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Agencies

John F. Kennedy’s daughter Caroline has christened a new aircraft carrier that is named after the 35th US president.
Caroline Kennedy smashed a bottle across the USS John F. Kennedy carrier’s hull Saturday at the shipyard in Newport News, Virginia.
It marked the second time she christened an aircraft carrier in her father’s name. The first aircraft carrier named for JFK served through Vietnam and into the post-9/11 era. Caroline Kennedy, then a child, launched that ship in 1967.
The new US$11.4 billion ship is the second of the US Navy’s Ford-Class of aircraft carriers. The first was the USS Gerald R. Ford, which was commissioned last year.

The new carriers, which will replace the Enterprise and Nimitz-class aircraft carriers, are designed to carry and fly more planes with fewer sailors.
Guests at the christening ceremony included former US Secretary of State John Kerry.
‘Leaky Lizzie’ or pride of the fleet? UK’s most advanced aircraft carrier eyes global role after mishaps
Aircraft carriers are built through modular construction. Giant pieces of the ship are assembled in yard, then lifted into the dry dock where the ship takes shape. Kennedy was built with larger and few of these components, which reduced the number of lifts into the dry dock.
The Kennedy’s keel was laid in 2015. The dry dock was flooded in late October.


After the christening, the ship will be moved from the dock to an outfitting pier. It is about 67 per cent complete, so much work remains before it can be declared ready for combat. The US Navy plans to take delivery of the ship in 2022.
Meanwhile, the Chinese navy is moving ahead with plans to build another aircraft carrier, but plans for a fifth have been put on hold for now, according to military insiders.
‘Goddamned steam’: Donald Trump’s aircraft carrier obsession sets up collision with US Navy and Congress
The country currently has just one active carrier, the Liaoning – a refitted Soviet-era vessel – but the first home built carrier, the Type 001, is undergoing sea trials and may soon be ready for service.
Associated Press and Tribune News Service


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China’s aircraft carriers

America’s newest aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy christened as China boosts fleet

Caroline Kennedy, the late president’s daughter, did the honours as ship’s sponsor. Photo: Reuters

epa08050894 (FILE) - A handout file photo made available by the US Navy shows an aerial view of the USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) arriving for a port visit at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, in Pensacola, Florida, USA, 17 March 2004 (issued 07 December 2019). Media reports state that a gunman on 06 December 2019 opened fire inside the Naval Air Station Pensacola killing three people and injuring at least eight others. The attacker, identified as a member of the Saudi Air Force and an aviation student at the base who had been in the country since August 2017, was shot dead by authorities, media added. Officials have not yet determined a motive for the shooting. EPA-EFE/US NAVY/PATRICK NICHOLSs HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

Caroline Kennedy, the late president’s daughter, did the honours as ship’s sponsor. Photo: AP

‘Leaky Lizzie’ or pride of the fleet? UK’s most advanced aircraft carrier eyes global role after mishaps

HMS Queen Elizabeth conducts sea trials off the coast of Scotland. She will be fully operational by next year. Photo: UK Royal Navy

PROVIDED COURTESY OF LOCKHEED MARTIN Two F-35B Lightning II fighter jets have successfully landed onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first time, laying the foundations for the next 50 years of fixed wing aviation in support of the UK’s Carrier Strike Capability. Royal Navy Commander, Nathan Gray, 41, made history by being the first to land on, carefully manoeuvring his stealth jet onto the thermal coated deck. He was followed by Squadron Leader Andy Edgell, RAF, both of whom are test pilots, operating with the Integrated Test Force (ITF) based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. Shortly afterwards, once a deck inspection has been conducted and the all-clear given, Cdr Gray became the first pilot to take off using the ship’s ski-ramp.

