Royal Navy Drone Boats’ Cameras Found Transmitting to China in Cybersecurity Scare During a routine cyber vulnerability assessment, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) discovered that cameras aboard Royal Navy Kraken unmanned surface vessels (USVs) were transmitting data to an IP address in China. The MoD confirmed the issue involved a sub-system of the drone boats but clarified that no sensitive data or systems were compromised. The transmissions were described as a "heartbeat" signal basic telemetry indicating the cameras were operational rather than malicious exfiltration. However, the unexpected connection to China raised concerns, particularly given rising tensions over state-linked cyber activity. The MoD stated that its security protocols detected the anomaly early and that no evidence of unauthorized access or data loss was found. The cameras in question were sourced by Kraken, the USV supplier, from a third-party vendor, highlighting vulnerabilities in defense supply chains. While the MoD emphasized its commitment to rigorous security testing, the incident underscores the risks of relying on supplier assurances without independent verification. China has been frequently linked to cyber espionage, including recent allegations of targeting UK political figures. Though this case appears to involve a benign technical oversight, it serves as a reminder of the need for stringent oversight in military procurement and cybersecurity.