US puts newest USS John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier to sea for trials

The U.S. Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, the USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79), departed the Newport News Shipbuilding yard in Virginia on January 28 to begin builder’s sea trials, marking a major milestone in the development of the Ford-class carrier programme.

Displacing approximately 100,000 tonnes, the John F. Kennedy is the second vessel in the planned ten-ship Ford-class fleet, which is intended to gradually replace the ageing Nimitz-class aircraft carriers over the coming decades. The sea trials will test the ship’s propulsion, navigation, and key onboard systems at sea for the first time, ahead of its eventual handover to the U.S. Navy, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Construction of the carrier has been a lengthy and complex process. First steel was cut in 2011, and the programme has stretched over 15 years, with previous U.S. administrations extending the timeline amid rising costs and technical challenges associated with building the world’s largest warships. Current projections indicate that the USS John F. Kennedy will be delivered to the Navy in 2027, joining the first-in-class USS Gerald R. Ford, which is already in service.

Delays and cost pressures affecting the Ford-class programme have had wider implications for the U.S. Navy’s carrier force. Slower-than-anticipated production has increased pressure to keep Nimitz-class carriers operational for longer than originally planned to maintain the Navy’s required number of aircraft carriers. USS Nimitz, commissioned in 1975, is expected to begin defuelling its nuclear reactors in 2026 ahead of decommissioning.

The future configuration of the Ford-class carriers remains a subject of debate. President Donald Trump has previously suggested replacing the Ford-class electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) with the traditional steam-powered catapult system used on Nimitz-class carriers. First raised in 2025, the proposal could affect USS John F. Kennedy and subsequent Ford-class vessels, potentially leaving USS Gerald R. Ford as the only U.S. carrier equipped with EMALS. The issue carries added strategic significance as China’s newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, is also fitted with an electromagnetic launch system.

The sea trials come amid broader changes to U.S. naval force planning. Under President Trump, the Navy has cancelled the Constellation-class guided missile frigate programme and shifted focus to a new, smaller warship under the FF(X) initiative. In parallel, the administration has announced plans for a new Trump-class battleship programme, designated BBG(X), raising questions about the future of the planned DDG(X) next-generation guided missile destroyers.

With Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers continuing to enter service and potential new surface combatants on the horizon, the U.S. Navy’s long-term force structure remains in flux. Against this backdrop, the progress of the USS John F. Kennedy will be closely watched as a test of the Navy’s ability to modernise its carrier fleet while balancing cost, capacity, and evolving strategic priorities.

By Vugar Khalilov