Ready for the 21st Century
John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) is the second aircraft carrier in the Ford Class. It is also the second aircraft carrier built by Newport News Shipbuilding named for JFK. Like its forerunner CVN 78, Kennedy is a truly electric aircraft carrier, with many of the systems powered by steam on Nimitz-class carriers now powered by electricity. The ship is designed to save the Navy $4 billion in total ownership cost over the ship's 50-year lifespan, with fewer overall components, extended drydocking interval, improved ship-wide air conditioning, and more.
Using Digital Technology
Newport News Shipbuilding is embracing digital data like never before in building aircraft carriers. From eliminating paper drawings and work instructions to using product model data to plan wire ways, digital data is finding its way into the heart of every process at the shipyard—and is already saving money on construction of John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) Learn more about digital shipbuilding on the Ford class
Namesake
About John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States. Learn more at the JFK Presidential Library website.
Ship's Sponsor
The Ship's Sponsor of CVN 79 is President Kennedy's daughter Caroline Kennedy. Learn more
Building for Affordability
As shipbuilders continue construction on Kennedy, the challenge is to reduce the cost of each consecutive ship in the Ford Class while maintaining the class’ increased capability. Shipbuilders have captured tens of thousands of lessons-learned from the process of building Gerald R. Ford, many that are already being implemented as cost-saving initiatives in building Kennedy. Learn more
Tale of Two Kennedys
On May 27, 1967, a crowd estimated at more than 30,000 poured into Newport News Shipbuilding to witness the launch of the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVA 67). The crowd watched as the president's daughter, Caroline Kennedy, performed her ceremonial duty as Ship's Sponsor - smashing a bottle of American sparking wine across the bow of the ship.
Caroline Kennedy, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, is the Ship's Sponsor for the second aircraft carrier named for her father.
Photo: Caroline Kennedy smashes a bottle of American sparking wine across the bow of John F. Kennedy (CVA 67) in 1967.
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