F-35C First Landing & Launch on JFK – A First for Ford-Class Carriers
Oct 25, 2026
On October 13–14, 2026, U.S. Navy F-35C Lightning II fighters from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 (VX-23), known as the "Salty Dogs," conducted the first F-35C arrested landing and catapult launch aboard PCU John F. Kennedy (CVN-79).
The milestone marked the first F-35C flight operations aboard a Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier.
The footage also features flight operations involving F/A-18F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, and MH-60 helicopters.