S. Korean, Japanese, Turkish frigates being considered for new US frigate class:
The United States is exploring frigate designs from South Korea, Japan, and Turkey for a new class of warships in an effort to strengthen its navy and shipbuilding industry through collaboration with trusted allies.
Foreign Frigate Designs Under Consideration
According to a report by USNI News, the US Navy and the White House are evaluating frigate designs from South Korea, Japan, and Turkey for a potential competition. The designs being considered include the Chungnam-class guided-missile frigate from South Korean shipbuilders, the export version of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ FFM Mogami-class guided-missile frigate, and the Istanbul-class guided-missile frigate from Turkish shipyards.
This move marks a significant departure from over a century of US domestic naval construction practices. South Korea, for instance, has been actively engaged in a project to construct six Chungnam-class frigates, with various shipyards involved in the process.
US President Signs National Security Memorandum
In a recent development, US President Donald Trump signed a national security memorandum allowing foreign shipbuilders to construct up to two ships in their parent shipyards for eventual delivery to the United States. Following this directive, acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao tasked the office of the assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development, and acquisition, William Mahan, to conduct a study on international combatants, roll-on, roll-off cargo vessels, and consolidated cargo replenishment at sea (CONSOL) tankers for Military Sealift Command. The assessment is expected to be completed by November 12, 2026.
The collaboration between South Korea and the US in the shipbuilding sector has been gaining momentum, with Seoul committing to invest $150 billion in the US shipbuilding industry as part of a larger $350 billion investment pledge outlined in a bilateral trade and investment agreement from the previous year.
