UK Royal Navy drones found sending data to China via spy cameras
Investigation reveals K3 Scout surveillance drones contained Chinese components transmitting 'heartbeat' signals to China; UK MoD removes connectivity.
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Summary, timeline and people extracted by Claude from 68 items across 9 sources · 1d ago. Quotes are verbatim.
The Telegraph reported that UK Royal Navy surveillance drones used by special forces contained Chinese-made camera components that were secretly transmitting data to an IP address in China. The drones, supplied by defence contractor Kraken Technology Group, were sending "heartbeat communications" despite assurances of security. The UK Ministry of Defence responded by removing internet connectivity from the drone cameras and denied any sensitive data was leaked.
- K3 Scout surveillance drones used by UK Royal Navy special forces contained Chinese-made components that transmitted 'heartbeat' signals to a Chinese IP address.
- Kraken Technology Group supplied the drones but sourced the camera components from a third party, raising questions about supply chain security oversight.
- The UK MoD removed internet connectivity from drone cameras and denied sensitive data was compromised, claiming only routine 'heartbeat communications' were sent.
- The discovery contradicts the UK's 2020 Huawei ban and raises broader concerns about Chinese components embedded in British military hardware.
How it unfolded
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Tom's Hardware reports that the UK government cut camera connectivity and maintains that only 'heartbeat communications' were transmitted, not sensitive data.
“K3 Scout surveillance drones used by the UK's Royal Navy contain components that have been secretly transmitting data to China”
Tom's Hardware · Press ↗ -
Coverage reaches Tom's Hardware, GB News, and international outlets. A key detail emerges: the cameras were sourced from a third party by Kraken Technology Group.
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X/Twitter users highlight the contradiction with the UK's 2020 Huawei ban, question whether other defence projects have similar vulnerabilities, and express concern about Chinese components in military hardware.
“Great start to the Hybrid Navy. Six years on from banning Huawei has the UK government learned nothing?”
@robertclark87 · X ↗ -
Reaction UK MoD denies data leak
Euractiv reports that the UK Ministry of Defence says no sensitive data was leaked, characterizing transmissions as only 'heartbeat communications.'
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Multiple UK news outlets including The Independent, The Times, The Sun, and Mirror report on the security breach, with some citing the £12m cost of the drone fleet.
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The Telegraph publishes initial report revealing that K3 Scout surveillance drones used by the Royal Navy contained Chinese components transmitting data to China.
What people are saying verbatim
“Royal Navy spy drones used by Britain's elite special forces secretly sent data to China, The Telegraph can reveal.”
@mpiainds, Social media post · X ↗ · Aug 9, 11:50 PM
“The cameras on the K3 Scout surveillance drones had components made in China which were transmitting information to a device in the country.”
@mpiainds, Social media post · X ↗ · Aug 9, 11:50 PM
“K3 Scout surveillance drones used by the UK's Royal Navy contain components that have been secretly transmitting data to China, according to reports.”
Tom's Hardware, Tech publication · Tom's Hardware ↗ · Aug 10, 6:31 AM
“The drones were supplied by a major British defence contractor, Kraken Technology Group, which sourced the cameras from a third party”
@teortaxestex, Social media commenter · X ↗ · Aug 9, 11:50 PM
“Great start to the Hybrid Navy. Six years on from banning Huawei has the UK government learned nothing? They clearly have not. Embarrassing.”
@robertclark87, Social media commenter · X ↗ · Aug 9, 11:50 PM
“Military drones in the UK were contacting servers in China. All Chinese technology spies for the CCP.”
@mrbcyber, Social media commenter · X ↗ · Aug 9, 11:50 PM
Voices from the web unedited
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The UK Ministry of Defense has discovered that the Royal Navy’s new fleet of spy drones, being operated by elements of the Royal Marines since March, have been secretly transmitting information from the drone’s primary camera to China, according to an investigation from The
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https://www. thedefensenews.com/UKs-Royal-N avy-K3-Scout-Drone-Cameras-Found-Sending-Data-to-an-IP-Address-in-China/
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Nowadays messages and emails auto-delete. An engineer says "management told me to do this" and includes screenshots, leadership/HR will claim the evidence is unverifiable.
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U.K. Discovers Component in Its Naval Drones Sent Signals to my ex-wife - wsj.com
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Royal Navy spy drones used by Britain's elite special forces secretly sent data to China, The Telegraph can reveal. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/ ... The cameras on the K3 Scout surveillance drones had components made in China which were transmitting information to a device in the country.
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https://www. telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/08/0 9/spy-cameras-on-navy-drones-secretly-sent-data-to-china/
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NEW: Royal Navy sea drones secretly sent data to China. Cameras onboard a fleet of surveillance drones were found to contain Chinese parts despite assurances from suppliers that they were secure. An investigation found the cameras had been sending “heartbeat” signals to an
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Military drones in the UK were contacting servers in China. All Chinese technology spies for the CCP. If a drone has a bunch of chips from China, it cannot be trusted in combat. The thing will either transmit coordinates to the PLA or even turn traitor. 🔗 [image]
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> The drones were supplied by a major British defence contractor, Kraken Technology Group, which sourced the cameras from a third party I wonder if Project Replicator and other anti-Chyna sci-fi Anglo initiatives with izzated names have the same Achilles heel
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Great start to the Hybrid Navy. Six years on from banning Huawei has the UK government learned nothing? They clearly have not. Embarrassing. Spy cameras on Navy drones secretly sent data to China https://www.telegraph.co.uk/ ...