U.S. Navy USS John F. Kennedy Successfully Completes Sea Trials as Second Ford-Class Aircraft Carrier.

American shipyard Huntington Ingalls Industries announced on February 5, 2026, that USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) had completed its first builder’s sea trials and returned to Newport News. The milestone moves the U.S. Navy’s second Ford-class carrier closer to delivery, testing critical systems that underpin future carrier operations.

American shipyard Huntington Ingalls Industries said its Newport News Shipbuilding division has completed builder’s sea trials of USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), the second Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier constructed for the U.S. Navy. The ship returned to Newport News after its initial period at sea, where crews evaluated core propulsion, navigation, electrical distribution, and ship control systems under operational conditions, a standard but significant step on the path toward delivery and fleet introduction.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) conducts builder’s sea trials off the U.S. East Coast, marking the first at-sea testing of the Navy’s second Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier as it moves closer to fleet delivery. (Picture source: HII)

The builder’s sea trials represent the first full demonstration of CVN 79 USS John F. Kennedy as an integrated aircraft carrier. During these trials, shipbuilders, U.S. Navy personnel, and the aircraft carrier’s future crew validated ship handling, propulsion plant performance, power generation stability, and command-and-control functions. These evaluations are designed to confirm construction quality and system integration before the ship enters post-trial availability and formal Navy acceptance trials, a critical step before commissioning.

USS John F. Kennedy is the second unit in the Gerald R. Ford-class program, which forms the backbone of the U.S. Navy’s long-term aircraft carrier recapitalization strategy. The Ford class was authorized to replace the Nimitz-class carriers on a one-for-one basis, ensuring the Navy maintains a force of at least eleven large-deck nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. To date, the U.S. Navy has planned a total of 10 Ford-class carriers, designated CVN 78 through CVN 87, with construction contracts awarded incrementally to Newport News Shipbuilding, the sole U.S. shipyard capable of building nuclear-powered carriers. The first six ships, from CVN 78 USS Gerald R. Ford to CVN 83 USS Enterprise, are already authorized and under construction or under contract, reflecting a multi-decade investment measured in hundreds of billions of dollars.

The Ford-class design represents the most significant technological leap in U.S. carrier construction since the introduction of the Nimitz class in the 1970s. While both classes displace approximately 100,000 tons and rely on nuclear propulsion, the Ford class incorporates a newly designed nuclear power plant that produces significantly more electrical power than Nimitz-class reactors. This increased capacity supports advanced sensors, digital combat systems, and future technologies such as directed-energy weapons and more power-intensive radar suites.

One of the most visible technical differences between Ford-class and Nimitz-class carriers is the replacement of steam catapults with the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System. EMALS enables more precise control of launch forces, reducing stress on aircraft structures and allowing the operation of a broader range of aircraft, including lighter unmanned systems. Complementing this system is the Advanced Arresting Gear, designed to improve recovery performance and reliability compared to legacy hydraulic arresting systems used on Nimitz-class carriers.

Automation is another defining characteristic of the Ford class. Compared to Nimitz-class carriers, Ford-class ships are designed to operate with a smaller crew, achieved through automated weapons handling, advanced machinery control systems, and improved maintenance access. These changes are intended to reduce workforce requirements and lower total lifecycle costs over a service life expected to exceed 50 years. The redesigned flight deck layout further enhances sortie generation rates, allowing Ford-class carriers to launch and recover aircraft more efficiently during sustained combat operations.

The operational credibility of the class has already been demonstrated by USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), which has deployed on real-world operations as part of U.S. carrier strike groups. The lead ship has participated in forward deployments and contingency operations, including missions linked to U.S. naval activities in the Caribbean and areas connected to the Venezuelan security environment, highlighting the strategic role of Ford-class carriers in power projection, deterrence, and crisis response.

Within this context, the progress of USS John F. Kennedy is strategically significant. CVN 79 incorporates multiple design and construction improvements derived from lessons learned on CVN 78, to improve system reliability, accelerate construction timelines, and stabilize costs for follow-on ships. Once commissioned, John F. Kennedy is expected to operate a modern carrier air wing centered on the F-35C Lightning II, alongside advanced airborne early warning, electronic warfare, and future unmanned platforms.

Beyond the programmatic milestones, the Ford-class effort has recently gained additional political and strategic urgency at the highest levels of the U.S. defense establishment. The U.S. Secretary of Defense has formally called for accelerating the construction tempo of Ford-class aircraft carriers, citing the rapid expansion and modernization of China’s aircraft carrier force as a central driver. Beijing’s commissioning of multiple carriers, combined with ongoing work on more capable designs, has reinforced concerns within Washington that long-term U.S. naval superiority in the Indo-Pacific cannot be taken for granted. In this context, speeding up Ford-class production is increasingly viewed as a necessary counterbalance to China’s growing ability to project air power at sea.

Following the completion of builder’s sea trials, CVN 79 will undergo inspections and system refinements at Newport News Shipbuilding before entering Navy acceptance trials. Its successful delivery, combined with a potential acceleration of follow-on Ford-class construction, underscores the central role of these carriers in maintaining U.S. naval dominance and ensuring the Navy can respond decisively to peer competition across multiple theaters.

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.