Cheyenne Mountain Facility to be moved, page 3
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reply posted on 7-6-2007 @ 09:25 PM by Zaphod58
It's been awhile since they upgraded the computer system at Cheyenne Mountain. The last time was in the early 80s from what I can remember off the top of my head.

By 1994 the NORAD CMU (Cheyenne Mountain Upgrade) Program was 8 years behind, and $792 million over budget. It was slated for completion by 1987, at a cost of $968 million.

From a Nov 1999 Wired Magazine:

The US Air Force, which runs Cheyenne Mountain, invited me here because it wants to show off its new computer system, the result of a $1.8 billion overhaul that may be the most expensive and nightmarish upgrade ever attempted. One general compared the process to changing the engines of a jet in flight. Another likened it to turning a black-and-white TV into a color one without switching the set off.

The upgrade was outrageously tough because Cheyenne Mountain was burdened with a formidable legacy problem. Its Systems Center, in charge of the complex's hardware, networks, and software, maintains more than 12 million lines of code on 34 separate systems written in 27 languages. The site's array of machines, many of which survived this upgrade, encapsulates a history not just of the Cold War but of modern computing. Bearing old nameplates from companies like Honeywell and Data General, hardware that uses the hoary technologies of core memory and magnetic tape is still whirring away in there.

"We've even got one of those washing-machine computers somewhere," says Dean.

Washing-machine computers?

"The ones with the big tape reels that look like washing machines."

The upgrade started more than two decades ago, mainly to address Cheyenne Mountain's inability to process the increasing amounts of information fed into it. Despite this system weakness, the mountain has kept us safe since its inception - and the official word is that this latest upgrade makes us that much safer. But today, safety seems slightly beside the point. The Cold War is over. Despite its brass and bustle, Cheyenne Mountain has become an anachronism.

As far back as 1980, the Pentagon's assumption was that all the bunkering-in here was for naught - that Norad couldn't last more than half an hour or so in a targeted nuclear exchange. Although the mountain is the ultimate monument to "command and control" as an idea, in a real nuclear war the action would quickly switch over to mobile hubs. The president has a 747 called the National Airborne Operations Center, as well as the Commander-in-Chief Mobile Alternate Headquarters, a fleet of mysterious truck-based units that roam the nation's interstates. The Air Force maintains the Post Attack Battle Management Aircraft - better known as "Looking Glass," a flying duplicate of the mountain's systems - fueled and ready to go at all times.

www.wired.com...



reply posted on 8-6-2007 @ 12:47 AM by Zaphod58
Actually, the only other thing used for the President (Commander In Chief) for a command post is NAOC, and it's a plane.

The E-4B serves as the National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC) for the National Command Authorities. In case of a national emergency or destruction of ground command control centers, the aircraft provides a modern, highly survivable, command, control and communications center to direct U.S. forces, execute emergency war orders and coordinate actions by civil authorities.

Background

The E-4B evolved from the E-4A, which had been in service since late-1974. The first B-model was delivered to the Air Force in January 1980, and by 1985 all aircraft were converted to E-4B standard. These aircraft are assigned to the 55th Wing, Offutt AFB, NE.

In August 1994, the E-4B assumed an additional role. With the approval of the JCS chairman, the E-4B will support the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) request for assistance when a natural disaster occurs. The E-4B would be tasked to fly the FEMA Emergency Response Team to the disaster site, and become the FEMA command and control center until the emergency team's own equipment and facilities can be set up. With E-4B support, the emergency team's response is a matter of hours, as opposed to days.

www.theaviationzone.com...

Putting the President in a truck and driving around would be too risky IMO. E-4 or Air Force One is much safer.

ETA: Ah I see what you're talking about now. The CinC mobile headquarters. That's for the Commanders of the services, etc. Here's some more for you.

