The Capability of Non-Carrier Air Defense Demonstrated by Six Aegis Ships from Japan, the U.S., and South Korea in Freedom Edge 2026

On September 7, the "Freedom Edge 2026" exercise involving Japan, the U.S., and South Korea began in the eastern and southern waters off Jeju Island. What stood out during the five days of training was the combination of six surface combatants and land-based air units in the absence of a U.S. aircraft carrier. This marks the second consecutive year without a U.S. carrier in the formation.

Decentralized Formation Centered on JS Atago

According to publicly available information, the participating ships include two South Korean Sejong the Great-class destroyers, Japan's Atago-class destroyers "Atago" and "Asahi," and the U.S. Navy's Arleigh Burke-class USS Benfold. Of the five confirmed ships, four are equipped with the Aegis combat system, making them suitable for integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) training. Japan deployed P-1 patrol aircraft, SH-60K helicopters, F-15 and F-2 fighters, E-767, E-2D, KC-46A, and KC-767. Approximately 560 personnel participated from six organizations, including the Joint Staff, Joint Operations Command, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Air Self-Defense Force.

What Was Gained and What Was Lost in the Absence of an Aircraft Carrier

This formation is not a scaled-down version of an aircraft carrier strike group. The functions of combat aircraft, early warning, maintenance, fuel, and command, which are typically centralized on a single carrier, were instead distributed among the ships, bases, and aerial refueling aircraft of Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. If the tracks created by the E-767, E-2D, P-1, and Aegis ship radars cannot be shared immediately across different command and communication networks, the number of ships does not directly translate to air defense capability.

On the other hand, decentralization has its advantages. By targeting a single aircraft carrier, North Korea could paralyze the entire structure, whereas multiple bases and vessels can continue to make interception decisions. The timing of North Korea's commissioning of the approximately 5,000-ton destroyer "Kang Kon" on September 6 also heightened the reality of IAMD, including sea-launched weapons.

Blind Spots in Protecting Sea Lines of Communication

However, it is premature to view the absence of carriers as a new standard. The commander of U.S. forces in Japan has stated that he cannot safely say that the absence of carriers has become a "new normal." Carriers provide not only air power but also sustainment of maritime logistics, maintenance, and command. Considering the defense of SLOCs (Sea Lines of Communication), the vulnerability of a formation that relies on land-based air power in the event of an attack on bases remains.

The true litmus test this time is not the number of vessels but whether Japan, the U.S., and South Korea can share the same missile tracks at the same speed and who will make the interception decision. Even with advancements in technical interoperability, if political approval processes are slow, the most expensive sensor networks will not be timely. The risk demonstrated by the training is not the absence of the carrier itself, but the difficulty of linking decentralized forces to a single decision-making process.

Sources

• Army Recognition "US launches Freedom Edge 2026 with Japan and South Korea amid rising North Korean missile threats" September 7, 2026
• Breaking Defense "How Japan, South Korea are building up naval capabilities for China threat" September 2026
• Ministry of Defense, Japan Self-Defense Forces Press Release September 2026