The United States is expanding cooperation with South Korean defense industry as it seeks faster and more flexible warship production. The move reflects constraints in US shipyard capacity and rising concern over maritime competition.

Hanwha’s involvement places Seoul more firmly inside Washington’s naval-industrial planning, extending bilateral cooperation beyond arms sales into ship construction.

Allied Capacity Enters US Shipbuilding

South Korea’s Hanwha is set to work with the US Navy on building a new generation of frigates, as the US looks to draw more heavily on allied shipbuilding capacity. The cooperation is part of a broader effort to accelerate fleet modernization and overcome domestic production bottlenecks.

Speaking in Florida, President Donald Trump framed the frigate program as central to revitalizing the American fleet, linking it to wider plans for naval expansion. The administration has emphasized speed, flexibility, and distributed production as key requirements for future surface combatants.

Frigates Designed for Agility

According to the US Navy, the new frigates will be smaller and more maneuverable than existing multi-role warships. They are intended to operate alongside larger vessels, rather than replace them, supporting a fleet structure built around distributed firepower and rapid deployment.

The frigate program forms part of a broader reshaping of fleet composition, as Washington adapts naval doctrine to evolving maritime threats and operational environments. Officials have highlighted agility and faster production cycles as core design priorities.

Hanwha Expands US Footprint

Hanwha’s role builds on its growing presence in the United States, reinforced by billions of dollars in investment to upgrade a naval shipyard in Philadelphia. The facility is positioned as a key asset in supporting future naval construction under a bilateral trade and industrial cooperation framework.

Hanwha Ocean has been expanding its overseas footprint as it seeks a larger role in naval construction beyond Asia. The US partnership underscores South Korea’s emergence as one of the world’s most competitive shipbuilding nations at a time when American yards face labor and capacity constraints.