A new video captures the US Navy’s supercarrier USS John F. Kennedy catapulting vehicles into a river during testing of the aircraft launch system.

Large, wheeled, car-like structures with weights up to 80,000 pounds were launched into the James River in Virginia to test the aircraft carrier’s ability to launch actual planes.

In the footage released by the shipbuilding company Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) last week, vehicles can be seen traveling more than 300 feet down the track, leaping into the sky, and smoothly hitting the water.

The recent catapult testing marks a significant step in preparing the carrier Kennedy to launch actual fixed-wing aircrafts including fighter jets and airborne early-warning planes. 

Kennedy, launched and christened in 2019, is the Navy’s second nuclear-powered Ford-class aircraft carrier after the USS Gerald R. Ford.

A new video captures the US Navy’s supercarrier USS John F. Kennedy catapulting vehicles into a river during testing of the aircraft launch system recently in Virginia 

Large, wheeled, car-like structures with weights up to 80,000 pounds were launched into the James River in Virginia to test the aircraft carrier’s ability to launch actual planes

As a part of the topside testing of the electromagnetic aircraft launch system, the so-called ‘dead-load’ testing involves launching vehicles that simulate the weight of actual aircraft.  

After being launched off the carrier’s bow into the James River, the vehicles will be retrieved and launched again until the test program concludes.  

The program is conducted to ‘ensure the catapults are ready for their primary intended purpose: to launch all carrier-based fixed wing aircraft flown by the US Navy,’ HLL said in a statement.  

Lucas Hicks, vice president of the Kennedy new construction aircraft carrier program, said: ‘Reaching the dead load testing phase is a visual demonstration of how far we’ve come.’ 

He added that the crew has made sustained progress in ‘the construction, testing and turnover of John F. Kennedy.’

As a part of the topside testing of the electromagnetic aircraft launch system, the so-called ‘dead-load’ testing involves launching vehicles that simulate the weight of actual aircraft

After being launched off the carrier’s bow into the James River, the vehicles will be retrieved and launched again until the test program concludes 

The program is conducted to ‘ensure the catapults are ready for their primary intended purpose: to launch all carrier-based fixed wing aircraft flown by the US Navy,’ HLL said in a statement

In the footage released by the shipbuilding company Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) last week, vehicles can be seen traveling more than 300 feet down the track, leaping into the sky, and smoothly hitting the water

The Kennedy is only the second US Navy aircraft carrier to feature the electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) that provides much smoother acceleration and less stress on the aircraft compared to steam catapults. 

In the ‘dead-load testing’, the vehicles travel more than 300 feet down the track at more than 150mph. Eventually, the system could launch fighter jets to speeds reaching 240mph. 

‘The first dead-load launch off the flight deck is a historic moment for PCU John. F. Kennedy,’ Captain Colin Day, commanding officer of the Kennedy said.

The dead loads used in the recent testing were signed with messages of congratulations and gratitude by family members of shipbuilders. 

‘It is evident from the thousands of written messages that our shipbuilders and their families appreciate and understand the significance of our work,’ Hicks said. 

‘We are proud of the incredible teamwork that has brought us to this point and remain committed to delivering this mighty aircraft carrier to the fleet so the crew can carry out the important mission ahead.’

The ship is projected to be delivered in 2025 and operated in the Indo-Pacific region as the first Ford class aircraft

The Kennedy was launched in 2019 after a decade of design and development. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier cost $11.3 billion 

Captain Day said: ‘I’m particularly proud of our Air Department and the hard-working Aviation Boatswain Mates who worked tirelessly alongside the engineering and testing teams to get us to this critical moment. 

The Kennedy was launched in 2019 after a decade of design and development. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier cost $11.3 billion.  

More than 3,200 shipbuilders and 2,000 suppliers from across the country supported the construction of Kennedy. 

The aircraft carrier was named after the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), the only ship of its class which was active from 1968 to 2007. 

The carrier Kennedy is projected to be delivered in 2025 and operated in the Indo-Pacific region as the first Ford class aircraft.