In Brief... World News Review
Millennium Bug - Russia
MOSCOW: (Reuters) - Russia's military says everything is under control to deal with how the millennium bug could affect vast strategic nuclear forces. However, at the same time they say the country has less than four million dollars to deal with it.
Russian specialists on the Y2K problem tell us final tests of reprogrammed systems won't take place until October. They also deny Moscow is tardy or complacent in the way it is tackling the worldwide computer bug.
Major General Vladimir Dvorkin heads Russia's strategic missile research institute. He says automatic control systems governing Russia's nuclear missiles are immune from the central problem in which computers may make a mistake. However, he admits the problem does exist in early warning systems for monitoring satellites or space, and while accidental launch is unlikely it would not be impossible.