Russia Said Skipping Y2K Step On Key Systems

WASHINGTON, Sep 9, 1999 -- (Reuters) Russia is skipping a basic step in readying its most important military computers for the 2000 technology challenge, including some that track sensitive nuclear stockpiles, the military arm of the U.S. embassy in Moscow has reported.

At issue are the most thorough possible checks for Y2K errors, glitches that threaten to boggle some computers and automated systems when 1999 turns into 2000 in 114 days.

"Due to time constraints, MOD (the Ministry of Defence) is bypassing the system certification process and moving directly to operationally based testing," the U.S. Defense Attachis Office said in a cable to Washington made available this week.

The memo did not spell out the Y2K compliance process cut out by cash-strapped Moscow. But it said the shortcut applied to 100 systems designated "mission critical" out of the 1,000 said to be in use by the Defence Ministry.

The Y2K problem stems from an old programming practice of using two digits to represent years, like 99 for 1999. Unless this bug is fixed, computers may read 00 as 1900 instead of 2000. That could cause system shutdowns or corrupt vital data.

Russian and U.S. defense officials resumed contacts on Y2K issues in Moscow in August. Russia froze dialogue in March after U.S.-led NATO began bombing in Serbia, a Russian ally.

During talks in Moscow Aug. 25 and 26, U.S. and Russian technical experts discussed "measures to be taken by MOD in ensuring security and accountability of the MOD nuclear warheads during the Y2K transition period," the U.S. memo said.

Separately, both sides reached "general consensus" on Russian participation in a joint monitoring post being set up in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to prevent any missile misunderstandings during the date change.

The intent was to have Defence Secretary William Cohen and his Russian counterpart, Igor Sergeyev, sign a formal agreement on the Y2K Center for Strategic Stability during talks in Moscow next Monday, the memo said.

It said the Russian defense ministry, in a "Y2K vulnerability analysis," had identified issues requiring attention before the 2000 calendar rollover takes place as well as in the longer term.

The Defence Ministry has begun to set up Y2K "monitoring and control centers" at its nuclear storage sites, the Defence Attachis Office said in the memo, first reported by Federal Computer Week, a trade publication.

The Pentagon declined comment on Russia's Y2K shortcut but experts inside and outside the U.S. government voiced qualms at any corner-cutting on sensitive military systems.

"Such shortcuts are not ideal," said Bruce McConnell, director of the International Y2K Center, a clearinghouse backed by the United Nations and funded by the World Bank. But "with a short window like this you may not have many options."

Christopher Dodd, the Connecticut Democrat who is vice chair of the special U.S. Senate panel on the 2000 technology problem, told a National Press Club audience: "I've been told (skipping system certification) is problematical but not that serious."

The memo said the Russians had asked for U.S. help to equip the new Y2K-related nuclear storage monitoring stations. The Russian wish list included "computers, copiers, fax and communication equipment, portable power generators, emergency response vehicles, utility repair vehicles, warhead handling and transport vehicles and environmental monitoring equipment."

The United States has become increasingly concerned about Russia's ability to keep track of its deadliest weapons since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991.

"Rogue states and terrorist groups can now seek to buy or steal what they previously had to produce on their own," according to Sen. Richard Lugar, an Indiana Republican who has led efforts to curb the spread of Soviet-era nuclear, chemical and biological arms.

-- a (a@a.a), September 09, 1999

Answers

Desparate acts for desparate situations.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), September 10, 1999.