The White House is advancing a plan to construct U.S. Navy combat ships and support vessels at overseas shipyards. This initiative aims to reduce delays in U.S. shipbuilding and leverage the production capabilities and technologies of allied nations.
On August 4, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a policy statement related to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2027, indicating that the U.S. administration is seeking congressional authority for the Navy to contract for two surface combatants and two non-combat support ships to be built overseas. This document was submitted to Congress on July 21.
The White House explained, “By utilizing overseas construction, we can alleviate the backlog of ships at U.S. shipyards and attract investment from foreign shipbuilders into the U.S.” It also proposed a so-called 'Finland model,' which involves quickly securing initial vessels from abroad and bringing overseas shipbuilding technology and production methods to the U.S.
The policy statement did not specify which countries would be involved in the orders. However, South Korea and Japan, which are strengthening shipbuilding cooperation with the U.S., are considered strong candidates. Notably, South Korea is pursuing the 'MASGA' (Maritime Alliance for Strategic Global Advancement) project with the U.S., raising interest in potential contracts for domestic shipbuilders.
For overseas orders to materialize, congressional approval is necessary. The NDAA that passed the House last month included provisions that would prevent the overseas construction of U.S. Navy combat ships. In contrast, the Senate Armed Services Committee's proposal allows for the procurement of up to two non-combat support vessels from abroad.
As a result, future negotiations between the House and Senate are expected to spark debates over whether to expand the scope of overseas construction from non-combat vessels to combat ships.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.