Indian submarine data leaked from French shipbuilder

The leaked DCNS data, running to 22,400 pages, details the secret stealth capabilities of the submarines, including what frequencies they gather intelligence at, what levels of noise they make at various speeds and their diving depths, range and endurance all sensitive information that is highly classified, according to Australia’s “The Australian” newspaper.

India “has requested the French government to investigate this incident with urgency and share their findings”, the defense ministry also said, adding it was conducting an internal audit and taking up the matter with foreign governments to find out more about the leak.

It contained documents on the Scorpene submarines, designed by French company DCNS and being built in India by the Mazagaon Dock Limited in Mumbai (Maharashtra) at a cost of around $3.5 billion (Rs 23,486 crore).

The navy, in a statement issued shortly after the minister spoke, stressed the leak did not happen in India. The Australian newspaper reported that the leak occurred in France in 2011.

The leak seems to “represent a significant compromise”, said Uday Bhaskar, a retired Indian naval commodore and defense analyst.

Meanwhile a DCNS spokeswoman described the leak as “a serious matter”, saying the French authorities would formally investigate the matter. Brazil also owing to arrange the watercraft from 2018.

“The available information is being examined at the Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy), and an analysis is being done by the specialists concerned”, the navy said.

Similar submarines are now in service in Malaysia and Chile. What I understand is there is a hacking.

DCNS is designing Australia’s 12 new subs.

The Australian posted redacted excerpts from the leaked documents on its site, and reported it had seen thousands of pages offering details of the Scorpene’s underwater sensors, above-water sensors, its combat management system, its torpedo launch system and specifications, and its communications and navigation systems.

The French shipbuilder which earlier this year won an A$50 billion ($38.06 billion) contract to build Australia’s next generation of submarines has suffered a massive data leak, raising doubts about the security of one of the world’s biggest defence projects.

In this handout photograph released by The Indian Navy on May 1, 2016, India’s Scorpene Class Submarine “Kalivari” takes part in its maiden sea trials off the coast of Mumbai on May 1, 2016. “The stunning leak- details the entire secret combat capability of the six Scorpene-class submarines.”, the report said.

The data may have then been taken to a company in Southeast Asia, possibly to assist in a commercial venture for a regional navy, said the report.

A DCNS spokesperson told Ars: “DCNS has been made aware of articles published in the Australian press related to the leakage of sensitive data about Indian Scorpene”.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull sought to deflect concerns about the leak, touting the high security standards in place within Australia, where the submarine will be built.

“This inquiry will determine the precise nature of the documents which have been leaked, the potential damage to our customers as well as those responsible”, the French defence contractor said.