UK naval drones had components that transmitted data to China
The article reports that the Royal Navy’s sea drones, specifically the K3 Scout surveillance drones made by Kraken Technology Group, were found to have Chinese-made components in their cameras that transmitted heartbeat communications to an IP address in china. The UK Ministry of Defense stated that a thorough examination revealed no evidence of system compromise,and all internet connectivity was removed from the cameras after the breach was discovered. This incident raises concerns about Chinese espionage efforts and the need to audit military equipment for unknown Chinese components. It also highlights broader issues of reliance on Chinese materials in Western military supply chains, such as magnets used in F-35 aircraft, which have previously led to production delays. Additionally, intelligence agencies like MI5 have warned of Chinese attempts to interfere and influence through employment platforms like LinkedIn. The case underscores ongoing efforts to remove Chinese technology from critical infrastructure and military systems to prevent espionage and safeguard national security.
Cameras on the Royal Navy’s sea drones contained components that reportedly sent communications to an IP address in China, the Telegraph reported on Sunday.
The U.K.’s Royal Marines have been using the fleet of K3 Scout surveillance drones, made by Kraken Technology Group, since March. The cameras on the surface vessel drone contained Chinese-made components that had been transmitting “heartbeat communications.”
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A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense said there has been a thorough investigation that found “no evidence” of their systems being compromised by the transmissions.
“A routine cyber vulnerability assessment identified an issue affecting a Kraken Unmanned Surface Vessel sub-system used by the Royal Navy,” said the spokesperson. “A thorough investigation found no evidence of MOD data or systems being accessed, compromised or transmitted externally.”
The K3 Scout unmanned surface vessel, or drone boat, is roughly 27 feet in length, can carry more than a 1,300-pound payload, and can reach up to 55 knots per hour, according to the Kraken Technology Group’s website. The U.K. military ultimately removed all internet connectivity from the cameras after it discovered the breach.
The Tories said the government should “urgently audit” its equipment to ensure there aren’t any more unknown Chinese components.
This incident highlights concerns that Beijing could be trying to spy on the West and the effort to ensure its components are not used in Western military equipment, critical infrastructure, electronics, and batteries. Fully removing China from supply chains has been a major effort and includes attempts to ban Chinese phonemaker Huawei from the West’s 5G networks.
Last year, MI5 issued a security alert to U.K. politicians, warning that Chinese intelligence services were “relentless” in their effort to “interfere” and “influence” them using employment websites such as LinkedIn.
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A 2025 U.S. Government Accountability Office report found that the U.S. military is vulnerable due to its dependency on materials produced by China for critical weapons. The U.S. Department of War relies on a global network of more than 200,000 suppliers for weapons, systems, and noncombatant goods such as batteries and manufacturing equipment.
In one example, the report said that the Pentagon, through Lockheed Martin, found out that magnets used in some F-35 aircraft originated in China. It said, “The F-35 prime contractor, Lockheed Martin, identified prohibited Chinese magnets in the F-35 supply chain and notified DOD in 2023 and 2024. DOD subsequently paused manufacturing for several months to identify alternative suppliers.”
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