France and India to investigate data leak of top-secret submarine plans

DCNS' Scorpene-class submarine. Pic: AP.

24th August 2016

AUTHORITIES in France and India have launched inquiries into a massive data leak involving French submarine manufacturer DCNS, which included plans detailing the secret combat capability of its Scorpene-class submarine.

Up to 22,400 restricted pages featuring the submarines DCNS designed for the Indian navy were leaked, reported the Australian(paywall) on Wednesday.

The daily reported that the stolen data was thought to have been acquired in France in 2011 by a former French navy officer who was a subcontractor for DCNS at the time.

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This poses a major security concern to the military forces of India, as the leak exposes sensitive information on the submarine’s sensors and its communication and navigation systems, as well as its torpedo launch system.

India’s defense ministry has started an investigation into the leak, reported Reuters.

“The available information is being examined at Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defense (Navy) and an analysis is being carried out by the concerned specialists.

“It appears that the source of leak is from overseas and not in India,” it said in a statement.

According to former naval officer Uday Bhaskar, however, the damage has already been done, as the leak had “compromised” the credibility of the submarines, which are currently being built in shipyard in Mumbai.

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Meanwhile, a DCNS spokeswoman said in a statement that the company was aware of the reports and that “French national security authorities” had launched an inquiry into the matter, but declined to give further details.

“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,” she added.

News of the leak has caused a stir in Australia, as its government had earlier this year awarded DCNS a multi-billion-dollar contract to design and build its newest fleet of submarines.

However, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull sought to ease concerns, explaining that while the leak was “of concern”, Australia’s submarines were of a different model from those in the released plans, adding that the information was “some years old”.