Missile Defense Without Aircraft Carriers Demonstrated by Japan, U.S., and South Korea's Freedom Edge 26

From September 7 to 11, the joint training "Freedom Edge 26" was conducted in the high seas east and south of Jeju Island. What stands out this time is that while six surface combatants participated in the five-day training, no U.S. aircraft carrier was present for the second consecutive year. This should be viewed not as a reduction in military capability, but as a practical test of a decentralized air defense connecting land-based aviation and Aegis ships.

Training That Tested Networks Rather Than Fleets

According to publicly available information, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) participated with the "Atago" (DDG-177) and "Asahi" (DD-119), the South Korean Navy with the "Yulgok Yi I" and "Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong," and the U.S. Navy with the "Benfold" (DDG-65). While the breakdown of the number of vessels remains undisclosed, at least four out of the five ships were Aegis vessels, focusing on ballistic missile defense and air defense.

At the same time, JMSDF's P-1, SH-60K, F-15, F-2, E-767, E-2D, KC-46A, and KC-767 were deployed. In a carrier strike group, functions such as fighter jets, early warning, anti-submarine, and aerial refueling would be concentrated on a single flight deck; however, this time they were dispersed across multiple bases in Japan and on maritime vessels. Therefore, whether the E-2D, E-767, and P-1 can relay the tracks they obtained to the command systems of each country in real-time is the core of practical operations.

Challenges Posed by North Korea's New Vessels

On September 6, the day before the training began, it was reported that North Korea announced the commissioning of a new guided missile destroyer, the "Kang Gun." If it is equipped with cruise missiles and future increases in naval vessels are anticipated, the threat is not limited to land-launched missiles. If launch points expand to the sea, existing BMD (Ballistic Missile Defense) warning lines will become more complex.

Reports from the defense industry indicate that this training included cross-domain operations such as maritime maneuvering, at-sea replenishment, medical transport, cyber operations, and air defense communications. The progress of trilateral cooperation among Japan, the U.S., and South Korea is commendable. However, land bases that compensate for the absence of aircraft carriers will lose functionality if they lose any of the runway, fuel, tankers, or communication lines during initial operations. In my view, the true test this time was not the number of vessels, but the speed at which dispersed sensors and commanders could share the same situational picture without waiting for political decisions.

Sources

• Defence Industry Europe, September 11, 2026
• Army Recognition, September 7, 2026