The second Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier destined for service in the United States Navy returned to port in February 2026 after a week of sea trials as the nuclear-powered vessel nears completion. The USS John F. Kennedy is expected to enter service in early 2027. The addition of a second cutting-edge carrier will increase U.S. force projection around the world and bolster national security.
The carrier returned to Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia on February 4 after testing critical ship systems and components for the first time under realistic conditions. Hunter Ingalls Industries, the company responsible for manufacturing the $13 billion carrier, reported that initial tests had gone well. “Taking Kennedy to sea is a testament to the grit and determination of the world’s finest shipbuilders,” said Derek Murphy, Newport News Shipbuilding’s vice president of new construction aircraft carrier programs, in a company news release. “Our nation is depending on us to deliver these critical assets that will protect freedom around the world and we’re proud to see [it] take another step toward joining the fleet.” Newport News Shipbuilding is a division of Hunter Ingalls Industries, a defense contractor.
U.S. Navy Sailors and personnel participated in the sea trials, which included company representatives. The Kennedy, also known by its hull number CVN 79, is distinguished by Ford-class enhancements, including a new nuclear power plant and increased electrical power-generation capacity, according to the release. The ship also incorporates Advanced Arresting Gear certification and Advanced Weapons Elevator components, according to Defense News, a military affairs news site.
Initial design of the Kennedy began in 2009; it was christened in 2019. The 337-meter carrier can accommodate up to 90 warplanes and 4,660 Sailors. Powered by two nuclear reactors, its range is unlimited. The Kennedy differs from the first carrier of its class, the USS Gerald R. Ford or CVN 78, notably in its more advanced radar systems, reported The War Zone, a military affairs website.
The Ford holds the title of the largest and most advanced ship in history and undertook its first deployment in 2023. The 100,000-metric-ton vessel’s weaponry and support systems outclass any adversaries, according to Navy Lookout, a United Kingdom naval affairs news site. As of early February, the Ford is operating in the southern Atlantic and Caribbean region in support of Operation Southern Spear, a United States Southern Command counter-narcotics and regional security operation.
The Kennedy is the second Navy carrier to be named after the nation’s 35th president, who held office from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. Earlier in February, the USS John F. Kennedy, CVN 67, was towed from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Brownsville, Texas, to be scrapped. Entering service in 1968, the Kitty Hawk-class carrier served in numerous conflicts, including Desert Storm and Afghanistan, before being decommissioned in 2007.
The new Kennedy carrier will enter service in March 2027. After its initial trial, the ship will undergo more construction and testing before setting sail again for inspection trials overseen by the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey, the Navy Times reported. “John F. Kennedy going to sea for the first time is truly momentous,” said Capt. Doug Langenberg, the Kennedy’s commanding officer. “This event is a result of years of hard work and an incredible shared effort between our shipbuilding partners and this crew who have worked side-by-side to get to this day.”