PCU John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) Completes Builder’s Sea Trials

Why It Matters

Completing Builder’s Sea Trials moves the Navy closer to fielding its next super‑carrier, reinforcing maritime dominance and sustaining a vital defense industrial base. Timely delivery also helps control lifecycle costs for a platform expected to serve five decades.

Key Takeaways

• Builder's Sea Trials for CVN‑79 successfully concluded
• Milestone advances Gerald R. Ford‑class carrier program
• Thousands of workers and sailors collaborated on testing
• Fast Cruise exercised ship's operational systems pre‑sea
• Acceptance Trials now scheduled, timeline under review

Pulse Analysis

The successful Builder’s Sea Trials for CVN‑79 represent a pivotal checkpoint in the United States’ carrier construction pipeline. By taking the hull out of the dry dock and conducting a simulated Fast Cruise, shipbuilders verified propulsion, electrical distribution, and weapons integration under realistic conditions. This hands‑on validation reduces the risk of costly rework later in the program and provides the Pre‑Commissioning Unit with valuable operational experience before the vessel joins the fleet.

Beyond the technical achievements, the milestone underscores the health of the maritime industrial base that underpins national security. Hundreds of subcontractors across the nation contributed components ranging from advanced radar arrays to nuclear‑powered steam turbines, illustrating a supply chain capable of delivering cutting‑edge technology at scale. The Gerald R. Ford class is designed for enhanced survivability and lower total ownership cost over a 50‑year service life, making each successful trial a step toward long‑term fiscal responsibility for the Department of Defense.

Looking ahead, the transition to Acceptance Trials will test the carrier’s full combat readiness and integration with the Navy’s strike groups. While the exact timeline remains fluid, the Navy’s commitment to accelerating delivery reflects strategic imperatives in the Indo‑Pacific and Atlantic theaters. A timely entry of CVN‑79 into service will bolster carrier strike group availability, support power‑projection goals, and maintain a deterrent edge amid evolving global threats.

PCU John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) Completes Builder’s Sea Trials

04 February 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Program Executive Office Aircraft Carriers (PEO CVN) announced the successful completion of Builder’s Sea Trials (BST) for the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), at Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), a division of HII, in Newport News, Virginia, Feb. 4.

Completion of Builder’s Trials marks a significant shipbuilding milestone for the future John F. Kennedy, the second ship in the Gerald R. Ford‑class of aircraft carriers designed to improve survivability, increase lethality, and drive down total ownership cost over their expected 50‑year lifespan.

“Seeing this Navy‑industry team take CVN 79 to sea for the first time was nothing short of thrilling,” said Rear Adm. Casey Moton, Program Executive Officer for Aircraft Carriers (PEO CVN). “Thanks to the tireless efforts of thousands of proud American workers across the maritime industrial base, we are one step closer to delivering another Gerald R. Ford‑class aircraft carrier to the fleet.”

Throughout BST, Sailors from the Pre‑Commissioning Unit (PCU) assigned to John F. Kennedy, shipbuilders from NNS, and personnel from the Navy’s Supervisor of Shipbuilding (SUPSHIP), Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), and PEO CVN worked side‑by‑side testing many of the ship’s key systems and technologies.

Prior to getting underway, John F. Kennedy conducted a five‑day “Fast Cruise,” a multi‑day pier‑side training evolution that brings the ship to life prior to getting underway during new construction or after an extended maintenance availability. This simulated underway period exercises the ship’s ability to operate at sea and affords the crew the opportunity to transition to an operational mindset before getting underway.

“There are millions of fingerprints contributing to this successful sea trial, both of the hard‑working patriots who built this great ship and of the Sailors who are now bringing her to life,” said Capt. Doug Langenberg, commanding officer of PCU John F. Kennedy (CVN 79). “John F. Kennedy going to sea for the first time is truly momentous. This event is a result of years of hard work and an incredible shared effort between our shipbuilding partners and this crew who have worked side‑by‑side to get to this day. I’m proud of this crew and this opportunity to finally take this ship to sea where she belongs.”

With the conclusion of Builder’s Trials, the team will resume completion work while also addressing any issues identified during trials. The next major milestone for the ship will be Acceptance Trials, the timeline for which is currently under review.

“We’re making steady progress towards completion of the ship with all required capability,” said Capt. Mark Johnson, Program Manager for Gerald R. Ford‑class New Construction. “We continue to work closely with the shipbuilder to ensure that the nation’s next aircraft carrier is delivered to the Navy on the fastest possible path to combat readiness.”