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That's according to a new report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), which found that the Pentagon was still using 1970s-era computing systems that require "eight-inch floppy disks."
The GAO report says that U.S. government departments spend upwards of $60 billion a year on operating and maintaining out-of-date technologies.
its floppy systems -- which currently coordinate intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), nuclear bombers and tanker support aircraft
originally posted by: trollzbut then according to this report, it would've been roughly 3 times cheaper to modernize these systems.
originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus
originally posted by: trollz
The idea that our ballistic missiles and nuclear bombers are managed by ancient computer systems that still use floppy disks is a little scary...
From what I understand they will be switching over to the WOPR system shortly.
originally posted by: Painterz
It's actually more scary if they had modern up to date wireless enabled devices.
Floppy drive era technology is a lot less hackable than modern technology. No pesky USB sockets for somebody to inadvertently plug an invisible nasty into the system.
I'm quite comforted by this.
originally posted by: Whatsthisthen
Using floppies suggests the computers may not be networked.
Remember Battlestar Galactica?
Probably a smart move not to upgrade.