According to a report by USNI News, the U.S. Navy is considering Japan's new FFM as an export candidate. Options under consideration reportedly include building up to 2 ships at overseas shipyards and then transferring them to the United States.
A report by USNI News, the publication of the U.S. Naval Institute, has revealed that Japan's new FFM, an upgraded Mogami-class variant, is among the current candidates. The candidates reportedly include the FFM that Australia has selected as its next-generation general-purpose frigate, South Korea's Chungnam class, and Turkey's Istanbul class for Indonesia. This has drawn attention to the possibility of Japanese ships being exported amid international competition in warship development.
The plan may include an option to build up to 2 ships at shipyards outside Japan and then transfer them to shipyards in the United States. Against the backdrop of the Trump administration's plans to expand the fleet, this is reportedly intended to secure a rapid construction capability.
The possibility of purchasing foreign-built frigates has emerged in the context of a memorandum issued by the White House in August. Reports say it opened the way to considering the introduction of foreign-built ships by using an exemption based on national security interests.
However, the plan is said to differ substantially from the existing Constellation-class frigate proposal because it would involve significantly modifying the specifications for the U.S. Navy and would be premised on construction in the United States. Some view it as a model closer to a vessel design intended for the U.S. Coast Guard.
The timing of the ship selection has not been announced, but the current evaluation and assessment process reportedly has a deadline of 12 November 2026, which could become a major milestone.