US Navy’s second Ford-class aircraft carrier kicks off sea trials

The US Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, USS John F. Kennedy, has departed Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of American shipbuilder HII, to begin builder’s sea trials.

Underway on its own power for the first time, the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) departed HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division on January 28, 2026. These trials provide an opportunity to test ship systems and components at sea and make required adjustments prior to additional underway testing.

John F.