The CMAH Program Office is
responsible for management and support of the Mobile Consolidated Command
Center (MCCC) systems. These systems are configured as mobile survivable
back-up Command, Control, and Communications centers for fixed primary
facilities employed by Commanders- in-Chief(CINCs) of US Strategic Command
and US Space Command. The MCCC's mission is to provide an enduring mobile
command center from which to operate during the tran-and post-attack phases
of a nuclear attack agains the continental United States. The MCCC systems
consist of a series of EMP hardened shelters mounted on semi-trailers.
Depending on the site configuration, these shelters may be joined in pairs
to provide functional workspaces for the command element, war planning,
intelligence, and communications capabilities. An RF cable distribution
system provides the internal communications capability for voice (telephone
and radio), serial data, and Ehernet local area networks (LANs).
Communications systems include various land line connections, HF radio,
VHF/UHF radio, AFSATCOM, and MILSTAR terminals. Finally, a group of
trailers and vehicles support the system. These include supply trailers,
fuel and water tankers, HVAC systems, and Reverse Osmosis Water
Purification Units.

www.fas.org...

[edit on 6/8/2007 by Zaphod58]


reply posted on 8-6-2007 @ 11:50 AM by Ghost01
Originally posted by Zaphod58
Except that NORAD was only in charge of the initial response. That's what Looking Glass was for in the 80s, and NAOC is for now.


Looking Glass was built in 1961! Also, Looking Glass and NAOC are two different systems both of which are operational. These aircraft still play a critical role in the defense of our country. NAOC was flown on 9/11 as part of the response.
E-4B NAOC


Looking Glass

So that we have a mobile command post that's hard to take out. So you'd rather have Cheyenne Mountain, with it's 20+ year old systems that are starting to have problems running our response, just because it's harder to damage? Do you know how many times we almost had a nuclear attack launched because of those old computer systems in the 1980s? And that was when they were NEW. It's time to shut down and replace those systems, and the only way they can do that is to move the Mountain.


I never said I preferred one over the other. The two systems compliment each other. The trick is in today's time, you have to be worried about surprise attack. Right now Looking Glass does not fly all the time. What do you do if we get caught on the ground?

As for upgrading NORAD, I believe we should do that. However, I see no reason why they can't do that with NORAD still at Cheyenne Mountain. The Pentagon has computers and electronic systems built into it, and it was built during World War 2. Do you really think the main command center for the US Department of Defense is still using computers and equipment from the 1940's?

You're welcome to your views, but I'll stick by mine. Thank You!

Tim



reply posted on 9-6-2007 @ 07:45 PM by antar
Gghost01 correct about the amount of damage sustained in a matter of a few short hours.

Zap. I have to understand your point as far as the outdated equipment yet I suspect that we are in a lot better shape than you your research can detail.
Your post lead me to look into some of our Government and Military DOD assessments. What I found was that there has been a tremendous amount of restructuring and realignment for several years now.
They fully acknowledge the fact that most of the allocated funds rarely make it to their destination due to decentralization. Without placing blame or finger pointing, it is simply a reality. Once the moneys are released it must travel through so many channels there is not enough left for the upgrades and renovations.
In the past much of the money has been aided by our own resources and that has changed greatly in the past couple of years. We count more on outside sources to fund our projects, and that means even more hands it must pass through. As well as the admitted outsourcing when they deem it beneficial to continued funding. I could not even gain access to those amounts in today's records, or should I say post 911.
One of the most interesting findings was the DOD's 67 year goal. Well I do not need to tell you we are there now. Many of these changes are to create a more strict chain of command in all matters foreign and domestic within the constraints of our economic capability. And a sound resolve to bring this infrastructure into the immediate and future changes that can only be accomplished through these seemingly radical changes. This is evident in the restructuring , abandonment and realignment of existing facilities and non necessary personnel. I had mentioned before about how the Restructuring starts at the top Governmental levels and then works it way down to the Military and their Families and then finally the Civilian population. I found that to be abundantly clear.
I do not know what they expect to be our future beyond the next couple of years but they are gearing up for something big and for big changes. I did notice that many of the open plans were slated from 2006-2011. That gives us close to 5 years to get it together. For what I don't know...yet.
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