STORY:
Russia facing massive millennium bug problem

Russia faces huge problems ensuring its missile systems will not be affected by the so-called "millennium bug" computer problem, the Russian News Agency Itar-Tass quoted a senior official as saying. Aleksander Krupnov, head of the State Committee for Communications and Information, added that fixing the computer problem could cost the country $1.5-3 billion, up to six times his original estimate.

"Entities such as the Defense Ministry face great difficulties from the viewpoint of all types of missiles," the news agency cited Krupnov as saying after a Russian-U.S. investment symposium in the United States.

"The technologies they have are 20 years old," he said, adding that "time is running out" to fix the problem ahead of the year 2000. Analysts say the so-called "Y2K" problem could have devastating consequences for ballistic missiles, early warning defense systems and nuclear power stations, but none of the experts know for certain what exactly will happen on D-Day.

When Russia launched its own "Y2K" program last July, Krupnov said Russia would need to spend some $500 million overhauling its computers and software. But Western officials warn Moscow has been slow to recognize the embedded microchip issue, involving tiny processors that perform vital control functions in a vast array of equipment, including cellular telephones, fax machines, heart pacemakers, monitoring equipment in nuclear plants, pipelines, radar and missiles.

Krupnov said government departments were due to report shortly on their progress in updating their systems. His gloom contrasts sharply with the public serenity of defense chiefs. Strategic rocket force commander Vladimir Yakovlev last month said solving Y2K would cost his forces just 10 million rubles -- less than half a million dollars.

This report comes from the Agence France Presse.

DATE: 1/19/99

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