US military uses 8-inch floppy disks and computers of the 70s to control the nuclear arsenal



    For several decades now, the US Department of Defense has been using computer systems with floppy drives for flexible 8-inch floppy disks and floppy disks themselves to control the country's nuclear arsenal. For the first time, computers of the IBM Series / 1 type were integrated into the infrastructure of nuclear arsenals back in the 70s of the last century, and since then they continue to be used. Such systems help control the functions associated with intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear bombers and some other objects.

    The US Audit Office compiled a report on the state of the country's nuclear arsenal management infrastructure in order to draw the attention of other government organizations to the problem of obsolete moral equipment in critical areas. In addition, very old computer systems are also used in the tax system, federal prisons and the country's social infrastructure.

    “Federal IT systems are becoming increasingly obsolete: many use old software and hardware that is no longer supported ... several systems are used that are, in some cases, at least 50 years old,” the Accounts Chamber said in a report .


    IBM Series / 1

    As for the Ministry of Defense, it plans to replace obsolete computer systems in the near future. “These computers are still in use because they are, in short, operational. However, systems with floppy drives will be replaced by the end of 2017. The upgrade of the computers of the Nuclear Command, Control and Communications (NC3) has already begun, ”said a spokeswoman for the Department of Defense.

    The US Audit Chamber plans to take control of updating the information infrastructure of government agencies. So, various government organizations are going to oblige them to check their computer systems, determine what needs to be updated, and replace obsolete hardware and software with new ones.

    And there is something to update. The departments of Finance, Trade, Health and Veterans Affairs have computers of the 80s and 90s, respectively, such hardware and software are no longer supported by the manufacturer.

    The Social Security Administration advertises the employment of COBOL specialists who are required to service computer systems in the 70s of the last century. Used by COBOL and in computers of the US Department of Justice. Last yearThe United States Railroad Retirement Board (RBB) has begun updating its 50-year-old computing infrastructure. She announced the search for a contractor who can help modernize computer systems. Organization software contains 7 million lines in the COBOL programming language.

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