The USS John F. Kennedy completed sea trials but faces a 2027 fleet entry, delaying the carrier count below the legal minimum.

The USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), the second Ford-class aircraft carrier, has successfully completed builder’s sea trials at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News shipyard, a key step toward commissioning. The tests, involving shipbuilders, Navy personnel, and crew, validated critical systems and operations in real-world conditions. The carrier, designed to support F-35C stealth fighters and featuring improved efficiency and automation, is now expected to join the fleet in early 2027—nearly two years behind schedule due to technical issues similar to those faced by its sister ship. This delay coincides with the planned retirement of the Nimitz-class carrier Nimitz in May 2026, temporarily reducing the active carrier fleet to 10, below the legal minimum of 11.