The US Navy Planned to Deliver the Aircraft Carrier USS John F. Kennedy in July 2025. She Is Now Due in March 2027. The 20-Month Slip Came Down to Arresting Gear Certification and the Weapons Elevators -- the Same 2 Systems That Held Up USS Gerald R. Ford.

The U.S. Navy planned to deliver the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy in July 2025, but the ship is now due in March 2027, a 20-month delay tied to certification work for key systems. The report highlights differences between the Kennedy and its replacement for the older Nimitz-class fleet, including construction approaches, radar suites, and integration milestones. One major change is the radar: the Kennedy will use AN/SPY-6(V)3 Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar, replacing the Dual Band Radar SPY-3/SPY-4 configuration on the USS Gerald R. Ford, a move expected to save about $180 million. The article also discusses EMALS maturation and F-35C readiness requirements shaped by Congress.