U.S. Navy Weighs Japanese, Korean and Turkish Frigates as Door Opens to Foreign-Built Warships
The White House and U.S. Navy are evaluating frigate designs from Japan, South Korea and Türkiye as part of a new international surface-combatant acquisition effort, according to reporting published September 1. Designs under consideration include Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' export version of Japan's upgraded Mogami/New FFM, South Korea's Chungnam-class FFX Batch III and Türkiye's Istanbul-class frigate. Under an August 13 White House memorandum, a selected foreign supplier could potentially construct the first two ships overseas, but would have to establish or acquire a U.S. shipyard, transfer production technology, train an American workforce and shift every subsequent ship to U.S. construction. The Navy's international ship assessment is due November 12, 2026. No frigate winner, overseas construction contract or formal three-country competition has yet been announced.
Program Impact Snapshot
Up to two frigates could be delivered from an allied yard
The new Finland Model permits an eligible foreign supplier to build the first two ships at its parent yard before transferring all follow-on construction to the United States.
The policy is also an industrial investment requirement
A foreign winner would have to build a new U.S. yard or take a majority position in an existing one, train American workers, transfer shipbuilding techniques and develop a U.S. supply chain.
The White House specified three core combat missions
Candidate surface combatants need sufficient inherent capability for anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare and convoy escort. This pushes the competition beyond a lightly armed patrol frigate.
The parent design is supposed to remain largely intact
The presidential memorandum specifically limits iterative Navy design changes. Departures from a mature parent design would require high-level approval.
Foreign construction still faces a legislative fight
Congressional proposals are seeking to restrict or eliminate the waiver mechanism used to permit overseas warship construction. Final FY2027 defense legislation remains unresolved.
Three Very Different Starting Designs
Published baseline characteristics show significant differences in size, missile architecture, crew requirements and the amount of U.S.-specific combat-system integration likely to be required.
| Candidate | Published Size | Crew | Missile Architecture | ASW / Aviation | Production Position | Relative U.S. Integration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Japan Upgraded Mogami / New FFM |
~142 m ~6,200 t full load 30+ kt |
~90-92 | 32-cell VLS on upgraded design. Australian variant is being prepared for SM-2, SM-6 and Tomahawk capability. | Enhanced ASW emphasis, helicopter hangar, Australian configuration supports MH-60R. | New FFM already in Japanese production. Australia has contracted its first three, with first delivery targeted for 2029. |
LOWER
Existing U.S.-weapon and helicopter integration path reduces some adaptation risk. |
|
South Korea Chungnam / FFX Batch III |
129 m ~4,300 t full load ~30 kt |
~120-125 | 16-cell Korean VLS, Korean surface-to-air and anti-ship weapons, plus U.S.-origin Mk 45 5-inch gun. | Hull and towed-array sonar, helicopter facilities and strong dedicated ASW heritage. | Six-ship ROKN program distributed across HD Hyundai, SK Oceanplant and Hanwha Ocean. All six are built, launched or under construction. |
MEDIUM
Combat system, VLS and missile architecture would require significant U.S. decisions. |
|
Türkiye Istanbul / I-Class |
113.2 m ~3,000-3,100 t 29+ kt |
~123 | 16-cell MiDLAS VLS, 16 ATMACA anti-ship missiles and Turkish air-defense weapons. | Hull-mounted sonar, lightweight torpedoes, helicopter hangar and UAV support. | Lead ship is operational. Second ship entered sea trials in August and multiple follow-on hulls are progressing. |
HIGHER
Baseline relies heavily on Turkish VLS, sensors, weapons and combat management. |
Australia's selected configuration already provides a 32-cell VLS and an integration route for several weapons already central to U.S. and allied surface warfare.
South Korea has split the six-ship FFX Batch III program among multiple major yards, providing a relevant example of transferring a common frigate design across builders.
Foreign Frigate to U.S. Yard Fleet-Ramp Calculator
Test the Finland Model by delivering initial ships from an allied shipyard, transferring production to U.S. yards and estimating the time required to build a larger frigate fleet.
Build Distribution
Compare the number of initial foreign-built ships with follow-on U.S. production under the entered fleet plan.