U.S. Navy Takes Preliminary Acceptance of USS John F. Kennedy
The U.S. Navy took preliminary acceptance of the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy to begin at-sea testing and crew training.
The United States Navy took preliminary acceptance of the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) from Newport News Shipbuilding on September 29, 2026. The Ford-class aircraft carrier is approximately 99 percent complete, with all major systems finished.
This milestone allows the vessel and its crew to move from the James River to Naval Station Norfolk. At the new berth, the crew will conduct at-sea testing and build underway proficiency. Meanwhile, the shipbuilder will complete final systems testing, including the installation and testing of the remaining four Advanced Weapons Elevators.
Navy Program Manager Marc Johnson stated that preliminary acceptance allows the crew to "get more water under the keel as they test and train underway." He described the milestone as a result of the shared commitment of sailors and the Navy-industry team to deliver "combat-ready lethality to the fleet."
Formal delivery of the carrier is expected in the spring of 2027, with some estimates specifying March. The USS John F. Kennedy is the second ship of the Ford class, which is designed to replace the aging Nimitz-class carriers.
