Spy cameras on Navy drones secretly sent data to China
Royal Navy spy drones used by Britain's elite special forces secretly sent data to China, The Telegraph can reveal. The cameras on theK3 Scout surveillance droneshad components made in China which were. . .
Royal Navy spy drones used by Britain's elite special forces secretly sent data to China, The Telegraph can reveal. The cameras on theK3 Scout surveillance droneshad components made in China which were secretly transmitting information to a device in the country. The Royal Marines have been using the £12m fleet since March and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was forced to remove all internet connectivity from the cameras after discovering the breach. The revelation raises fears that Beijing has been attempting to spy on Britain's military after years of security warnings about the threat from the country. The drones were supplied by a major British defence contractor, Kraken Technology Group, which sourced the cameras from a third party who had given assurances about their security. An investigation into the drones revealed that the cameras were transmitting "heartbeat communications" – data to confirm they were online and functioning normally – to an IP address in China. The MoD insisted that there was no evidence that any sensitive data or systems had been sent abroad. The discovery triggered national security fears that security-cleared staff at the Special Boat Service (SBS) headquarters in Poole, Dorset could have been exposed. The unmanned vessels were supplied by Kraken Technology Group, a major British defence contractorA defence source familiar with the matter told The Telegraph that the K3 drones made up part of a futuredefence package offered by the UKto secure the freedom of navigation in theStrait of Hormuz. The source said that preparations for Britain's plans in the Gulf had been recorded on the devices, adding: "This is major failure to check origins of components and we have lost confidence in the platform. "There are also concerns that the surveillance drones have been near highly sensitive meetings between senior special forces staff, and that cameras remained capable of recording even when the drones were switched off. The MoD said that the department took "security of our equipment, networks and data extremely seriously" and insisted that no MoD data had been compromised. However the Tories called upon the Government to "urgently audit" its equipment for hidden Chinese footprints. Labour attempts to reset relationsThe revelation comes amid a growing threat from China, despite efforts by the Labour Government to thaw relations with the ruling Chinese Communist Party. Last year,MI5 issued a security alert to MPs, warning that Chinese intelligence services were "relentless" in trying to "interfere" and "influence" Parliament using employment websites such as LinkedIn to harvest sensitive information. It came weeks after the case against two men, including a parliamentary researcher,accused of spying for Chinacollapsed over the Labour Government'sinability to label Beijing as an enemy. In 2020, the Conservative government was forced to banChinese phone-maker Huaweifrom the UK's 5G network over security fears. The government was forced to reverse its decision to approve Huawei's involvement after security officials in Washington warned that the access came with a spy risk, citing China's stringent national security laws. Since then, a number of supply-chain vulnerabilities have forced the MoD to remove Chinese hardware and cameras from sensitive spaces. Last month, The Telegraph revealed that theSBS had banned Chinese-made electric carsfrom its headquarters over similar espionage concerns. Downing Street has begun a diplomatic reset with Beijing through a series of high-profile visits to the country, with the hope of lucrative trade agreements. Earlier this year, the Government approved plans for a Chinese super-embassy at Royal Mint Court in the heart of London, despite concerns about the site's proximity to sensitive communication lines. Weeks later,Jimmy Lai, a British national and pro-democracy media tycoon in Hong Kong, was jailed for 20 years under the city's controversialnational security laws. An MoD spokesman said: "A routine cyber vulnerability assessment identified an issue affecting a Kraken Unmanned Surface Vessel sub-system used by the Royal Navy. A thorough investigation found no evidence of MoD data or systems being accessed, compromised or transmitted externally. "Our assurance and testing processes are designed to identify and address potential vulnerabilities early, and we continue to undertake routine security activity across our systems and equipment. "Peter Kyle, the former business secretary, and Sir Keir Starmer visited Shanghai in January as part of Labour's efforts to improve relations with China - Carl Court/GettyAlicia Kearns, the shadow security minister, said: "If we cannot say with confidence what is inside our own military equipment, we cannot say it is ours, or that we are sovereign. "When cameras built on Chinese parts are found recording our special forces – their faces, training and operations – we should not be surprised, we should be furious that we still haven't woken up to the realities of the threat we face. "The breach is a major dent to theNavy's Project Beehive, a programme to develop a combined fleet of uncrewed vessels and traditional warships. The Navy purchased theK3 Scout drones from Krakenas part of the Royal Navy's surface flotilla. The vessels, operated by the Coastal Forces Squadron and the 47 Commando unit of the Royal Marines, were intended to modernise British war-fighting capabilities and keep pace with adversaries. TheK3 Scout model, designed to carry a 600kg payload and operate continuously for 30 days, has also been purchased by the US Special Operations Command and has participated in Nato trials in the Baltic. Backed by a £5bn investment in drone technology, the Government has pledged to accelerate military innovation and make procurement "unashamedly pro-Britain". But The Telegraph's findings highlight China's dominance in the supply chain, even when equipment is marketed as British-made. A Kraken Technology Group spokesman said: "We are aware that some third-party, NDAA-compliant cameras had a small number of components originating from outside the UK. "After a full audit by both Kraken and the Royal Navy we are confident no sensitive information has ever been shared outside of intended channels and any potential vulnerabilities have been identified and closed. "