Trilateral Collaboration to Develop Fast-Attack Missile Corvettes Among US, Japan, and South Korea
The United States, Japan, and South Korea are pursuing a trilateral partnership to co-develop and mass-produce a new class of fast-attack missile corvettes to enhance maritime security in the Indo-Pacific amid China's shipbuilding dominance. The initiative aims to modernize allied naval capabilities and provide support to ASEAN partners against maritime threats.
To facilitate this, the U.S. must reform laws, attract foreign investment, and leverage its allies' industrial strengths. Significant legislative changes, including exemptions from the Jones Act and the Buy American Act, are needed to enable swift collaboration.
The U.S. Navy's declining shipbuilding capacity contrasts sharply with China's, which leads global shipbuilding with substantial investments and rapid fleet expansion. The trilateral initiative could strengthen maritime security and counterbalance Chinese naval power, with an expected timeline of 5-10 years for corvette production.
