PROJECT A-NEW IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LOCKHEED P-3C ORION
This site is a work-in-progress and will be updated and added to as research permits and time allows.
The purpose of this site is to fill in some of the missing years of the development of the Lockheed P-3 Orion and to correct the mostly incorrect or missing information pertaining to the initial computerization of the P-3. If there were no Univac 1830 / CP-823/U prototype, there would be no P-3C Orion. Period!
Read any book, watch any documentary, search any website regarding the Lockheed P-3 Orion and you will find very little information covering the early development of the P-3A through P-3C from 1962-1969.
This site will try to focus on the computer engineering program involved with project A-NEW, specifically MOD3, and not on the aircraft itself, since so much has already been published and I am not qualified.
So what makes me qualified to discuss the project A-NEW MOD3 Prototype computing system? Simply that I am studying the original, complete prototype computing system (shown on the HOME page and in pictures under the "PICTURES CP-823/U (Univac 1830) Prototype P3 Orion" link and much of the original computer engineering documentation from conception to final testing by Univac Defense Systems Division and NADC. Neither the CP-823/U computer nor the documentation have seen the light of day for almost forty years- until recently. No attempt will be made to publish all of the engineering documentation. Although the purpose of this site is to educate, much of the information about the CP-823/U, Univac 1830 may remain unpublished. All documentation would be transferred with the Univac 1830 to a new "curator", should the situation arise, for purposes of further research, museum display or book publication.
The existence of Project A-NEW and its objectives was no secret. In fact, it was probably publicized as a friendly warning to those who had patrolling subs off-shore and a way of validating the defense budget. Progress was publicized in general reports in magazines such as AW&ST, where much of my non-technical research information comes from. Of course, the detailed developments of Project A-NEW were not and have never been publicized.
The Univac 1830, Department of Defense designated CP-823/U, Project A-NEW MOD3 engineering prototype computing system set milestone advancement after milestone in Computer Science; but few know it.
The Univac 1830, CP-823/U helped defined Computer Engineering and Digital Avionics Computing; but few know it.
The Univac 1830, CP-823/U is quite possibly the rarest, earliest and most historically unique and complete digital computing system; but few know it.
So why is so little known about Project A-New and the Univac 1830, CP-823/U?
TOP SECRET
(C) Todd J. Thomas 2010
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