Newly released footage shows the U.S. Navy conducting dramatic launch system tests aboard its newest supercarrier, the USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79), by catapulting massive wheeled vehicles into the James River in Virginia.

The tests, carried out at Newport News Shipbuilding by Huntington Ingalls Industries, involved hurling 80,000-pound test vehicles more than 300 feet down a launch track at speeds exceeding 150 miles per hour. The vehicles were launched directly into the river to simulate the stresses and performance requirements of aircraft takeoffs.

The Kennedy is equipped with the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), which replaces traditional steam-powered catapults with electromagnetic propulsion. The system allows for smoother acceleration, reduced mechanical strain, and greater flexibility in launching both heavier and lighter aircraft, including next-generation fighter jets and unmanned systems.

EMALS has been a key feature of the Navy’s Ford-class aircraft carriers, though it has faced scrutiny over reliability during earlier deployments. Navy officials say continued testing is critical to validating the system before the ship enters full operational service.

Commissioned as the second Ford-class carrier and launched in 2019, the USS John F. Kennedy carries an estimated price tag of $11.3 billion. Experts estimate the EMALS system will eventually be capable of launching aircraft at speeds approaching 240 miles per hour, significantly enhancing carrier-based aviation capabilities.