As the U.S. Navy continues its efforts to modernize its fleet, the delays in the delivery of two new Ford-class aircraft carriers, the USS John F. Kennedy and USS Enterprise, are raising concerns about the overall strength and readiness of the carrier fleet. According to the Fiscal Year 2026 budget documents, the USS John F. Kennedy, originally scheduled to be delivered in July 2025, has been delayed to March 2027. The USS Enterprise, which was initially expected to be delivered in September 2029, has also been pushed back to July 2030. These delays are attributed to the challenges in completing Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) certification and supply chain issues, which are common in large-scale defense projects.
These developments mean that the U.S. Navy will have to temporarily reduce its carrier fleet from 11 to 10 aircraft carriers for about a year, starting in 2026. The reduction is expected to occur once the USS Nimitz, the oldest active aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy, is decommissioned in 2026. The Nimitz, commissioned in May 1975, has a long and distinguished service history, including its role in the 1980 unsuccessful rescue mission known as Operation Eagle Claw, which was part of the U.S. effort to save American hostages in Tehran. The current deployment of the Nimitz in the Middle East is significant, as it is part of the Navy’s ongoing strategic presence in the region.
Industry experts have noted that the shift to a single-phase delivery approach for the Kennedy has added two additional years of work to its construction contract, which has impacted the Navy’s planning and budgeting. The Navy had originally intended for the dual-phase approach to save costs and minimize downtime between the Nimitz’s decommissioning and the Kennedy’s delivery. However, the complexity of modern carrier construction and the challenges in meeting technological specifications have led to these unexpected delays.
The USS Kennedy is expected to be outfitted with advanced systems, including the fifth-generation F-35C Joint Strike Fighter Lightning II and the new Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar, which will enhance the carrier’s capabilities. These upgrades are part of the Navy’s efforts to maintain technological superiority and adapt to evolving threats in the global security environment. However, the current delays in the delivery of the new carriers pose challenges to these modernization goals and may impact the Navy’s ability to project power effectively in key regions.
The delays also highlight the broader challenges facing the U.S. Navy in maintaining its fleet strength amid increasing demand for maritime operations and the need to modernize its aging fleet. While the Navy continues to invest in new technologies and systems, the procurement process and supply chain issues remain significant obstacles to achieving its strategic objectives. As the Navy navigates these challenges, the implications for its future operations and readiness will be closely watched by military analysts and policymakers.