[minot]

If the buyers were to stick together and only buy from suppliers who allow access to modify and redistribute the source code of these devices, perhaps they could create incentives for the devices to function with newer software.

Why would the navy pay for support if the computers on xp were airgapped? The only reasonable conclusion is that these computers are on the network accessible from outside.

[88e282102ae2e5b]

Consider that the US was able to attack air-gapped computers in Iran and destroy industrial equipment. Air gaps can be breached, it's just a little harder.