【USS John F. Kennedy, the second Ford-class aircraft carrier of the United States, is preparing for its first sea trial】

According to USNI News on January 28, 2026: The second Ford-class aircraft carrier of the U.S. Navy, "John F. Kennedy" (CVN-79), set sail this Wednesday from the Newport News Shipbuilding, part of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), in Virginia, beginning its builder's sea trials.

Todd Corrill, a spokesperson for Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), told USNI News in a statement:

"The John F. Kennedy left HII's Newport News Shipbuilding division today for builder's sea trials. These tests will be the first time that key ship systems and components are tested at sea."

Builder's sea trials are conducted after a ship is completed but before it is delivered to the U.S. Navy. The purpose is for the shipbuilder to test the performance of the ship and its systems before delivery.

Due to multiple delays over the years, the John F. Kennedy is expected to be delivered to the U.S. Navy in March 2027. The ship has been under construction at HII's Newport News Shipbuilding.

In 2020, the U.S. Navy changed its previous plan for a "two-phase delivery" approach to a one-time delivery. This decision added two years of work to the detailed design and construction contract of the ship (according to the 2024 U.S. Navy budget document).

The additional work includes modifying the carrier to accommodate the fifth-generation F-35C Lightning II fighter jet - an ability originally planned for later addition - as well as a new Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar.

According to the 2024 fiscal year plan, the ship was originally scheduled to be delivered in July 2025. However, due to ongoing challenges in integrating new technologies and systems, the delivery date was postponed again last year.

The latest 2026 fiscal year shipbuilding budget document states:

"The delivery date of CVN-79 has been postponed from July 2025 to March 2027 (preliminary acceptance pending) to support the completion of the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) certification and continue the installation of the Advanced Weapon Elevator (AWE)."

These two technologies - the arresting system used to stop landing aircraft on the carrier's deck, and the weapon elevator used to transport ammunition inside the ship - are new features on the Ford-class carriers.

Last December, Kari Wilkinson, president of Newport News Shipbuilding, stated that the John F. Kennedy was planned to undergo preliminary acceptance in mid-2026.

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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1855602813732937/

Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.