U.S. Navy's second Ford-class aircraft carrier christened

The U.S. Navy's newest Ford-class aircraft carrier, the USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), was christened on Saturday in Newport News, Virginia.

Spectators take their seats as they wait for ceremonies to begin for the christening of the nuclear aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy at Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va., Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019. [Photo: AP]

John F. Kennedy is the second aircraft carrier of the Gerald R. Ford class, slated to replace USS Nimitz (CVN 68), when that ship is decommissioned.

At 1,092 feet in length and 100,000 tons, CVN 79 incorporates a series of new technologies, comprising advances in propulsion, power generation, ordnance handling and aircraft launch systems, according to the U.S. Navy.

The Ford-class is the future aircraft carrier replacement class for Enterprise and Nimitz-class aircraft carriers of the United States.

The lead ship, Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), was commissioned in 2017.