Image Credits: Wikipedia The U.S. Navy is considering frigate designs from South Korea, Japan and Türkiye for a new class of U.S. warships. The designs being considered are South Korea’s Chungnam-class guided-missile frigate, Japan’s export version of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ FFM Mogami-class guided-missile frigate, and Türkiye’s Istanbul-class guided-missile frigate. The Turkish design came under consideration after Turkish leaders spoke with President Donald Trump about it on the sidelines of the NATO summit in July, according to two sources. In August, the White House issued a memorandum using a “national security interest” waiver. This allows the Pentagon to consider foreign designs despite U.S. laws that restrict foreign-built warships from entering U.S. naval service. After the memorandum, Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao directed the office of Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition William Mahan to oversee a study of international combatants, ro/ro cargo vessels and consolidated cargo replenishment at sea, tankers for the Military Sealift Command. The study is due on Nov. 12, 2026. The Navy is looking at ways to get ships built faster while also investing in U.S. shipyards, transferring technology and expanding the workforce, Flanders said. First Ships May Be Built Abroad One option is known as the “Finland model”. Under this approach, the first one or two ships would be built at a foreign shipyard. Foreign companies would then invest in U.S. shipyards and shipbuilding facilities, with production later moving to the United States. The U.S. Coast Guard is using a similar approach for its Arctic Security Cutter programme. Finnish shipyards are building the first hulls based on Canadian designs before construction moves to a U.S. shipyard. South Korean Chungnam-Class Frigate South Korea’s Chungnam-class is one of the designs being considered by the U.S. South Korea