OPCON, or more fully the Operational Control Command Control and Information System (OPCON CCIS) was a long term computer project run by the

Ministry of Defence A ministry of defence or defense (see American and British English spelling differences#-ce.2C -se, spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and Mi ...

in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

History

It started to be developed in 1974, and was initially used operationally as a proof of concept (OPCON PILOT) system for the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

during

Operation Corporate The Falklands War () was a ten-week undeclared war between Argentina and the United Kingdom in 1982 over two British dependent territories in the South Atlantic: the Falkland Islands and its territorial dependency, South Georgia and the South ...

(the Falklands War), and evolved into a wider, "Joint" use when declared Operational in 1986.

Technology

The original role of OPCON CCIS was envisaged as providing an automated message handling system and database for use by

Commander-in-Chief Fleet The Commander-in-Chief Fleet (CINCFLEET) was the admiral responsible for the operations of the ships, submarines and aircraft of the British Royal Navy from 1971 until April 2012. The post was subordinate to the First Sea Lord, the professional h ...

(CINCFLEET) headquarters at Northwood. The solution was largely based on commercial ADP equipment, supplied by

ICL ICL may refer to: Companies and organizations * Idaho Conservation League, environmental organisation in the United States * Imperial College London, a UK university * Indian Confederation of Labour * Indian Cricket League * Inorganic Chemistry ...

, and the capital cost of the equipment was stated in 1989 to be of the order of £40 million.House of Commons Hansard Debates for 19 Jan 1989
/ref>

References

{{reflist Command and control Royal Navy