Dating from the late 1960s, this U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command produced film profiles the command and control systems developed for national defense, including the early versions of the 465L / SACCS system. The film includes shots of various mainframe computers and communications equipment, including integrated networks that helped foment what we now know as the Internet. The film contains some fascinating images including shots of communications centers, top secret documents, early IBM mainframe computers, command staff, the Air Force Chief of Staff, the War Room, tactical displays, and more.
The Strategic Automated Command and Control System (SACCS) is a United States Strategic Command command and control system to coordinate the operational functions of United States nuclear forces (ICBMs, nuclear bombers, and SLBMs).
The ITT 465L Strategic Air Command Control System (SACCS) with its IBM AN/FSQ-31 SAC Data Processing Systems attained operational capability on January 1, 1968; and its gradual replacement began on October 6, 1975, when the SACCS original IBM 4020 Military Computers were replaced by Honeywell 6080 computers (remaining FSQ-31 components were entirely decommissioned in November.)
The ITT 465L Strategic Air Command Control System (SACCS, SAC Control System, 465L Project, 465L Program) was a Cold War “Big L” network of computer and communication systems for command and control of Strategic Air Command “combat aircraft, refueling tankers, [and] ballistic missiles”. International Telephone and Telegraph was the prime contractor for Project 465, and SACCS had “Cross Tell Links” between command posts at Offutt AFB, March AFB, & Barksdale AFB (SACCS also communicated with the Cheyenne Mountain Complex and Air Force command posts. The 465L System included IBM AN/FSQ-31 SAC Data Processing Systems, Remote (RCC) and Simplex Remote Communication Systems (SRCC), SAC Network Control Office, “4-wire, Schedule 4, Type 4B alternate voice-data operation”, and one-way communication with “ICBM launch control centers” (the SAC Digital Network upgraded to two-way communications.) In addition to IBM for the “Super SAGE type computers”, another of the 6 direct subcontractors was AT&T (“end-to-end control” of the communications circuits).
We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example like: “01:00:12:00 — President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.”
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
