HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division has achieved preliminary acceptance of the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), bringing the second Gerald R. Ford-class carrier closer to delivery to the US Navy.
Preliminary acceptance is the final step before formal delivery to the navy. It allows the navy to begin testing and evaluation of the carrier’s systems underway while its crew continues to build operational proficiency.
USS John F. Kennedy completed its acceptance trials in August. Following preliminary acceptance, the carrier departed HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding facility in Virginia and is scheduled to transition to Naval Station Norfolk.
CVN 79 is the second ship in the Gerald R. Ford class of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. The class is designed to replace the US Navy’s Nimitz-class carriers. It incorporates new technologies and systems intended to improve aircraft launch and recovery operations, sortie generation and crew efficiency.
Construction of CVN 79 began with the steel-cutting ceremony in February 2011. The keel was laid at Newport News Shipbuilding on August 22, 2015, with the ship reaching 50% completion in June 2017 and 75% completion in April 2018.
The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is 1,092 feet (333 meters) long and has a displacement of about 100,000 tons. The US Navy says the Gerald R. Ford class incorporates more than 23 new technologies, including advances in propulsion, power generation, ordnance handling and aircraft launch systems.
The aircraft carrier went to sea for the first time in January 2026 for builder’s sea trials. During the trials, navy sailors, shipbuilders and personnel from Naval Sea Systems Command and the Program Executive Office for Aircraft Carriers tested key systems and technologies.
HII said the carrier will now continue preparations for integration into the US Navy fleet.
Credit: HII
Credit: HII