Royal Navy Nuclear Fleet now controlled by Windows XP

Soldato
Joined
15 Dec 2007
Posts
16,567
Windows boxes on Ethernet LANs are now in control of the UK's nuclear-propelled and nuclear-armed warship fleet.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/16/windows_for_submarines_rollout/

All jokes aside, even the best configured Windows PC's fall over every now and then, really wouldn't want that happening at an important time.

The US navy tried to use windows to control a battleship once (USS Yorktown) and it ended up dead in the water when the network crashed and took out the engines.
 
well if BAE are happy with it...

Dunno if i should finish my application for BAE with all this windows for subs business :p
 
I think I remember making a post about that a while ago now, everyone came up with the 'Windows has found new hardware .50 cal AA gun and is looking for the software for it - Windows was unable to find software for your new device, it may not function correctly which was the obvious joke to make and was hilariously funny... honest.

Surely, they wouldn't be using Windows to control things like ballast tanks and dive planes on a nuclear sub ?

I'm sure i've read disclaimers before on various pieces of equipment which says things along the lines of, 'This software is not for use where a danger to life is possible'. Monitoring a nuclear reactor or life support machine for example, though wasn't there a Navy advert not long ago where the technician is listing off all these things he tried to fix something, the advert finishes on him saying 'sometimes he just switches it off and on again' - maybe there is more to this than first thought! :eek:
 
The Windows for Submarines programme is an example of one of the many areas where Microsoft works in partnership with the MOD to ensure that our products have the resilience, security and communications efficiency required to operate effectively in challenging military environments.

I lol'd.
 
I'm pretty sure they would have tested it extensively first, and I'd imagine its somewhat modified in terms of services, and it very likely has backup systems.

£22 Million a year saved? Sounds good to me.

You'll find it's 22million total, or £2million per year. A saving of about a thousandth of Trident's annual running costs
 
i wonder if they'll release a game based on windows for subs so you can control a sub exactly like the MOD do? then you could have competitions to see who was the best sub pilot in the country and they could become an actual sub pilot/captain. ALA, top gun

you could call it Top Sub

B@
 
Back
Top Bottom