It comes after Trump signed a memorandum calling for foreign shipbuilding capacity and investment as US industry struggles to meet demand
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenLiu ZhenPublished: 6:00pm, 3 Sep 2026Washington is considering using Japanese, South Korean or Turkish frigate designs to expand the country’s naval fleet as the American shipbuilding industry struggles to meet demand, according to US media reports.The move comes after President Donald Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum on August 13 calling for the use of foreign shipbuilding capacity and investment.However, the plan is likely to face strong opposition in Congress.
“The president has directed the navy to aggressively increase domestic shipbuilding capacity, including leveraging the proven shipbuilding skills and industrial expertise of our allies,” US Navy spokesman Ron Flanders was quoted as saying.
According to the report, the cooperation could follow the “Finland model”. That would see foreign shipbuilders constructing the first two hulls and investing in US facilities, workforce, technologies and supply chains before production is transferred to American shipyards.
