US Considering Importing Warships Built by Allies Like South Korea and Japan Amid Vessel Shortages

The U.S. Navy is considering introducing warships built in allied nations, including South Korea and Japan, into its own fleet, the Nikkei reported, citing U.S. officials and other sources.

A U.S. Navy official told the Nikkei that while pushing for long-term investments in U.S. shipyards and technology transfers, the Navy is reviewing options to "realize the intent of U.S. President Donald Trump, who wants faster ship deliveries."

Another U.S. Navy official acknowledged a shortage of vessels in the U.S. military, saying, "We might buy a few Japanese frigates. Japanese ships are excellent," according to the Nikkei.

Recently, USNI News, a U.S. Navy specialist publication, reported that the U.S. is considering guided-missile frigates from South Korea, Japan, and Türkiye for naval vessels to be ordered overseas.

Among them, the upgraded version of the Mogami-class frigate built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and operated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is reportedly being discussed as a Japanese option.

While Japan's Mogami-class frigates have the advantage of being operable with a small crew due to automation technologies, the key issues are expected to be whether a production base can be established within the U.S. and whether the U.S. Navy's desired schedules can be met.

The Nikkei analyzed that South Korea is considered a strong candidate for introducing U.S. Navy vessels because it is already active in making investments in the U.S. through major shipbuilding conglomerates.

The backdrop behind the U.S. attempt to rapidly secure ships built in allied nations is interpreted as China's rapid military buildup.

According to Japan's Ministry of Defense, the Chinese military has increased the number of modern destroyers and frigates by 6.9 times over the 25 years from 2001 to this year, leading to evaluations that it is rapidly catching up with U.S. forces.

However, the U.S. lags far behind China—the world's top holder of shipbuilding market share—in terms of shipbuilding capacity, remaining at a level where it builds only a few commercial ships per year.

As a result, a dynamic has formed where the U.S. relies on South Korea, which holds the second-largest market share, and Japan, which holds the third, the Nikkei noted.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.