MoD Confirms No Data Breach After Chinese Component Found in Navy Drones

POLICY WIRE — London, UK — The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced that there is no evidence of a data breach after a Chinese-made component was discovered in the Royal Navy’s new sea drones. The component was found to communicate with a Chinese IP address.

The MoD stated that rigorous checks were conducted following the discovery and confirmed that no sensitive data was compromised. “Our investigations have shown that while the component did send communications to a Chinese IP address, there is no indication that any data was intercepted or breached,” an MoD spokesperson said.

The discovery has prompted a review of the supply chain and procurement processes for defence equipment. The MoD is working closely with cybersecurity experts to ensure the integrity of its systems.

This incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of foreign components in critical national infrastructure. The UK government has previously expressed concerns over the use of foreign-made technology in sensitive applications.

The Royal Navy’s sea drones are part of a broader effort to enhance the UK’s maritime capabilities. These unmanned vessels are designed to conduct a range of operations, from surveillance to mine countermeasures.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)