The US Navy’s future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), the second ship in the Gerald R. Ford-class of aircraft carriers, has completed builder’s sea trials.
Sailors from the Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) worked alongside HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding and navy personnel to test the vessel’s key systems, exercise flight deck operations, and validate its readiness to support the fleet.
Before the trials, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier conducted a five-day “Fast Cruise,” a pier-side exercise designed to simulate operational conditions and allow the crew to transition to an operational mindset.
The second Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier is considered among the largest warships to be built, as it measures around 1,106 feet (337 meters) long with a full load displacement of 100,000 long tons (101,600 metric tons), and space for more than 75 aircraft.
“John F. Kennedy going to sea for the first time is truly momentous,” said Capt. Doug Langenberg, commanding officer of PCU John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), the ship’s designation until it is formally commissioned into the fleet.
Following the event, the CVN 79 returned to HII to complete the remaining construction, testing, and activation work.
The next major step will be acceptance trials, a critical phase before the ship is formally delivered to the US Navy by March 2027, following a series of delays.
Program Delays
CVN 79 formally began construction in February 2011 under a dual-phase approach, in which certain capabilities — such as F-35C Joint Strike Fighter support — would be added after the initial handover.
In 2020, the navy switched to a single-phase delivery, aiming to have the ship delivered with all the F-35C modifications and new systems like the Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar installed from the start instead of retrofitting later.
Three years later, the service awarded HII a modification contract to improve ship delivery capabilities, define unpriced change orders, and provide additional engineering and integrated logistics support, pushing the vessel’s initial delivery from June 2024 to July 2025.
Delivery slipped again in July 2025 as the program worked through challenges in integrating new technologies, including the advanced arresting gear certification and advanced weapons elevator, according to USNI.
With USS Nimitz (CVN‑68) set to retire in the coming months and John F. Kennedy’s delivery now scheduled for March 2027, the navy’s aircraft carrier fleet will temporarily drop from 11 to 10 ships.
