Chinese cameras on K3 Scout drones used by British special forces transmitted 'heartbeat' signals to an IP address in China. The Ministry of Defence claims no sensitive data leaked, but the opposition demands an urgent review.
The K3 Scout surveillance drones, in use by the UK's Royal Navy and the Special Boat Service since March 2026, contained Chinese-made components that covertly sent data to an IP address in China. According to an investigation published by The Telegraph on Saturday, the £12 million fleet, supplied by British defense contractor Kraken Technology Group, was equipped with cameras that maintained what the Ministry of Defence (MoD) called "heartbeat communications", signals confirming the device was online.
A MoD spokesperson told The Telegraph that the camera issues were discovered during a routine cybersecurity assessment and that the investigation "found no evidence that MoD data or systems were accessed, compromised, or transferred externally." Despite this, an unnamed source described the security breach as a "major failure," adding that trust in the platform has been lost.
According to The Telegraph, there are concerns that these drones could have eavesdropped on meetings of senior special forces personnel, even when powered down, as the cameras reportedly remained active. The K3 Scout drones, which can carry a payload of 600 kg and operate continuously at sea for up to 30 days, were planned for use in ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. They also participated in NATO exercises in the Baltic Sea, and identical models are owned by the U.S. Special Operations Command.
Kraken Technology Group sourced the controversial cameras from a third-party supplier who guaranteed their security. Following the discovery, the MoD stated that it had removed all internet connectivity from the cameras.
The incident has sparked strong reactions in the British Parliament. Last year, MI5 warned MPs that Chinese intelligence services are making persistent efforts to influence and recruit British officials. The Conservative opposition is now calling for an urgent review of all military equipment for undisclosed Chinese components in the supply chain. This security breach comes at a time when the Labour government is seeking a diplomatic reset with Beijing and has approved plans to expand the Chinese embassy in central London.
Western governments have been trying for years to minimize the penetration of Chinese technology into sensitive infrastructure, starting with investigations into telecom companies like Huawei and ZTE. This case further highlights the challenges facing Western allies in their efforts to eliminate potential security risks from their defense systems.
