AN/FSQ-7: the computer that shaped the Cold War

1

The so-called Cold War describes the often bordering on the hot-side struggle between the United States of America and the Soviet Union. This struggle went on for 43 years from 1946 to 1989 (see [Legacy 2000][p. 2-1]). One of the most important aspects of the Cold War from a technological point of view is the fact that money was not an issue at all as long as no side had gained a stable advantage.

2

See [EDWARDS 1997][p. ix]. Other authors like HEINZ ZEMANEK obviously thought along the same lines (see [ZEMANEK 1977][p. 7]): “Wer an den Fortschritt glaubt, muβ an den Computer glauben, erstens grund-sätzlich und zweitens praktisch, denn neben Raumfahrt und Atomkraft ist der Computer die einzig spektakuläre Nachkriegsneuheit am Fortschritt. ...