US Overseas Warship Review Nears Deadline: South Korea, Japan and Turkey in Focus

US Overseas Warship Review Nears Deadline: South Korea, Japan and Turkey in Focus

The United States is approaching a key deadline in its review of overseas warship construction, a policy initiative that could open new opportunities for shipbuilders in South Korea, Japan and Turkey.

A study ordered by the US Navy is due to reach the White House by November 12, 2026. It is examining foreign warship designs and alternative procurement arrangements as the US government looks for ways to address shipbuilding delays and expand naval production capacity.

The review does not mean that a foreign shipbuilder has won a US Navy contract. No final design or contractor has been selected for the proposed international frigate competition, and the November 12 deadline concerns the submission of a review rather than a confirmed procurement decision.

The development is attracting attention because it could change how the United States works with allied shipbuilders while attempting to rebuild its own maritime industrial base.

Why the US is considering overseas warship construction

The US Navy faces a growing gap between its fleet ambitions and the capacity of American shipyards to deliver new vessels.

The White House has identified shipbuilding delays, rising costs, limited industrial capacity and a lack of competition as problems affecting several major naval programmes.

A November 5 report by UPI highlighted the scale of the challenge. It cited a Congressional Budget Office assessment that some destroyers and submarines that previously took approximately five to six years to construct now take around nine to ten years.

The report also noted that the United States accounts for less than 1% of global shipbuilding output, while Asian shipbuilders have a much larger commercial and industrial base.

This imbalance matters because building more warships requires more than approving a larger defence budget. Shipyards need skilled workers, suppliers, equipment, production facilities and the ability to construct vessels on schedule.

The administration is therefore looking at ways to use allied shipbuilding expertise while encouraging foreign companies to invest in American facilities.

What Trump's Finland Model means for warship construction

On August 13, 2026, President Donald Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum titled Rebuilding the United States Navy and America's Shipbuilding Industrial Base.

The memorandum introduced a framework based on the so-called Finland Model, which draws on US-Finland cooperation over medium icebreaker construction.

Under the proposed arrangement, foreign shipbuilders would be required to make substantial investments in the American shipbuilding industry before receiving permission to build an initial limited number of vessels in their home shipyards.

The memorandum sets out several conditions for participating foreign suppliers:

• Build a new shipyard in the United States or acquire ownership or a majority equity position in an existing American shipyard.
• Hire and train an American workforce for the US facilities.
• License proprietary shipbuilding techniques and technologies to the American shipyards.
• Source a US supply chain for construction and maintenance of vessels built at those facilities.
• Build all subsequent ships in the United States after the first two vessels constructed in the foreign supplier's parent shipyard.

The memorandum applies the framework to up to three ship classes identified in the policy: surface combatants, Consolidated Cargo Replenishment at Sea tankers and Roll-On/Roll-Off vessels.

The administration's stated objective is to use allied industrial capacity to help address near-term delivery gaps while building up domestic production for the longer term.

However, the framework is not an unconditional permission for foreign companies to build American naval vessels. The memorandum requires specific national-security determinations and congressional notification before contracts can be awarded under the waiver.

Which foreign warship designs are under consideration?

South Korea, Japan and Turkey have emerged as potential participants in the US Navy's international frigate assessment.

According to USNI News, the designs being considered include the following:

South Korea: Chungnam-class frigate

South Korea's Chungnam-class guided-missile frigate is among the designs reported to be under consideration.

South Korean shipbuilders have become important potential partners for the United States because of their experience in large-scale commercial shipbuilding, naval vessel production and industrial investment.

Companies such as Hanwha and HD Hyundai have been expanding their American shipbuilding activities.

Hanwha's acquisition of Philly Shipyard in 2024 is one example of this expansion.

The company's US subsidiary, Hanwha Defense USA, was selected in October 2026 to build a Medium Landing Ship for the US Navy and Marine Corps at the Philadelphia facility. The contract is valued at $269 million for one vessel, with options for three additional ships.

That landing-ship contract is separate from the proposed foreign frigate competition. It demonstrates Hanwha's growing participation in US shipbuilding, but it does not mean the company has been awarded a contract to supply the Navy with Chungnam-class frigates.

Japan: Mogami-class frigate

Japan's export version of the Mogami-class guided-missile frigate is also reportedly being assessed.

The Mogami design has attracted international attention because of Japan's modern naval shipbuilding capabilities and its efforts to expand defence exports.

Japan's participation would give the US Navy another allied design to consider as it explores options for a future surface combatant.

As with the South Korean design, consideration does not amount to a selection or purchase decision.

Turkey: Istanbul-class frigate

Turkey's Istanbul-class guided-missile frigate has also been reported as a possible contender.

The design's inclusion would broaden the potential field beyond the United States' traditional East Asian shipbuilding partners.

USNI News reported that Turkish officials raised the possibility of the design during discussions with President Trump around the July 2026 NATO summit.

The Navy has not publicly announced a winning design.

What ships does the US Navy want to assess?

The August 13 memorandum directs the administration to develop procurement approaches covering three broad vessel categories.

Surface combatants

These are warships designed to perform missions such as anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare and convoy escort.

The proposed international assessment includes frigate designs that could offer the Navy a more mature alternative to starting a completely new design process.

