Construction of the USS John F. Kennedy is 99% complete and the aircraft carrier is ready for at-sea training while the shipbuilder completes final testing before delivery next spring, officials said.
The Navy took “preliminary acceptance” of the Kennedy, its second Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier, on Tuesday, after officials said it completed sea trials in August.
“Achieving preliminary acceptance marks a new phase for the ship and her crew, allowing them to get more water under the keel as they test and train underway,” said Capt. Mark Johnson, the Navy’s program manager for construction of the Ford-class carriers.
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“This milestone is a testament to the shared commitment of our sailors and our combined Navy-industry team, who remain laser-focused on completing the final stages of construction and tests with precision and efficiency to deliver combat-ready lethality to the fleet,” Capt. Johnson said.
Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, is building the Kennedy.
“Achieving preliminary acceptance is another step toward ensuring the U.S. Navy has the aircraft carriers it needs to carry out the mission of defending our nation,” said Bryan Caccavale, Newport News Shipbuilding’s vice president of program management. “It is an honor to see Kennedy depart and begin integration into the fleet.”
The USS John F. Kennedy was launched in October 2019 but faced delays because of key systems such as the weapons elevator and the arresting gear used to recover aircraft.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the lead ship in the new class of aircraft carriers, faced similar challenges.
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