Navy Grants Preliminary Acceptance of Carrier USS John F. Kennedy

The U.S. Navy took preliminary acceptance of the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) on 29 Sep 2026, following successful completion of Acceptance Trials in August. The carrier was built by Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of HII, in Newport News, Va. Preliminary acceptance allows the ship and its crew to begin at-sea testing and build underway proficiency while the shipbuilder finishes final ship systems testing ahead of formal delivery, planned for Spring 2027. CAPT Mark Johnson, the Navy's Program Manager for Gerald R. Ford-Class New Construction, said the milestone reflects the combined commitment of sailors and the Navy-industry team to complete the final stages of construction and testing with precision and efficiency. John F. Kennedy is approximately 99 percent complete, with all major systems finished. The shipbuilder is currently conducting final ship systems testing, including trials of the remaining four Advanced Weapons Elevators. Officials said preliminary acceptance sets the ship on the fastest possible path to delivery and combat readiness. The milestone was announced by the Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) for Maritime, the organization responsible for overseeing delivery of surface ships to the U.S. Navy. The centralized structure is intended to give leaders broader authority to accelerate delivery of combat capability and align acquisition timelines with fleet requirements.