The Royal Navy's surveillance drones used by Britain's elite special forces were fitted with Chinese-made cameras that secretly transmitted data to China, according to claims. The cameras on the K3 Scout uncrewed vessels, operated by the Royal Marines since March, contained components that sent 'heartbeat communications' – routine signals confirming the devices were online – to an IP address in China. The Ministry of Defence was forced to strip all internet connectivity from the cameras after the breach was discovered.
Fleet Details and Supply Chain
The £12 million fleet was supplied by British defence contractor Kraken Technology Group, which sourced the cameras from a third party that had given security assurances. An investigation found the cameras were transmitting data abroad, raising serious national security concerns. The MoD insists there is no evidence that sensitive information or systems were compromised or sent overseas.
Planned Gulf Missions and Security Concerns
Defence sources told the Sunday Telegraph the drones formed part of a planned package for Gulf missions to protect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Preparations for those operations were recorded on the devices. One source described it as 'a major failure to check origins of components' and said confidence in the platform had been lost.
There are further worries that the vessels operated near sensitive meetings involving senior Special Boat Service (SBS) staff at their Poole headquarters, and that the cameras may have remained capable of recording even when the drones were switched off.
Broader Espionage Concerns
The episode underscores longstanding warnings about Chinese espionage risks in the UK supply chain. It comes as the Labour government pursues a diplomatic reset with Beijing, including high-level visits and approval for a Chinese super-embassy in London, despite repeated security alerts from MI5 and previous bans on Chinese technology such as Huawei's role in the 5G network.
Shadow security minister Alicia Kearns 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." She called for fury at the failure to confront the threat, arguing that cameras built on Chinese parts recording special forces faces, training and operations should prompt urgent action.
MoD and Kraken Responses
The MoD said a routine cyber vulnerability assessment identified the issue with a Kraken Unmanned Surface Vessel sub-system. A thorough investigation found no evidence of MoD data or systems being accessed, compromised or transmitted externally. It emphasised that assurance processes are designed to catch vulnerabilities early.
Kraken Technology Group stated that some third-party, NDAA-compliant cameras contained a small number of components from outside the UK. After a full audit with the Royal Navy, it said it was confident no sensitive information had been shared outside intended channels and that potential vulnerabilities had been closed.
Impact on Project Beehive
The breach dents Project Beehive, the Navy's programme to integrate uncrewed vessels with traditional warships. The K3 Scout, capable of carrying a 600kg payload and operating for 30 days, has also been bought by US Special Operations Command and trialled with NATO. Despite a £5 billion push for drone technology and 'unashamedly pro-Britain' procurement, the case highlights China's continued grip on critical supply chains even in equipment marketed as British-made.
The Conservatives have demanded an urgent audit of military equipment for hidden Chinese components. The discovery follows earlier MoD action to remove Chinese hardware from sensitive sites, including a ban on Chinese-made electric cars at SBS headquarters.
