Pentagon Defense Systems Still Use 1970s Computing Platform, US’ Nuclear Weapons Run By Floppy Disks?

Pentagon is still using an 8-inch floppy disks of the 1970s to run the United States' nuclear weapons. Based on reports, the government spends three-fourths of the country's $80 billion budget for technology to maintain the old computer systems, including the Defense Department.

The Pentagon's Strategic Automated Command and Control System, which is used to send and receive emergency action messages concerning the country's nuclear forces, operates on a 1970s IBM computing platform, relying on floppy disks to store data. A Report from the Government Accountability Office states that the system coordinates the nuclear forces' operational functions like the nuclear bombers, tanker support aircrafts and the intercontinental ballistic missiles. In addition, the system is monitored on an IBM Series, 1 Computer - a computing system from the 1970s - and uses an 8-inch floppy disks. The GAO also noted that the parts of the old computer system are difficult to find nowadays due to the fact that these are already outdated.

The Pentagon, however, has plans to upgrade the system, which means they will no longer use these floppy disks by the end of next year, although the complete upgrade is expected to take some time, BBC reported.

According to U.S. Strategic Command spokesperson Army Lieut. Colonel Martin O'Donnell, in spite of the readiness, effectiveness and safety of the strategic nuclear deterrent force of the country, there are some works that are required to modernize and sustain it. The White House has been reported pushing for all government agencies to determine and replace the outdated systems.

Meanwhile, other agencies that are known to have old computer systems are: the Department of Veterans Affairs; the Department of  Treasury, whose Business Master File and Individual Master File are about 50 years old; the Department of Justice and; the Social Security Administration.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, said that the taxpayers deserve a kind of government that leverages its technology to serve instead of using insecure, aging technology that puts personal and sensitive information at risk, according to Edition CNN.