The next US Navy Gerald R Ford Class aircraft carrier, designated CVN 79, will be named USS John F Kennedy, US Navy secretary Ray Mabus has said.

The aircraft carrier is the second to be named after the 35th US President and is currently under construction at Huntington Ingalls Industries, Newport News Shipbuilding, Virginia, US.

The Ford Class carriers will be used for crisis response and humanitarian relief and as early decisive striking power during major combat operations.

The aircraft carrier and its carrier strike group will provide forward presence, rapid response, endurance on station, and multimission capability throughout its 50-year service life.

USS John F Kennedy is scheduled to be completed in 2019.