America's defense industrial base cannot build the Navy out of the threat it faces, according to a War on the Rocks analysis. Decades of industry consolidation, persistent resource shortages, and inconsistent demand signals have delayed production of critical vessels and munitions. With production bottlenecks stacking up, the Navy may have no choice but to let its allies do some of the building.
Both the National Defense Strategy and Navy Warfighting Instructions highlight how mobilizing allies can field more forces to the mutual benefit of the United States and its strategic partners. The latest U.S. Navy Shipbuilding Plan stresses the importance of allied investment and production, signaling a strategic shift toward burden-sharing.
For Japan, co-producing vessels would deepen its integration into U.S. naval operations and enhance its own maritime capabilities amid regional tensions. Such a move could strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance's deterrence posture in the Indo-Pacific, particularly against Chinese naval expansion.
The assessment does not specify budget figures or contract timelines, noting only that the Navy faces production bottlenecks. Specific cost-sharing or procurement details are absent from the article.
Analysts caution that relying on foreign production could introduce new vulnerabilities, such as supply chain dependencies or technology transfer risks. The proposal remains speculative, requiring congressional approval and bilateral agreements that have yet to be formalized.