U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Paul D. Honnick, English: PEARL HARBOR (June 22, 2010) The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force guided-missile destroyer JS Atago (DDG-177) arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010. RIMPAC is a biennial, multinational exercise designed to strengthen regional partnerships and improve multinational interoperability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Paul D. Honnick/Released), Date: 22 June 2010, This Image was released by the United States Navy with the ID 100622-N-6674H-001 (next)., accessed September 12, 2018 via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_100622-N-6674H-001_The_Japan_Maritime_Self-Defense_Force_guided-missile_destroyer_JS_Atago_(DDG_177)_arrives_at_Joint_Base_Pearl_Harbor-Hickam_for_Rim_of_the_Pacific_(RIMPAC)_2010.jpg, Wikimedia Commons.

On April 7, Japan’s Jiji Press reported that the country’s Aegis Ashore sites will not be equipped with Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC). Japanese officials acknowledge that without CEC, the land-based Aegis systems will be limited to countering ballistic missiles, and ineffective against cruise missiles or aircraft. Japan’s Aegis destroyers and existing air defenses will defend against these lower-flying threats.

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Japan’s new Aegis Ashore systems will not be fitted with air defense capabilities, Japan Times