Marking a new step forward in the testing stage prior to its entry into service, the United States Navy (US Navy) has already carried out the first landings of MH-60S Seahawk helicopters on the future nuclear aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy, the second of the new Ford class that will replace the Nimitz class. The development in question stems from the publication of a new video on social media, which allows one to observe one of the aforementioned helicopters performing the landing maneuver on a practically empty deck, with the assistance of personnel from the institution.
Expanding on some details, it is worth mentioning that the MH-60S Seahawk is an aircraft belonging to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 7, also known by its nickname “Dusty Dogs.” As indicated on the official website of the U.S. Navy, this is a unit based at Naval Station Norfolk located in the state of Virginia, operating said platform as its primary asset. As such, the squadron forms part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 led by the ship USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), which serves as its main deployment point; operating across a wide range of missions ranging from anti-surface warfare to emergency medical evacuations.
On the other hand, it is relevant to recall that the novelty of this helicopter landing on the deck of the USS John F. Kennedy comes just days after the U.S. Navy announced that the ship successfully completed its first sea trials, bringing it a little closer to its already delayed incorporation. As we have reported in a timely manner, the vessel departed from the Newport News Shipbuilding shipyard, which belongs to Huntington Ingalls (HII) and is located in the aforementioned state of Virginia, where its construction is being carried out.
Following the development of these initial tests, which involved both US Navy personnel and shipyard staff, the vessel returned to its point of departure and began an extensive evaluation process of the data obtained during them. In particular, the focus was placed on analyzing the initial functioning of essential systems and components of the ship under real navigation conditions, which at these stages is key in order to carry out potential necessary adjustments in the lead-up to more demanding trials that the aircraft carrier will have to undergo.
Finally, it is useful to mention that the first aircraft carrier of the Ford class, the USS Gerald R. Ford, is already en route to the Middle East after having completed a deployment of several months in the Caribbean under the command of SOUTHCOM as part of U.S. pressure on the Venezuelan dictatorship. The news constitutes an important matter when considering the existing tensions between Washington and Tehran, which is why the U.S. Navy had already deployed the Carrier Strike Group of the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which in itself constitutes a strong message of deterrence while at the same time a challenge for the strained fleet of ships of this type in the hands of the institution.
*Image credits: Nolan Pennington
You may also like: Construction of the first Liberty-class autonomous logistics vessel for the U.S. Navy to begin soon
