Newest Ford-class carrier USS John F. Kennedy heads to sea for testing

The U.S. Navy’s second nuclear-powered Gerald R. Ford-class plane service steamed out to sea Wednesday for sea trials forward of its much-anticipated arrival to the fleet in 2027.

The usJohn F. Kennedy left Newport Information Shipbuilding, Virginia, for preliminary trials, the ship’s producer Huntington Ingalls Industries, introduced in a publish on X.

“These trials will take a look at vital ship methods and parts at sea for the primary time,” the publish learn. “This enormous milestone is the results of the selfless teamwork and unwavering dedication by our unbelievable shipbuilders, suppliers and ship’s pressure crew.”

A number of ship recognizing social media accounts on X posted movies of the large vessel making its manner out to open water.

The ship’s keel was laid on Aug. 22, 2015, in Newport Information, Virginia, in keeping with the non-profit Navy League.

The ship was launched on Oct. 29, 2019, christened on Dec. 7, 2019, and is the second vessel named after President John F. Kennedy.

The primary was decommissioned in 2007 after 50 years of service.

The Ford-class Kennedy, in the meantime, has confronted setbacks alongside the way in which.

The plane service was anticipated to be delivered in July 2025, however its arrival was pushed again till March 2027. Earlier than that, the service had already skilled a year-long delay.

The latest postponement was due “to assist completion of Superior Arresting Gear (AAG) certification and continued Superior Weapons Elevator (AWE) work,” in keeping with the Navy’s FY2026 price range paperwork.

The brand new service is 1,092 toes lengthy and weighs 100,000 tons. A December 2025 CRS report indicated that the Kennedy’s total procurement price was $13.2 billion.