The German Navy is set to modernize its aging floppy disk technology aboard its Brandenburg class F123 frigates. It is a significant step towards bringing the Navy's technology up to current standards, moving away from relics of the past like Palm Pilots and Tamagotchis.
The German Navy is set to modernize its aging floppy disk technology aboard its Brandenburg class F123 frigates. Brett Jordan on Unsplash
Modernizing Critical Systems on Germany's F123 Frigates
Since their commissioning in the 1990s, these vessels have relied on 8-inch floppy disks to manage critical systems like airflow and power generation. Now, efforts are underway to find a more contemporary solution for these essential operations.
However, transitioning away from these outdated disks poses significant challenges, given their integral role in ship operations. Tom's Hardware reported that Saab has taken over maintenance responsibilities for Germany's F123 frigate fleet since 2021.
These frigates are primarily tasked with submarine detection, prompting upgrades to their weapons and weapon control systems. Perhaps they'll even include those sleek, high-tech night panel dashboards at no additional cost.
Replacing three-decade-old computer hardware without disrupting the full functionality of the existing floppies poses a significant challenge. However, it's worth noting that other companies have faced similar issues in recent years and found solutions.
Emulator enthusiasts have developed technologies like Gotek drives, which can emulate various floppy drive standards and formats, offering potential solutions. The German Navy's success in the project will depend on its choice of supplier for the upgrade.
Many government institutions and programs have clung to the outdated floppy disk system long past its prime, even as the technology has faded from common use. Japan's Digital Agency recently made headlines by officially phasing out floppy disks from its government systems.
Last April, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency announced that they are actively seeking to phase out these outdated disks, a process expected to take approximately six years and require substantial funding.
SFMTA officials discussed their daily reliance on three 5¼-inch floppy disks. These disks have been integral to the Muni Metro's Automatic Train Control System (ATCS) since its installation at a Market Street subway station in 1998.
The ATCS encompasses various components, including onboard train computers linked to propulsion and braking systems, as well as central and local servers. Michael Roccaforte, a spokesperson for SFMTA, explained that it also involves communication infrastructure like loop cable signal wires.
Another notable instance was the US Strategic Automated Command and Control System (SACCS), which used 8-inch floppy disks until 2019 when it transitioned to solid-state storage solutions. Initially, these IBM Diskette 1 floppies could store up to 242,944 bytes, and later models increased capacity to 1.2MB.
However, Japan has taken the spotlight with its high-profile program to phase out floppy disks. Earlier this month, Japanese Digital Minister Taro Kono marked a milestone in eliminating floppy disks, which were once integral to various official regulatory filings. The final step involved scrapping 1,034 regulations that mandated floppy disk submissions.
