How Asian shipyards in Japan, Korea and Philippines keep US warships battle ready

The US Navy is increasingly relying on Asian shipyards in Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines for maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of its naval vessels. This strategy is driven by a decline in the US shipbuilding base. An example of this is the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Benfold, which underwent emergency repairs in Subic Bay, Philippines, after a power failure in the South China Sea. The repairs in the Philippine port took approximately 10 days, allowing the vessel to resume operations. The US Navy is actively developing these regional hubs and encouraging allies to perform major MRO work on its ships.