
The Navy has formally received the go-ahead to begin detailed design of the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine.Pentagon acquisition chief Frank Kendall signed a memorandum late Jan. 4 authorizing the program’s next development phase. His move follows a Defense Acquisition Board review of the program in November.The Navy plans to build 12 Columbia-class submarines to replace 14 aging Ohio-class boomers. General Dynamics [GD] Electric Boat is the prime contractor and Huntington Ingalls Industries [HII] Newport News Shipbuilding has a secondary role.Sens.…