USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) Aircraft Carrier Completes Sea Trials
The U.S. Navy's future aircraft carrier, USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), has successfully completed its acceptance sea trials. Delivery of the vessel is expected by 2027.
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced that its Newport News Shipbuilding division has successfully completed acceptance sea trials for the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79). The vessel is the second of the Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers for the U.S. Navy, with a full load displacement of 100,000 tons.
During the trials, critical ship systems and components underwent further testing and evaluation at sea. Following the completion of these trials, the carrier returned to the Newport News shipyard. Commissioned in December 2019, after beginning construction in 2011, the USS John F. Kennedy is one of the largest warships ever constructed and has been the longest build time for a U.S. aircraft carrier.
The ship features the Electromagnetic Launch System (EMALS), Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG), and dual nuclear reactors, along with advanced radar systems like the "Enterprise" air surveillance radar. The total project investment exceeds $13 billion, with delivery anticipated no earlier than 2027.
The acceptance sea trials were conducted jointly by Newport News Shipbuilding personnel, the ship's crew, and U.S. Navy staff. The next phase involves preliminary acceptance, after which the Navy will commence at-sea testing of the carrier's unique systems. The USS Kennedy is a key component in the modernization of the U.S. Navy's carrier force as the Nimitz-class carriers are retired.