Newest American aircraft carrier of the Gerald R class. Ford – USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) will be completed and transferred to the US Navy in one stage, not two. According to the US Naval Institute website (USNI News), 2 November of this year, the US Navy signed a new contract, changing the aircraft carrier completion program.
Under a primary contract between the Navy and Huntington Ingalls Industries, construction of the new aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy was designed for a two-stage delivery. ie. at the first stage, the ship was transferred to the fleet in “basic” version and already on the second they equipped the ship with additional equipment, including the integration of the carrier-based version of the F-35C fifth generation fighter.
Now it has been decided to complete the construction of the aircraft carrier in one stage. According to the new contract worth 315 million. dollars, a number of changes are made to the construction program, including the integration of fighters before the transfer of the aircraft carrier to the fleet. Respectively, the date of delivery of the ship to the customer is also postponed. Instead of two dates: end of the first stage – 2022 year and second stage – 2024 year, named a single – 30 June 2024 of the year. The current readiness of the aircraft carrier is estimated at 76%.
Recall, that the ceremony of the official laying of the aircraft carrier was held 22 August 2015 of the year, although in fact its construction was started in December 2010 of the year, and the ceremony of the first steel cutting took place 25 February 2011 of the year. The ship was launched 7 December 2019 of the year, at the same time, the christening ceremony of the aircraft carrier took place. The godmother of the ship was the daughter of US President John F. Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy.
The aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy is the second in a series of ten ships of the type of Gerald R. Ford. New nuclear aircraft carriers should be replaced in the Navy US Nimitz class ships, which are in service with 1975 of the year.
New aircraft carriers have a length 337 m, maximum width - 78 m, displacement - order 100 000 tonnes. According to the specs, can carry air wing of up to 90 airplanes and helicopters. It is planned to place F-35 aircraft on them., F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, and helicopters MH-60R / S.
used photos:Huntington Ingalls Industries
