US launches military logistics network in the Indo-Pacific

According to Nikkei Asia , the US is aiming for a global military repair network, extending from Europe to Latin America. Under the Pentagon's new Regional Support Framework (RSF), the existing industrial capabilities of allies and partners are tapped to be able to carry out maintenance, repair and overhaul of ships, aircraft and vehicles, instead of having to return to the US.

Japanese, South Korean and US naval vessels participate in a joint anti-submarine exercise off the coast of South Korea in September 2022.

The deployment plan will pilot in the above five countries this year, then expand to NATO partners in the European Command area in 2025 and Latin American partners under the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) in 2026.

Of the five countries listed above, four are treaty allies of the United States. Singapore, although not an ally, has a tradition of hosting US warships on a rotational basis.

The Pentagon is expected to release more details about the plan this month, Nikkei Asia reported, citing a source familiar with the matter. In March 2024, the Pentagon's project manager and US Assistant Secretary of Defense Christopher Lowman led a delegation of senior logistics experts to Australia, Japan and the Philippines to discuss the issue.

The project stems from the US’s recognition of the challenges of competing with China for industrial power. In July 2023, The War Zone cited a US Navy summary report showing that Beijing has 232 times the shipbuilding capacity of Washington.

Hanwha Ocean's Geoje Shipyard (Korea)

Additionally, speaking at the West 2024 conference in February, Lowman said that military logistics is shifting from a “traditionally reactive” stance to “proactively providing solutions.” Therefore, providing theater commanders with multiple options for repairing inoperative platforms will create a higher level of uncertainty in adversary planning and thus enhance deterrence and deterrence value.

For their part, Asian allies are preparing for this business opportunity. In August, South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean announced a contract with the US Navy to maintain a 40,000-ton US logistics support ship at its Geoje shipyard in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula.

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The news comes just weeks after the company announced it had signed a Master Ship Repair Agreement with the U.S. Navy to undertake such missions. In June, Hanwha announced a deal to acquire Philly Shipyard in Pennsylvania for $100 million.

In parallel, US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel has spearheaded efforts to use private Japanese shipyards to repair US warships deployed to the region.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/my-khoi-xuong-mang-luoi-hau-can-quan-su-tai-an-do-duong-thai-binh-duong-185240905123639251.htm