Pictured: An F-35B Lightning II jet onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth. Two F-35B Lightning II fighter jets have successfully landed onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first time, laying the foundations for the next 50 years of fixed wing aviation in support of the UK’s Carrier Strike Capability. Royal Navy Commander, Nathan Gray, 41, made history by being the first to land on, carefully manoeuvring his stealth jet onto the thermal coated deck. He was followed by Squadron Leader Andy Edgell, RAF, both of whom are test pilots, operating with the Integrated Test Force (ITF) based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. Shortly afterwards, once a deck inspection has been conducted and the all-clear given, Cdr Gray became the first pilot to take off using the ship’s ski-ramp. Image taken by and credit to Lt Cdr Lindsey Waudby RN

epa06063851 A handout photo made available on 03 July 2017 by the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) showing a two Merlin helicopters from 820 Squadron based in Royal Navy Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose, afte they made the first ever deck landings onboard the British Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth. The 65,000 tonne aircraft carrier will eventually be capable of operating up to 36 F-35 Lightening II jets and 14 helicopters, including Merlin and Chinooks. 820 Squadron are currently working out of RAF Lossiemouth and will be providing helicopter support to the Royal Navys newest aircraft carrier whilst she is conducted her first sea trials. Elizabeth, the first QE Class aircraft carrier, is set sail from Rosyth to commence first stage sea trials off the north east of Scotland. The Nation's future flagship will spend an initial period of around six weeks at sea to test the fundamentals of the ship. EPA/PO PHOT RAY JONES / BRITISH MINISTRY OF DEFENCE / HANDOUT MANDATORY CREDIT

The UK's new aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, has arrived in New York this afternoon, marking the start of an historic visit to the US city. The largest ship in the history of Great Britain's Royal Navy, which has been home to more than 1,500 military and civilian personnel for the past two months, anchored in New York Harbour under the gaze of the Statue of Liberty today.

Pictured: The Flight Control tower during flying operations. F35B Lightening II jets continue their trials onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth Royal Navy aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, has deployed to the USA to land fast jets on deck for the very first time. Eight years since a British aircraft carrier last flew a fast jet from her decks, the 65,000-tonne carrier will embark two F-35B test aircraft, from the Integrated Test Force (ITF), based out of Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. Around 200 supporting staff, including pilots, engineers, maintainers and data analysts will be joined by two ‘orange wired’ test aircraft, belonging to the ITF, which are expected to conduct 500 take offs and landings during their 11-week period at sea. The aim of these initial, or ‘developmental’ trials are to ascertain, through the specially equipped aircraft and sensors around the ship, the operating parameters of the aircraft and ship, in a range of conditions.

‘Goddamned steam’: Donald Trump’s aircraft carrier obsession sets up collision with US Navy and Congress

Crew members emerge from steam after a plane took off at USS George Washington. 07NOV13

A US Navy "green shirt" flight deck crew stands in a cloud of vapour from a steam catapult as an F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft prepares for take off from the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington some 300kms off the coast of Hong Kong on June 15, 2014. The US ship is en route to the southern Chinese city for a routine port visit. AFP PHOTO / Philippe Lopez (Photo by PHILIPPE LOPEZ / AFP)

U.S. President Donald Trump gestures to U.S. servicemen at U.S. Navy multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp at the U.S. Navy's Yokosuka base in Yokosuka, south of Tokyo Tuesday, May 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

A US Navy "green shirt" flight deck crew prepares an aircraft steam catapult during launch operations on board the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington some 300kms off the coast of Hong Kong on June 15, 2014. The US ship is en route to the southern Chinese city for a routine port visit. AFP PHOTO / Philippe Lopez (Photo by PHILIPPE LOPEZ / AFP)

US President Donald Trump polled sailors and Marines on the USS Wasp on steam versus electric catapults Tuesday during a visit to the Yokosuka naval base south of Tokyo. Photo: Reuters

News

World

United States & Canada


New carrier designed to carry and fly more planes with fewer sailors



New US$11.4 billion ship designed to carry and fly more planes with fewer sailors.


Defence

United States