Why the US Navy must look to allies if it wants to catch up to China at sea
The U.S. Navy is exploring outsourcing shipbuilding to allies like South Korea and Japan to address its strained production capabilities and close a perceived gap with China's growing fleet. A proposed $1.85 billion budget submission includes a study on co-producing advanced hull designs, such as Japan's Mogami-class and South Korea's Daegu-class frigates. This move aims to supplement the Navy's overstretched lines, which have faced challenges like design changes, labor shortages, and cost overruns, as exemplified by issues with the Constellation-class frigate program. AI
