The U.S. Navy announced on March 6 the establishment of Program Executive Office Columbia (PEO CLB) to focus entirely on the Navy’s number one acquisition priority. PEO CLB will provide oversight of the construction of 12 Columbia-class submarines (SSBN) that will help the Navy maintain a credible, survivable and modern sea-based strategic deterrent into the 2080s.
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| Illustration of the planned Columbia-class SSBN submarine (Illustration source: U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command) |