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US Concern About NATO's Y2K Readiness

Computers/Internet News Source: Janes Defence Weekly Published: October 27, 1999 Author: Bryan Bender Posted on 10/27/1999 06:30:58 PDT by Stand Watch Listen

The US military is concerned about the year 2000 (Y2K) readiness of its NATO allies and other military partners and is preparing for the possibility that allied computer systems supporting continuing operations may be temporarily unavailable.

An audit of the US European Command's Y2K efforts by the Department of Defense (DoD) Inspector General found that while US systems are largely Y2K-compatible, it remains unclear whether NATO and other allied countries will be ready.

"The US European Command (EUCOM) needs to continue to take action through its risk mitigation efforts to reduce any potential impact on its ability to conduct peacekeeping operations caused by Y2K interoperability problems with NATO and coalition forces," according to the 8 October audit report.

The Inspector General's report notes that while EUCOM has conducted adequate Y2K testing of its air, land, sea and intelligence operations, it has done no Y2K testing in concert with NATO and coalition forces. EUCOM, in responding to the report's findings, agreed that the readiness of NATO and allied information systems could affect peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Kosovo.

This is complicated by the difficulty in adequately assessing the readiness of other nations' computer networks and command and control systems. Bruce Deary, deputy director of EUCOM's Y2K task force, said that the command is drafting contingency plans in the event that critical NATO and coalition systems that support ongoing operations are adversely affected by the date change.

"A number of information sources are being tapped, including US intelligence sources, to assess the risks. In recognition, however, of the limited information that will be available on the actual status of other nations' command and control systems...planning will continue to include the risk that all or parts of those systems are not available," he said.

-- Helium (Heliumavid@yahoo.com), October 27, 1999