A War on the Rocks article, How Japan Could Co-Produce the Navy’s Future Fleet, argues that the US Navy cannot meet future force requirements through domestic production alone due to labor shortages, supply-chain challenges, aging infrastructure, and limited shipbuilding capacity. To address these constraints, the United States should expand defense coproduction with allies, particularly Japan.

Japan is well-positioned to support the production of uncrewed and autonomous systems because of its advanced manufacturing capabilities, shipbuilding expertise, and history of defense cooperation with the United States. Producing these systems closer to the Indo-Pacific could increase output, strengthen deterrence, and improve operational readiness.

However, significant obstacles remain, including export controls, technology-sharing restrictions, political sensitivities in Japan, supply-chain dependencies, and concerns in the United States about offshoring defense production. The authors conclude that, despite these challenges, deeper US-Japan coproduction offers a practical way to supplement domestic manufacturing and help field the autonomous systems needed for future conflicts.