The UK Ministry of Defence discovered that cameras on the Royal Navy's new spy drones were secretly transmitting data to a device and IP address in China, according to The Telegraph. The report adds technical specificity to earlier disclosures about the K3 Scout drones.
The Telegraph reports that the UK Ministry of Defence, during a routine cybersecurity check, discovered that cameras on the Royal Navy's new fleet of spy drones were secretly transmitting their feed to a specific device and IP address in China. This adds a concrete technical detail to the story first reported by The Zioneer at 03:55 Jerusalem, which revealed that the cameras on the K3 Scout drones continued to operate even when the drones were powered off, potentially recording classified meetings and covert operatives. The UK MoD has disconnected the equipment and stated no evidence of classified data leak was found, but opposition figures are demanding a broader inspection of military hardware for further Chinese 'Trojan horses'. The new detail about a specific device and IP address may aid forensic investigation into the supply chain compromise.
At 03:55 Jerusalem, The Zioneer first reported that Chinese-made components in drones used by British elite units transmitted data to China, with the MoD initially declining to comment. Subsequent reports at the same time specified that the MoD had disconnected internet links from the cameras, and the MoD later stated that no evidence of sensitive data compromise was found. A detailed Israeli report, also at 03:55, claimed the cameras continued to operate even when powered off, potentially recording classified meetings. The Telegraph's report now adds the specific device and IP address, providing a technical lead for investigators.
As The Zioneer reported on June 10, a Chinese-made tracking device was reportedly found hidden in the UK Prime Minister's official car, which was imported from China, raising concerns about supply chain security for senior government vehicles. The current incident underscores similar vulnerabilities in military procurement.
The MoD maintains that no classified data was compromised, and the specific device and IP address have not been publicly attributed to any entity. The source of the supply chain compromise remains under investigation.
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