Massive Data Breach Hits Indian Navy's Submarine Maker 'DCNS'

(PC-google images)

French shipbuilder DCNS has suffered a massive data breach as detailed plans for stealth submarines built by the military manufacturer have been leaked.

Tens of thousands of documents detailing the combat capability of France’s Scorpène-class submarine have been revealed, raising fears over the security of multibillion-dollar defence contracts, including with India and Australia.

It is reported that the leak from the French manufacturer included technical manuals and other sensitive information, including details of the submarines’ secret stealth technology, torpedo-launching systems and its many intelligence-gathering systems.

(pc-google images)

The leak contains more than 22,000 pages outlining the details of six Scorpene submarines that DCNS has designed for the Indian Navy.

Both India and France have started investigating the breach.

"I understand there has been a case of hacking," Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told reporters. "We will find out what has happened."

India’s ministry of defence added that “it appears that the source of the leak is from overseas and not in India”.

DCNS said in a statement that it was aware of the reported leak, and added that it was being “thoroughly investigated by the proper French national authorities for defense security.”

India signed a $3.5b deal for six Scorpene vessels in 2005. They are being built in cooperation with an Indian government-owned shipbuilder in Mumbai.