Funding opens carrier to Windows

[InfoSec News <isn () C4I ORG>]

http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2001/0129/web-navy-02-02-01.asp

BY Bill Murray
02/02/2001

[Not a security issue now, but then again who knows...    - WK]

The Navy has cleared a hurdle to develop Microsoft Corp.s Windows
operating system to run the command and control systems for its
next-generation aircraft carrier.

Newport News Shipbuilding received a $3.8-billion contract
modification Jan. 26 from the Naval Sea Systems Command for CVN-77,
which is the 10th and last Nimitz class nuclear-powered aircraft
carrier.

Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems Inc., a subcontractor, will use
some of the budget to design, develop and test the ships integrated
warfare system, according to the Pentagon contract announcement.

Keith Hodson, a spokesman for Microsoft Government, welcomed the
announcement because of uncertainty regarding the funding for CVN-77.

In making their case before Congress, Navy officials argued that they
can use information technology to reduce the number of sailors needed
to maintain the aircraft carrier and reduce overall maintenance costs
by scheduling preventive maintenance and other means.

Lockheed Martins selection of Microsoft, announced in August 2000,
showed that Windows 2000 can be stable enough to run tactical
applications. Microsofts competitors who sell Unix operating systems,
such as Sun Microsystems Inc., had previously ruled the roost selling
command and control applications to the armed services. Microsofts
operating systems and applications seemed best suited for office uses,
which could accommodate the occasional system crash with Windows 95 or
Windows NT Server 3.51.

CVN-77 will replace the USS Kitty Hawk, which will be 45 years old
when the Navy commissions the next-generation carrier in 2008.
Construction of the aircraft carrier will begin this year.

CVN-77 will probably run a follow-up version to Windows 2000. That
"Son of Windows" version likely will run on 10 Navy ships because
Microsoft has signed an agreement to install the software they produce
for CVN-77 on seven other existing carriers as well as two carriers to
be constructed.

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