A cyber vulnerability assessment revealed that optical systems installed on Royal Navy uncrewed surface vessels transmitted background telemetry to an IP address in China. According to reporting by The Telegraph, Chinese-manufactured components inside cameras fitted to K3 Scout uncrewed vessels, manufactured by Kraken Technology Group and operated by Royal Marines units, were transmitting automated heartbeat communications. The Ministry of Defence subsequently disconnected internet access from the camera systems, stating that an internal investigation confirmed no classified data or operational systems were compromised or accessed externally.
The affected 12 million pound fleet of K3 Scout uncrewed surface vessels was procured under the Royal Navy’s Project Beehive to integrate uncrewed platforms alongside conventional naval forces. Designed to carry a 600 kg payload with an operational endurance of 30 days, the platform had been deployed in preparations for upcoming maritime security missions in the Strait of Hormuz. Defense personnel expressed concern that camera systems remained operational even when the vessels were powered down, raising potential exposure risks for personnel at the Special Boat Service headquarters in Dorset.
Kraken Technology Group stated that the third-party camera units complied with NDAA standards despite containing components sourced outside the United Kingdom. The contractor confirmed that a joint audit with the Royal Navy identified and eliminated the potential vulnerabilities. Shadow Security Minister Alicia Kearns criticized the oversight in component sourcing, arguing that hidden foreign hardware undermines national sovereignty and defense integrity. The incident highlights ongoing hardware supply chain vulnerabilities in Western defense procurement, where commercial off-the-shelf sub-components introduce security risks into military uncrewed platforms.
