Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), a division of HII, has completed builder’s sea trials for the John F Kennedy (CVN 79), the second vessel in the Gerald R Ford-class series of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.
The ship departed the Virginia shipyard on 28 January to begin its first tests at sea, returning to NNS following the assessment of key systems and components.
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During the sea trials, sailors from the Pre-Commissioning Unit assigned to John F Kennedy worked alongside NNS shipbuilders as well as personnel from the US Navy’s supervisor of shipbuilding, Naval Sea Systems Command, and Program Executive Office Aircraft Carriers (PEO CVN) to evaluate and demonstrate ship operations.
Before sailing, the crew held a five-day “Fast Cruise”, a pier-side training exercise intended to prepare both the ship and its personnel for operating conditions at sea.
NNS new construction aircraft carrier programmes vice president Derek Murphy said: “Taking Kennedy to sea is a testament to the grit and determination of the world’s finest shipbuilders. Our nation is depending on us to deliver these critical assets that will protect freedom around the world and we’re proud to see CVN 79 take another step toward joining the fleet.”
The conclusion of builder’s trials marks a return to completion work on John F. Kennedy, with teams addressing any issues identified during testing.
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By GlobalDataThe next significant phase will be acceptance trials, though the schedule for this milestone remains under review.
John F Kennedy is expected to be handed over to the US Navy in 2027 for commissioning, joining USS Gerald R Ford, which was delivered in May 2017 and commissioned in July 2017.
Gerald R Ford-class new construction programme manager captain Mark Johnson said: “We’re making steady progress towards completion of the ship with all required capability.
“We continue to work closely with the shipbuilder to ensure that the nation’s next aircraft carrier is delivered to the Navy on the fastest possible path to combat readiness.”
The Gerald R Ford-class carriers have a displacement of approximately 100,000 tonnes and are larger than their Nimitz class predecessors. They can accommodate between 500 and 900 fewer crew members.
These ships introduce 23 new or upgraded systems compared to earlier carriers and feature dimensions including a length of 333 metres (m), a beam of 40.8m, and a flight deck width of 78m.
The Ford class also incorporates a redesigned nuclear power plant with increased electrical generation capacity.
