UK Royal Navy Drones Found Transmitting Data to China via Camera Components
The UK Ministry of Defence discovered that cameras on Royal Navy K3 Scout unmanned surface vessels, used by special forces, were sending "heartbeat" signals to a Chinese IP address. The issue was found during a routine cyber assessment. The MoD stated no sensitive data was compromised and removed internet connectivity to the cameras. The drones, built by Kraken Technology Group, used third-party components from outside the UK, highlighting supply chain vulnerabilities in Western military technology.
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Reports are grouped by semantic similarity and deterministic rules. Language models may assist titles, summaries, translation and cross-source analysis; the page itself is projected from evidence records.
- Current automated evidence projection
Cross-source coverage
Wire timeline
Chinese Components in Royal Navy Drone Boats Raise Cybersecurity Concerns
Chinese-made components in cameras aboard UK Royal Navy Kraken K3 Scout unmanned surface vessels (USVs) were found transmitting data to a device in China, according to a British newspaper report. The UK Ministry of Defense confirmed the issue was identified during a routine cyber vulnerability assessment, but stated no sensitive data or systems were compromised. The components were sourced from a third-party supplier, rumored to be Canadian, and the cameras sent 'heartbeat communications' to a Chinese IP address. The USVs, acquired for $16.2 million and operated by the Coastal Forces Squadron and Royal Marines, were due for deployment to the Persian Gulf. Kraken Technology Group said an audit found no sensitive information was shared and vulnerabilities were closed. The incident highlights supply chain risks amid concerns over Beijing's access to Western military technology.
Chinese Components in Royal Navy Drone Boat Raise Cybersecurity Concerns
A report reveals that Chinese-made components in cameras aboard Royal Navy Kraken K3 Scout unmanned surface vessels (USVs) were found transmitting 'heartbeat communications' to an IP address in China. The UK Ministry of Defense confirmed the issue, discovered during a routine cyber vulnerability assessment, but stated no sensitive data or systems were compromised. The components were sourced by Kraken Technology Group from an undisclosed third-party supplier, rumored to be Canadian, which had provided security assurances. The USVs, acquired for £12 million and in service since March, are operated by the Coastal Forces Squadron and 47 Commando Royal Marines. The incident highlights supply-chain cybersecurity risks amid broader concerns over Beijing's access to Western military technology. The Ministry of Defense has removed internet connectivity from the cameras and closed identified vulnerabilities.
Chinese Components in Royal Navy Drone Boat Raise Cybersecurity Concerns
Chinese-made components were discovered in cameras aboard UK Royal Navy Kraken K3 Scout unmanned surface vessels (USVs), transmitting data to a device in China. The UK Ministry of Defense confirmed the issue, which was identified during a routine cyber vulnerability assessment. The cameras, sourced by Kraken Technology Group from a third-party supplier, sent 'heartbeat communications' to an IP address in China. The Ministry stated no sensitive data or systems were compromised, but the incident has raised concerns about supply chain vulnerabilities and Beijing's potential access to Western military technology. The USVs, acquired for $16.2 million and in service since March, were slated for deployment to the Persian Gulf. Kraken said the cameras were NDAA-compliant and that vulnerabilities have been closed.
Show 9 older updatesHide older updates
UK MoD downplays leak fears over China-linked K3 USV cameras
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated it found 'no evidence' of a security compromise after media reports revealed that cameras on Royal Navy K3 Scout uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) transmitted 'heartbeat' communications to an IP address in China. The MoD conducted a thorough investigation and confirmed no data or systems were accessed or compromised. The vessels, manufactured by UK-based Kraken Technology Group, used third-party cameras with components sourced from outside the UK. Kraken asserted that no sensitive information was shared outside intended channels. The MoD removed internet connectivity from the affected cameras as a precaution. The UK ordered 20 K3 Scout USVs in March, with handover expected between May and June 2026, and the vessels are reportedly operated by British special forces.
UK MoD Downplays Leak Fears Over China-Linked Cameras on K3 USVs
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated it found 'no evidence' of a security compromise after media reports revealed that cameras fitted to Royal Navy K3 Scout uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) transmitted 'heartbeat' communications to an IP address in China. The Telegraph first reported the breach. The MoD conducted a thorough investigation and confirmed no MoD data or systems were accessed or compromised. The vessels, manufactured by British defense contractor Kraken Technology Group, used third-party cameras with components sourced from outside the UK. Kraken asserted that no sensitive information was shared outside intended channels. The MoD removed internet connectivity from the affected cameras to mitigate risk. The UK ordered 20 K3 Scout USVs in March, with handover expected between May and June 2026, reportedly for use by elite special forces.
UK MoD downplays leak fears over China-linked K3 USV cameras
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has stated it found 'no evidence' of a security compromise after media reports revealed that cameras fitted to Royal Navy K3 Scout uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) transmitted 'heartbeat' communications to an IP address in China. The MoD conducted a thorough investigation and confirmed no data or systems were accessed or compromised. The vessels, manufactured by British defense contractor Kraken Technology Group, used third-party cameras with components sourced from outside the UK. Kraken stated that after a full audit, no sensitive information was shared outside intended channels. The MoD removed internet connectivity from the affected cameras to mitigate risk, though it did not confirm whether the entire vessel's internet was disabled. The UK ordered 20 K3 Scout USVs in March, with handover expected between May and June 2026, and the vessels are reportedly operated by Britain's elite special forces.
