A recent report from the United States Government Accountability Office regarding the Department of Defense's operations at The Pentagon has shown that the nation's nuclear weapons program is still running on 1970s-era computer systems and via floppy disks.
As most in the information technology field know, floppy disks became obsolete in the late 1990s while compact discs (CDs) began to be widely used.
As most in the information technology field know, floppy disks became obsolete in the late 1990s while compact discs (CDs) began to be widely used.
Specified in the report, "Agencies reported using several systems that have components that are, in some cases, at least 50 years old...[The] Department of Defense uses eight-inch floppy disks in a legacy system that coordinates the operational functions of the nation's nuclear forces...[The] Department of the Treasury uses assembly language code - a computer language initially used in the 1950s and typically tied to the hardware for which it was developed."
The GAO stated, as part of their investigation, that the U.S. government has spent more than $80 billion every fiscal year in the information technology department. The investigation also stated that the Pentagon's usage of floppy disks within its strategic automated command and control system that coordinates operational function of its nuclear forces, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear bombers and tanker support aircraft.
The Department says updates are in progress and should be fully updated by the end of 2017.
The GAO stated, as part of their investigation, that the U.S. government has spent more than $80 billion every fiscal year in the information technology department. The investigation also stated that the Pentagon's usage of floppy disks within its strategic automated command and control system that coordinates operational function of its nuclear forces, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear bombers and tanker support aircraft.
The Department says updates are in progress and should be fully updated by the end of 2017.
