British navy drones found sending signals to China, raising spy fears

New Delhi: Britain’s Royal Navy has removed internet access from cameras fitted on its K3 Scout surveillance drones after a security check found that the cameras were sending routine signals to an internet address in China. The discovery has raised fresh concerns about the security of military equipment and the use of foreign-made parts.

The K3 Scout drones are operated by the Royal Marines and have been used by Britain’s elite special forces. The cameras had Chinese-made components. However, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said there was no evidence that sensitive defence information had been accessed or sent outside the country.

According to the Telegraph, a cybersecurity check found that the cameras were sending “heartbeat” signals to an IP address in China. These signals are used to show that a device is connected and working. The MoD removed the cameras’ internet connection after the issue was found.

The drones were supplied by British defence company Kraken Technology Group. The company had bought the cameras from a third-party supplier. Kraken said the cameras met the requirements of the US National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA). It also said an investigation found no evidence that sensitive information was sent outside approved channels.

The incident has raised questions about how defence companies check the origin of parts used in military equipment. A defence source cited by The Telegraph said the failure to check the origin of the components was a major mistake. The source also said that confidence in the drones had been affected.

There are also concerns about where the cameras were being used. The equipment had reportedly been used near the headquarters of the Special Boat Service (SBS) in Poole, Dorset. This raised concerns that the cameras may have been close to sensitive meetings involving senior special forces personnel.

There were also questions about whether the cameras could remain active after the drones were switched off. The K3 Scouts are part of the Royal Navy’s wider plan to use more uncrewed systems. The vessels are operated by the Coastal Forces Squadron and 47 Commando Royal Marines. They are designed to carry out surveillance and support maritime operations for long periods.

According to reports, K3 drones had been used in preparations for a possible British defence package aimed at protecting freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The incident comes as Britain faces growing concerns about Chinese technology and components being used in sensitive government and defence systems. British authorities have previously removed Chinese-made hardware from secure locations.

Last month, the SBS had banned Chinese-made electric cars from its headquarters over concerns about possible espionage. The K3 Scout is also part of the Royal Navy’s Project Beehive. The programme aims to combine uncrewed vessels with traditional warships. The navy is investing in autonomous and remotely operated systems to improve surveillance and modernize its maritime forces.

The K3 Scout can carry a payload of up to 600kg and can operate continuously for up to 30 days. The platform has taken part in Nato trials in the Baltic and has also been bought by US Special Operations Command.

The reports have highlighted concerns about China’s role in defence supply chains, even when equipment is sold as British-made. The MoD said the issue was found during a routine cyber security check of a Kraken unmanned surface vessel subsystem.

Kraken said some components in the third-party cameras came from outside the UK. The company said an audit with the Royal Navy found no evidence that sensitive information had been shared outside approved channels. It added that any security issues found during the investigation had been identified and fixed.

The incident comes amid wider concerns in Britain over Chinese espionage. Last year, MI5 warned MPs that Chinese intelligence services were trying to influence and gather information in Parliament. It said this included using employment websites such as LinkedIn to collect sensitive information.

The warning came weeks before a case involving two men accused of spying for China collapsed. One of the men was a parliamentary researcher. The case also raised questions about the Labour government’s approach to describing China as a security threat.

In 2020, the British government decided to remove Chinese telecom company Huawei from the country’s 5G network. The decision followed security concerns and warnings from US officials about the risks linked to Huawei’s access to British networks and China’s national security laws. Since then, several supply-chain concerns have led the MoD to remove Chinese-made hardware and cameras from sensitive locations.