Cybersecurity

DoD's antiquated computer system still uses floppy disks to control US nuclear forces, GAO finds

The Department of Defense still uses 8-inch floppy disks as part of a system for sending emergency messages to nuclear forces, an audit by the Government Accountability Office found.

DoD's Strategic Automated Command and Control System runs on a computer system from the 1970s, according to a May report (pdf) from the Government Accountability Office, which looked more broadly at the billions of dollars the government spends on maintaining information technology.

"The system coordinates the operational functions of the United States' nuclear forces, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear bombers and tanker support aircrafts, among others," the report stated. "For those in the nuclear command area, the system's primary function is to send and receive emergency action messages to nuclear forces."

DoD said it started to replace the system in March 2016 and should be done by 2020, with secure digital cards replacing the floppy disks by 2017, according to the report.