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

Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)

The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....

 in the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

.

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

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

 during Operation Corporate (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 (CINCFLEET) headquarters at Northwood

Northwood Headquarters

Northwood Headquarters is a military headquarters facility of the British Armed Forces in Eastbury, Hertfordshire, England, adjacent to the London suburb of Northwood...

.

The solution was largely based on commercial ADP equipment, supplied by ICL

ICL

-Companies and organizations:* ICL, the ICAO airline code for CAL Cargo Air Lines* International Computers Limited, a British computer hardware and services company, now known as Fujitsu Services...

, and the capital cost of the equipment was stated in 1989 to be of the order of £40 million.