Second Ford-Class Carrier USS John F. Kennedy Strengthens U.S. Naval Edge Over China.

The USS John F. Kennedy, the second Ford-class aircraft carrier for the U.S. Navy, completed its first sea trials in late January 2026, validating core propulsion, flight deck, and combat systems ahead of commissioning. The milestone strengthens the U.S. Navy’s future carrier force at a time when China is rapidly expanding its own carrier fleet in the Indo-Pacific.

The U.S. Navy’s second Ford-class aircraft carrier, USS John F. Kennedy CVN 79, completed its first at-sea trials at the end of January 2026, marking a major step toward formal commissioning and operational service. Conducted off the East Coast by Huntington Ingalls Industries in coordination with Navy supervisors, the trials tested the ship’s nuclear propulsion plant, electromagnetic aircraft launch system, advanced arresting gear, and key combat and radar systems. While early sea trials focus on validating baseline performance and safety, the timing carries broader strategic significance as Beijing continues to expand its carrier fleet, including the Fujian, China’s third and most advanced flattop. The Kennedys’ entry into the fleet is expected to reinforce U.S. carrier presence and sortie-generation capacity amid intensifying competition in the Indo-Pacific maritime domain.
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Pre-Commissioning Unit John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) Ford-class aircraft carrier sails in the Atlantic Ocean during Builder’s Trials on January 30, 2026. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War)

For the United States, the arrival of the second Ford-class aircraft carrier, CVN 79, is not simply about fleet numbers. It represents the consolidation of a new generation of nuclear-powered supercarriers engineered to sustain higher sortie rates, integrate next-generation aircraft, and provide long-term technological growth capacity. As Beijing advances from its Soviet-derived ski-jump carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, toward the more capable Type 003, Fujian, equipped with electromagnetic catapults, the United States is reinforcing its qualitative edge rather than merely matching hull for hull.

The Ford-class design introduces structural improvements that directly impact combat endurance and operational tempo. The Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System replaces traditional steam catapults, offering smoother launches, reduced mechanical stress on airframes, and faster reset times between sorties. Combined with the Advanced Arresting Gear system and a redesigned flight deck optimized for more efficient aircraft flow, the platform is engineered to generate approximately 25 percent more sorties per day during surge conditions than the Nimitz class. In a high-intensity contingency in the Western Pacific, such capacity could translate into dozens of additional strike missions within the critical first days of combat.

USS John F. Kennedy benefits from lessons learned during the early operational period of USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). Reliability enhancements to electromagnetic launch components, weapons elevators, and power distribution systems were integrated during construction, reducing technical risk as the ship moves toward fleet service. At its core, the carrier is powered by two A1B nuclear reactors that deliver significantly more electrical output than previous designs. This expanded energy margin is not simply about propulsion. It is central to the Navy’s future integration of directed-energy weapons, advanced radar arrays, and high-demand electronic warfare systems required to counter emerging anti-access threats.

China’s rapid naval modernization has intensified the urgency behind these improvements. As of early 2026, the People’s Liberation Army Navy operates three aircraft carriers: Liaoning and Shandong, both conventionally powered ski-jump carriers derived from earlier Soviet designs, and the newer Fujian, a roughly 80,000-ton-class carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults and currently undergoing sea trials and outfitting. Open-source defense assessments indicate that at least one additional large carrier, widely referred to as the Type 004 and expected to be nuclear-powered, is under development. If current construction rhythms and funding priorities continue, China could field five to six operational aircraft carriers within the next decade, significantly expanding its ability to sustain continuous carrier presence in multiple maritime theaters.

This trajectory places heightened importance on the U.S. Navy maintaining not only numerical strength but technological superiority. The Ford-class embodies that strategic necessity. Unlike conventionally powered Chinese carriers, U.S. Ford-class ships benefit from virtually unlimited endurance, allowing sustained high-speed operations without refueling constraints. Their electrical generation capacity supports future weapons integration, a factor many analysts believe will be decisive in countering mass missile and drone threats anticipated in a Pacific conflict environment.

The strategic concern in Washington is not limited to the South China Sea or Taiwan Strait. A larger Chinese carrier fleet would enable rotational deployments into the Indian Ocean, Western Pacific, and potentially beyond, reinforcing Beijing’s maritime influence along key sea lines of communication. In this evolving environment, the presence of a single Ford-class carrier during the transition between Nimitz-class retirements could constrain U.S. operational flexibility. The addition of USS John F. Kennedy strengthens rotational availability and surge capacity, reinforcing deterrence credibility amid intensifying competition.

Equally important is the evolving composition of the carrier air wing. Ford-class carriers are designed to operate seamlessly with the F-35C Lightning II, whose stealth characteristics and sensor-fusion capabilities significantly extend strike range and survivability. The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye enhances airborne early warning and battle management, while the EA-18G Growler provides electronic attack coverage in contested electromagnetic environments. The forthcoming MQ-25 Stingray unmanned tanker will further extend the combat radius of embarked fighters, a critical factor in vast Pacific theaters where distance defines strategy.

Beyond operational metrics, the commissioning path of CVN 79 sends a signal about industrial resilience. Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia remains the only U.S. facility capable of constructing nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. Maintaining continuous production of Ford-class vessels safeguards a unique industrial ecosystem that includes nuclear engineers, advanced welders, combat system integrators, and propulsion specialists. As China leverages state-backed shipbuilding conglomerates to produce naval tonnage at scale, the preservation of America’s carrier construction base is itself a strategic imperative.

The broader picture reveals a calculated American response to maritime competition. Beijing’s pursuit of additional carriers reflects its ambition to project power beyond regional waters, protect sea lines of communication, and assert influence across the Indo-Pacific. Over the next ten years, defense analysts expect China not only to increase the number of its carriers but also to enhance the sophistication of embarked air wings, carrier-based early-warning aircraft, and integrated escort groups composed of advanced destroyers and submarines. The United States, in contrast, is reinforcing a doctrine built on global presence, alliance interoperability, and technological overmatch. The operationalization of a second Ford-class carrier strengthens that doctrine, ensuring that U.S. carrier strike groups remain capable of sustained, high-tempo operations in contested environments.

As of early 2026, the Ford-class program includes four ships in varying stages of service and construction. USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is fully commissioned and operational, having completed initial deployments and continued system refinements. USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) is progressing through post-sea trial preparations toward commissioning as the second active ship of the class. USS Enterprise (CVN 80) is under construction, with significant structural assembly complete, while USS Doris Miller (CVN 81) has entered early construction following advanced procurement. Together, these carriers form the backbone of the Navy’s future supercarrier force, anchoring American sea power at a time when strategic competition with China increasingly defines the maritime domain.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.