Aircraft carrier Kennedy marks first F-35C recovery

Aircraft carrier John F Kennedy, shown here under construction, recovered its first F-35C. (Michael Fabey)

Aircraft carrier John F Kennedy (CVN 79) recovered its first aircraft an F-35C Lightning II, attached to the “Salty Dogs” of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 on 13 October, ship personnel noted in an online social media post.

The shipboard landing also marked the first F-35C recovery aboard a Ford-class aircraft carrier, the post noted.

HII's Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division achieved US Navy (USN) preliminary acceptance of Kennedy (CVN 79), the second Ford-class carrier, and the ship moved from the NNS shipyard in Newport News to Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia on 29 September, HII, the USN confirmed that day in statements.

Preliminary acceptance will allow the ship and its crew to conduct at-sea testing and build underway proficiency while the shipbuilder completes final ship systems testing prior to formal delivery of the ship in the second quarter of 2027, the USN said.

Kennedy is about 99% complete, the USN said, adding that all major systems are complete.

The shipbuilder is currently completing final ship systems testing, including testing of the remaining four Advanced Weapons Elevators (AWEs) the navy said.

Kennedy completed sea trials, HII confirmed on 15 August in a statement.

Kennedyʼs delivery date was “shifted to March 2027 from the anticipated delivery in July 2025 to support [the] completion of Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) certification and continued Advanced Weapons Elevator (AWE) work”, according to documents supporting the USN FY 2026 budget request.