SAC Automated Command and Control System

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Contents 1 Description 2 Architecture 3 History 4 References

[edit] Description

The SAC Automated Command and Control System was the command and control system used to coordinate the operational functions of the Strategic Air Command. It consisted of three main parts:

1. The Data Display System, which consisted of
   1. The Data Display Generators (film printers, character generators, etc)
   2. The Display Subsystem (projectors, control consoles)
2. The Data Processing Central (or System), which consisted of redundant AN/FSQ-31V computers
3. The Data Communication System, which consisted of
   1. The Electronic Data Transmission Control Center (EDTCC or just TCC)
   2. Encryption/Decryption Subsystem (Crypto)
   3. High Speed Data Transmission Equipment (Modems)

[edit] Architecture

[edit] History

The SACCS was conceived as an enhancement to the existing manual command, control, and communications and was also an offshoot of the experiences gained by the Air Force and IBM from the development and deployment of the SAGE system. The Data Processing Central element hardware was originally going to be used as the SAGE II computing element, and is architecturally very similar to the SAGE system computer. In 1956 the Commander In Chief of SAC (CINCSAC), who was General Curtis LeMay at the time, determined that SAC's command and control system needed improving, as the current system of leased teletype circuits and radio links was too slow to provide realtime communication, which was a necessity during the Cold War. A government program, eventually designated 465L, coordinated military and industry to provide this system. The 465L program was the predecessor to the current Strategic Automated Command Control System. In 1965, SAC procured the 465L system hardware, which was designed to survive nuclear attack and to provide rapid transmission, processing, and display of information to support command and control of SAC's geographically separated forces. The development of the systems software took somewhat longer, as a system of 465L's scope had never been attempted before. By 1970 the system had been for the most part made operational, and was to remain a stable part of SAC C³ infrastructure until it was replaced by the WWMCCS.^{[1]   [2]   [3]}

[edit] References

1. ^ Strategic Automated Command Control System. Global Security.org. Retrieved on December 10, 2006.
2. ^ Strategic Automated Command Control System. Federation of American Scientists (1999). Retrieved on June 20, 2006.
3. ^ Wohlman, John (1968). Computer-Generated Map Data. Air University Review. Retrieved on June 20, 2006.