Consolidated Cargo Replenishment at Sea tankers

These vessels support naval operations by delivering supplies to ships at sea.

They help naval forces remain operational for longer periods without returning to port for essential replenishment.

Roll-On/Roll-Off vessels

Roll-On/Roll-Off ships transport military vehicles and other cargo that can be driven or moved directly onto and off the vessel.

They are important for military logistics, especially when forces need to move equipment over long distances.

The review covers more than the possible purchase of foreign frigates. It is part of a wider effort to consider allied shipbuilding capacity for both combat and support vessels.

Why the US shipbuilding review faces legal and political challenges

The proposed use of foreign shipyards faces legal and political obstacles in the United States.

Under Section 8679 of Title 10 of the US Code, vessels constructed for the armed forces generally cannot be built in foreign shipyards.

However, the law allows a presidential exception when the President determines that overseas construction is in the national security interest of the United States.

The statute also requires notification to Congress. A contract under the exception cannot be made until 30 days after Congress receives the relevant determination.

The August 13 memorandum invokes this national-security framework and delegates the relevant determination and notification responsibilities to the Secretary of War.

Congressional opposition is another potential obstacle.

The Office of Management and Budget previously objected to a House proposal that would prohibit the use of defence funds for procuring battle-force ships built in foreign shipyards. The administration argued that the restriction would conflict with its proposal to allow limited overseas construction in exchange for investment in American shipyards.

The dispute shows that the policy's future depends not only on the Navy's assessment but also on congressional decisions and the administration's ability to implement the framework within existing law.

How South Korea could benefit

South Korea is particularly well positioned to benefit if the United States moves forward with deeper shipbuilding cooperation.

Its shipbuilding companies have extensive experience in commercial vessels, naval construction and large industrial projects.

The opportunity could extend beyond exporting finished ships.

South Korean companies may be able to secure work involving:

• Investment in American shipyards.
• Modernisation of existing shipbuilding facilities.
• Training and employment of US workers.
• Transfer and licensing of shipbuilding technology.
• American production of vessels based on mature foreign designs.
• Supply-chain and maintenance partnerships.

Hanwha's investment in Philly Shipyard provides a practical example of how a South Korean company can expand its US industrial presence.

However, the proposed frigate assessment and Hanwha's existing landing-ship contract remain separate developments.

What happens after the November 12 deadline?

The November 12 deadline is significant because the August 13 presidential memorandum directed the Secretary of War to submit a plan for a new competitive acquisition approach within 90 days.

The Navy's assessment is expected to inform that wider policy process.

After the review, several steps would still be necessary before foreign-built vessels could enter a US procurement programme.

These include determining which designs meet military requirements, establishing procurement arrangements, completing the required national-security process and satisfying congressional notification requirements.

The Navy would also need to assess the industrial commitments, costs, delivery schedules, technology arrangements and long-term support requirements associated with potential suppliers.

Consequently, the end of the review should not be interpreted as an immediate contract award or confirmation that a particular foreign frigate will join the US fleet.

What the overseas warship review means for global shipbuilding

The review could become an important test of whether the United States can use allied shipbuilding capacity to address its naval production problems.

For South Korea, Japan and Turkey, the process offers a potential route into a major defence market.

For American shipyards, the administration's approach is intended to bring investment, technology, workforce development and additional production capacity into the domestic industry.

But the outcome will depend on whether the government can balance faster ship deliveries with national security, domestic employment, legal requirements and congressional support.

The November 12 deadline is therefore an important policy milestone, not the end of the procurement process.

Frequently asked questions

Is the US planning to build warships in South Korea?

The US is assessing foreign warship designs and overseas construction options, including designs from South Korea. The review does not mean that a South Korean shipbuilder has already received a US Navy frigate contract.

Which countries are being considered for the US Navy frigate programme?

South Korea, Japan and Turkey have been reported as countries whose designs are under consideration. The designs include South Korea's Chungnam class, Japan's Mogami class and Turkey's Istanbul class.

What is the Finland Model in US shipbuilding?

It is a framework based on US-Finland cooperation over icebreaker construction. Under the August 2026 memorandum, participating foreign shipbuilders would invest in American shipyards, train US workers, license technology and build subsequent vessels in the United States after an initial limited number of overseas-built ships.

When is the US overseas warship review due?

The Navy's assessment is due November 12, 2026, following the 90-day deadline established by the presidential memorandum signed on August 13.

Has the US selected a foreign warship design?

No final selection or contract award has been confirmed in the reporting available ahead of the review deadline.

Why is the US considering foreign shipbuilders?

The United States is facing shipyard capacity constraints, workforce shortages, production delays and rising costs. The administration is exploring allied cooperation as one way to increase production capacity while investing in American shipyards.

Sources

• White House: Rebuilding the United States Navy and America's Shipbuilding Industrial Base
• White House: August 2026 shipbuilding fact sheet
• USNI News: Japanese, South Korean and Turkish warships under consideration
• UPI: US shipbuilding crisis deepens as Navy expansion outpaces capacity
• Hanwha Defense USA: $269 million Medium Landing Ship selection
• US Code, Title 10, Section 8679: Construction of vessels in foreign shipyards

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