British authorities discovered cameras on Royal Navy uncrewed surface vessels transmitting data to an IP address in China, according to a report by The Telegraph.
The UK Ministry of Defence disconnected the vessels from the internet following the discovery, while official spokespersons maintained that no confidential or sensitive information was leaked abroad.
Defense contractor Kraken Technology Group, a British firm specializing in maritime defense systems, supplied the naval drone craft to the military. The company had acquired the camera systems from a third-party supplier that provided explicit security guarantees for the equipment.
Despite those security assurances, an inspection revealed that the devices incorporated Chinese-made components. Technical analysis of the drones showed that the cameras were actively broadcasting system health signals to a Chinese IP address.
The transmitted telemetry consisted of diagnostic status reports confirming that the cameras were online and operating normally. Upon discovering the outbound connection, defense officials cut off internet connectivity for the affected units to prevent further data transmission.
Investigation and defense response
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence stated that specialists examined the fleet and found no evidence that critical operational data or intelligence had been exposed to foreign entities.
Uncrewed surface vessels, or drone boats, are autonomous or remotely operated craft used by naval forces for intelligence gathering, surveillance, and perimeter security. UK military procurement guidelines mandate strict supply chain checks to guard against cyber risks in hardware sourced from third parties.
Diplomatic tensions over British Steel
The drone security breach occurs alongside existing economic friction between London and Beijing. British officials recently drew sharp criticism from China over plans to nationalize British Steel, the country's second-largest steelmaker.
China's Ministry of Commerce declared that nationalizing the steel producer violated the legitimate rights and commercial interests of Jingye Group, the Chinese industrial conglomerate that acquired British Steel in 2020.
The Ministry of Commerce handles international trade regulations and foreign investment oversight for Beijing. The dispute over British Steel and the drone camera connectivity underscore growing concern among Western defense planners regarding foreign components in national infrastructure.
