NEWPORT NEWS, Va., (Feb. 21, 2024) — Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), a prominent name in American shipbuilding, has announced a significant milestone in the construction of the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79). Its Newport News Shipbuilding division (NNS) has commenced topside testing of the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), marking a critical step towards the ship’s eventual deployment.
EMALS represents a cutting-edge advancement in naval aviation technology. Successfully implemented first on the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), this system is set to replace the traditional steam catapults that have been the standard launch mechanism on U.S. Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carriers for decades. The transition to EMALS promises enhanced efficiency, reduced maintenance, and greater operational flexibility for modern carrier air wings.
Following the successful completion of “no-load” testing on the forward catapults, known as the ‘bow cats,’ the NNS team, collaborating closely with the John F. Kennedy crew, has advanced to “dead-load” testing. This crucial phase involves launching weighted, car-like structures from the carrier’s deck into the James River. These structures, with graduated weights reaching up to 80,000 pounds, are designed to accurately simulate the weight and launch dynamics of actual aircraft. The repeated launch and retrieval of these dead loads are essential to rigorously evaluate and fine-tune the catapults, ensuring they are fully prepared for their primary purpose: launching the full spectrum of carrier-based fixed-wing aircraft operated by the U.S. Navy.
A unique and heartwarming aspect of this dead-load testing phase is the special significance of the initial dead loads used. During the shipyard’s Family Day in October, family members of the dedicated shipbuilders inscribed these loads with messages of congratulations and gratitude. These messages serve as a powerful reminder of the human element behind the construction of this sophisticated warship and the collective effort involved in bringing it to life.
“As we achieve continuous progress in the construction, testing, and turnover of John F. Kennedy, reaching the dead load testing phase provides a tangible demonstration of our advancements,” stated Lucas Hicks, vice president of the John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) new construction aircraft carrier program. “The thousands of heartfelt messages written on these dead loads clearly illustrate that our shipbuilders and their families deeply appreciate and understand the importance of our mission. We take immense pride in the exceptional teamwork that has propelled us to this pivotal point, and we remain steadfastly committed to delivering this formidable aircraft carrier to the fleet, empowering its crew to effectively execute the vital missions that lie ahead.”
This milestone in EMALS testing underscores the ongoing progress in the construction of CVN 79 John F. Kennedy, bringing it closer to joining the U.S. Navy fleet and bolstering America’s naval power projection capabilities.
