI.
The emerging plan could allow up to two initial vessels to be built in foreign shipyards before production shifts to U.S. facilities, according to three industry sources familiar with the deliberations.
Such a move would mark a major departure from more than a century of domestic U.S. naval construction.
Türkiye Joins Asian Designs
The designs under consideration include an export version of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ FFM Mogami-class guided-missile frigate and South Korea’s Chungnam-class guided-missile frigate.
Türkiye’s Istanbul-class guided-missile frigate is also being examined, according to two sources.
Its inclusion followed a conversation between Turkish leadership and President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the NATO summit in July, the sources said.
The White House opened the door to foreign-built warships in an August memorandum that invoked a “national security interest” waiver to bypass restrictions on overseas naval construction.
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao subsequently ordered a broader review of international combatants and support vessels. That assessment is due on November 12, 2026.
Capt. Ron Flanders, a spokesperson for the Navy’s acquisition office, said the administration was looking to allied shipbuilding capacity as part of its fleet expansion plans.
“The President has directed the Navy to aggressively increase domestic shipbuilding capacity, including leveraging the proven shipbuilding skills and industrial expertise of our allies,” Flanders said.
Foreign Construction, U.S. Transition
One option being considered follows the so-called “Finland model.”
Under that approach, construction could begin at an overseas yard for as many as two hulls before investment, technology and production move into U.S. shipyards.
The model is similar to the Coast Guard’s Arctic Security Cutter program, where initial vessels are being built in Finland before construction transitions to the U.S.
Office of Management and Budget director Russ Vought has publicly supported the approach as a way to increase competition in naval shipbuilding.
Filling the Frigate Gap
The Navy is seeking a smaller surface combatant capable of taking on missions that do not require an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer.
“The Navy can’t operate with only one size ship,” Rear Adm. Brian Metcalf said in July.
“The frigate will fill that gap,” he added, citing missions in less contentious waters and high-value escort duties.
The effort follows the cancellation of the Constellation-class guided-missile frigate program late last year.
The Navy instead moved toward the FFX program, a patrol frigate based on the Coast Guard’s National Security Cutter. HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding has started preproduction work, although no construction contract has been awarded.
Congress Questions Foreign Shipbuilding
The overseas option faces political resistance.
Draft Senate language for the Fiscal Year 2027 defense policy bill would remove the waiver being used to explore foreign warship construction.
The House Armed Services Committee has also backed a provision that would prevent authorized funds from being used to purchase an American warship built in a foreign yard.
The administration’s FY 2027 budget proposal included $1.85 billion for a foreign warship design study initially focused on Japan and South Korea.
Türkiye’s Istanbul class has now joined those Asian designs in consideration as Washington weighs whether allied shipyards can provide a faster route to a new U.S. frigate fleet.
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