UK MoD: No Military Data Leaked via Drone Vulnerability to China
Britain's Ministry of Defence stated on Monday that no sensitive military data was compromised after a cyber vulnerability was discovered in Royal Navy drones. The issue came to light following a Telegraph report that cameras on K3 Scout unmanned surface vessels, supplied by Kraken Technology Group, contained Chinese-made components and transmitted 'heartbeat communications' to an IP address in China. The MoD confirmed a routine cyber vulnerability assessment identified the problem, but a thorough investigation found no evidence of data or systems being accessed or transmitted externally. The cameras' internet connectivity was disabled. The incident underscores the challenge European militaries face in expanding drone capabilities while reducing reliance on Chinese suppliers for critical components like semiconductors and sensors. The MoD said it continues routine security checks across its equipment.
UK MoD Says No Military Data Leaked via Drone Vulnerability to China
Britain's Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated on Monday that no sensitive military data was compromised after a cyber vulnerability was found in Royal Navy drones. The issue was reported by The Telegraph, which revealed that cameras on K3 Scout unmanned surface vessels, supplied by British contractor Kraken Technology Group, contained Chinese-made components and transmitted 'heartbeat communications' to an IP address in China. The MoD confirmed a routine cyber vulnerability assessment identified the problem, but a thorough investigation found no evidence of data access or transmission. The cameras' internet connectivity was disabled. The MoD noted that the third-party supplier had previously provided security assurances. The incident highlights the broader challenge for European militaries in expanding drone capabilities while reducing reliance on Chinese components, which dominate supply chains for critical electronics. Ukraine has similarly faced supply chain issues, seeking EU derogations for drone purchases due to non-European components.
UK MoD: No evidence of data leak to China from Royal Navy drone vulnerability
Britain's Ministry of Defence stated on Monday that no sensitive military data was compromised after a cyber vulnerability was discovered in Royal Navy drones. The Telegraph reported that cameras on K3 Scout unmanned surface vessels, supplied by Kraken Technology Group, contained Chinese-made components and transmitted 'heartbeat communications' to an IP address in China. The MoD confirmed the vulnerability was identified during routine cybersecurity testing but found no evidence of data access or transmission. The cameras' internet connectivity was disabled. The incident highlights European military challenges in reducing reliance on Chinese components for drones, including magnets, semiconductors, and sensors. Ukraine has also faced supply chain issues, seeking EU derogations for drone purchases due to non-European components.
UK Royal Navy Sea Drones Found with Chinese Components Secretly Sending Data
Reports from The Telegraph reveal that K3 Scout surveillance drones used by the UK's Royal Navy contain camera components that have been secretly transmitting data to China. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated it removed internet connectivity from the cameras after discovering the breach during a routine cyber vulnerability assessment. The MoD insists the transmitted data was limited to 'heartbeat communications' verifying device functionality, and found no evidence of sensitive data compromise. The drones, acquired by defense contractor Kraken Technology Group, were sourced from a third party. The incident has sparked fury from opposition ministers and raised concerns about potential monitoring of special forces meetings. The K3 Scout drones are also used by U.S. Special Operations Command and NATO allies.
Royal Navy Drone Cameras Secretly Transmitted Data to China
An investigation by The Telegraph revealed that cameras mounted on Royal Navy Kraken K3 Scout unmanned surface vessels, used by special forces including the Special Boat Service, were secretly transmitting 'heartbeat' signals to an IP address in China. The Ministry of Defence discovered the issue during a routine cyber vulnerability assessment of the £12 million fleet, which entered service in March 2026. The affected drones were earmarked for a mission in the Strait of Hormuz to protect commercial shipping. The MoD stated that a thorough investigation found no evidence of sensitive data or systems being accessed or compromised, but internet connectivity to the cameras was removed as a precaution. The cameras, manufactured by Canadian company Current Scientific Corporation under its Night Navigator 3000 series, contained components sourced from outside the UK. Kraken Technology Group, the drone builder, said it had received security assurances and that vulnerabilities have been closed.
Royal Navy Drone Cameras Secretly Transmitted Data to Chinese IP Address
An investigation by The Telegraph revealed that cameras mounted on Royal Navy Kraken K3 Scout surveillance drones, used by special forces including the Special Boat Service, were secretly transmitting 'heartbeat' signals to an IP address in China. The Ministry of Defence discovered the issue during a routine cyber vulnerability assessment of the $16.2 million fleet, which entered service with the Royal Marines in March 2026. The affected drones were earmarked for a planned deployment to the Strait of Hormuz to protect commercial shipping. The MoD stated that no sensitive information was compromised and removed internet connectivity from the cameras as a precaution. Kraken Technology Group, the drone manufacturer, said it had received assurances about the cameras' security before integration and that vulnerabilities have been closed. The camera manufacturer or supplier has not been publicly identified, and a separate unverified claim linking the cameras to Canadian firm Current Scientific Corporation was disputed by that company.