The "new look" United States Navy is planning on procuring three of the new Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear-powered "supercarriers" to succeed the powerful, though aging, Nimitz-class vessels currently in service. The John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) is the second ship of the three-strong Gerald R. Ford-class led by the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) itself with the USS Enterprise (CVN-80) following (currently in the planning stages). The JFK has entered its construction phase headed by Huntington Ingalls Industries (formerly known as Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding) and is expected to be commissioned sometime in 2020 (or later). The JFK is named after John F. Kennedy (1917-1963), the 35th President of the United States, a veteran of World War 2 though largely remembered for his assassination at the hands of gunman Lee Harvey Oswald in November of 1963. The USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) is the second USN ship to carry the JFK name and the third to carry the Kennedy surname overall. The first such vessel became the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) aircraft carrier of the preceding, one-strong, JFK-class. The CVN-79 had her keel laid down through a ceremony on February 25th, 2011.
As proposed, the JFK will be powered by 2 x A1B (A = "Aircraft Carrier", "1" = 1st Generation, "B" = Bechtel Marine Propulsion Corporation) nuclear reactors which will provide for a straight line speed of approximately 30 knots in ideal conditions - exceptionally fast considering a vessel of this size. Use of nuclear power (a US Navy staple when compared to competing global carrier designs elsewhere) feature essentially unlimited operational ranges and are theoretically only restricted by the lifespan of the reactor itself which can span several decades (20 to 25 years possible before replacement is required). Compared to the previous A4W nuclear reactor series in use on the Nimitz-class, the A1B models sport a smaller profile, simplified construction and provides up to three times the energy output. This sort of propulsion allows the United States Navy to be called to any point in the world making America's Navy the most powerful on the globe.
Structurally, the JFK will follow suit with the original USS Gerald R. Ford and displace a listed 100,000 tons. Its running length will be 1,106 feet with a beam (length) measuring 134 feet and draught (height) of 39 feet. Like previous USN carrier offerings, the JFK will be given a primarily flat deck surface with only an island superstructure fitted to the starboard side. However, in the new configuration, the island superstructure will reside well-aft of midships, clearing the mid and frontal deck space for aircraft actions (newer European carriers are featuring twin island superstructures, a second tower to specifically handle aircraft management). Four Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) catapults will be used in place of the traditional steam systems to launch up to four aircraft simultaneously (though the portside two catapults intersect one another and require a slight delay in launching one aircraft over the other). Two catapults will be featured at the bow with the remaining two at portside. Retrieval will be via a conventional angled return deck area with "advanced" arrestor hooks in place (requiring the incoming aircraft to feature an arrestor hook). The flight deck will be serviced by three main hangar elevators - two fitted along starboard and one along port - which will provide access to full-service hangars below including maintenance, repair, fuel and munitions. Up to 90 navalized aircraft (though typically 75) of various types (fixed-wing, rotary-wing, UAVs/UCAVs) will be supported at any one time. The complete deck surface area measures 1,092x256 feet which allows many different aircraft types to be used. Like other modern surface warships, the Kennedy will also feature radar reduction measures, either through special coatings or enclosed structures, to help minimize its profile to enemy tracking systems.
The entire CVN-79 crew complement will number a maximum of 4,660 personnel typically made up of 500 officers, 3,790 enlisted and other security and special persons (based on the latest published specifications).
CVN-79 will be outfitted with the latest in USN-approved sensor and processing systems. The AN/SPY-3 Dual-Band Radar (DBR) system originally developed for the upcoming Zumwalt-class destroyer will be featured as will full 3D tracking and combat control suites, GPS support, encrypted data links and systems automation. All told, it is presumed that the new arrangement will make the Kennedy a highly-efficient and ultra-modern fighting surface vessel with no comparable design outside of the USN.
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August 2015 - The keel to CVN-79 was officially laid down, marking the start of the construction phase of the ship. She is set to directly succeed USS Nimitz (CVN-68) which is scheduled for decommissioning in 2025. CVN-79 will become the second USN vessel to carry the John F. Kennedy name into service - following USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) which left USN service in 2007 and was, unlike CVN-79, a conventionally-powered aircraft carrier.
November 2020 - The United States Navy will move ahead with F-35C modifications to the CVN-79.
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78); USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79); USS Enterprise (CVN-80)
United States
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Flag Ship / Capital Ship
Serving in the fleet Flag Ship role or Capital Ship in older warship designs / terminology.
Length
1,106.0 ft 337.11 m
Beam
252.0 ft 76.81 m
Draught
39.0 ft 11.89 m
Displacement
112,000 tons
Installed Power:
2 x A1B nuclear reactors of unknown output.
Surface Speed
32.0 kts (36.8 mph)
Range
Essentially Unlimited
kts = knots | mph = miles-per-hour | nm = nautical miles | mi = miles | km = kilometers
1 kts = 1.15 mph | 1 nm = 1.15 mi | 1 nm = 1.85 km
2 x RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) medium-range anti-aircraft missile launchers.
2 x RIM-116 RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) short-range anti-aircraft missile launchers.
2 x 20mm Phalanx CIWS (Close-In Weapon Systems)
4 x 12.7mm Browning M2 heavy machine guns
Supported Types
(Not all weapon types may be represented in the showcase above)
Approximately 75 aircraft of various makes and models intended for interception, patrol, strike, transport and rescue.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective naval campaigns / operations / periods.
Images Gallery
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Artist impression of the upcoming USS John F. Kennedy CVN-79 supercarrier; U.S. Navy marketing material.
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USN artist rendition of the CVN-78 representing the Gerald R. Ford-class supercarrier.
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