$13B New USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) Pushes Maneuvering Limits in Sea Trials

The $13B new USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79), the second Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier, pushes maneuvering limits during Builder’s Trials in the Atlantic Ocean to evaluate propulsion, steering control, navigation systems, and overall ship handling under U.S. Navy standards. Teams from HII Newport News Shipbuilding and the Navy execute high-speed turns, open-water transit, and precision anchoring to validate rudder authority, power response, and hull stability in real maritime conditions. The video also includes MH-60S Seahawk landings, flight deck certification, Countermeasure Wash-Down (CMWD) with AFFF coverage, and EMALS dead-load launches to verify aviation integration and operational readiness prior to fleet introduction. Segment: 00:00 : Opening 01:00 : High-speed Turns 04:21 : Transit – Atlantic Ocean 05:34 : First Aircraft Landing – MH-60S Seahawk 07:04 : Helicopter Operations 08:57 : Countermeasure Wash-Down (CMWD) 09:21 : Precision Anchoring 09:58 : EMALS Dead-Load Test