AN/FSQ-7 Combat Direction Central
The AN/FSQ-7 Combat Direction Central, referred to as the Q7 for short, was a computerized air defence command and control system. It was used by the United States Air Force for ground-controlled interception as part of the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment network during the Cold War.
| AN/FSQ-7 Combat Direction Central | |
|---|---|
| Part of Semi-Automatic Ground Environment | |
| AL: Gunter Annex (DC-09) AZ: Luke Air Force Base (DC-21) CA: Beale Air Force Base (DC-18) CA: Norton Air Force Base (DC-17) ME: Bangor Air National Guard Base (DC-15) MI: Custer Air Force Station (DC-06) MI: K.I. Sawyer AFB (DC-14) MN: Duluth AFB (DC-10) MO: Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base (DC-08) MT: Malmstrom Air Force Base (DC-20) ME: Topsham Air Force Station (BaADS)(DC-05) ND: Grand Forks Air Force Base (DC-11) ND: Minot Air Force Base (DC-19) NJ: McGuire Air Force Base (DC-01) NV: Stead AFB (DC-16) NY: Hancock Field (Syracuse AFS) (DC-03) NY: Stewart Air Force Base (DC-02) ON: CFB North Bay, Ontario (DC-31) OR: Adair Air Force Station (DC-13) VA: Fort Lee Air Force Station (DC-04) WA: McChord Air Force Base (DC-12) WI: Truax Field (DC-07) in United States | |
The AN/FSQ-7 included a Maintenance Intercom System (the phone on end of cabinet). | |
| Type | Military command, control and coordination system |
| Also known as | Q7 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | IBM |
| Generation | 1 |
| Release date | 1955 |
| CPU | 49,000 vacuum tubes @ 75,000 instructions per second |
| Power | up to 3 megawatts of electricity |
| Mass | 250 tons |
The name “AN/FSQ” derives from Army-Navy / Fixed Special eQuipment.
An advancement of the pioneering MIT Whirlwind II digital computer design, and manufactured by IBM as prime contractor, the AN/FSQ-7 was the largest discrete computer system ever built. Each of the 24 installed machines: 9 weighed 250 tons. The AN/FSQ-7 used a total of 60,000 vacuum tubes (49,000 in the computers): 9 and up to 3 megawatts of electricity, performing about 75,000 instructions per second for networking regional radars.