The USS John F. Kennedy finished acceptance sea trials on Saturday, marking a key milestone before its planned 2027 delivery to the Navy. The carrier departed Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia on Wednesday and returned after three days of testing, according to the shipbuilder’s release. Navy officials highlighted the ship’s progress, noting it had already completed builder’s sea trials in February.
Acceptance trials are the last major hurdle before a ship formally enters service. The Kennedy, launched in 2019 and christened later that year, is the second Ford-class carrier and the second vessel named after President John F. Kennedy. At 1,092 feet and 100,000 tons, the carrier cost $13.2 billion to build, per a December 2025 Congressional Research Service report.
Delays have pushed its initial delivery from July 2025, with the latest setback tied to Advanced Arresting Gear certification and Advanced Weapons Elevator work. In June 2026, a sailor was killed aboard the ship, and another was detained before later release.
