{"id":"811a53c3-1c8a-408f-9831-8db1d834501f","slug":"kraken-k3-camera-china-data-leak","kind":"regulatory_action","headline":"K3 Scout drone cameras secretly transmitted heartbeat data to Chinese IP address","summary":"Cameras fitted to K3 Scout USVs operated by the Royal Navy transmitted heartbeat communications to an IP address in China. The discovery was made at the Special Boat Service HQ in Poole, Dorset, after the 12m drone fleet entered service in March 2026. The UK MoD said a routine cyber vulnerability assessment identified the issue; Kraken conducted a full audit and confirmed no sensitive data was shared outside intended channels. The cameras were third-party, US NDAA-compliant components with some subcomponents originating from outside the UK.","occurredAt":"2026-03-01T00:00:00.000Z","reviewStatus":"reviewed","modelId":"19e12408-31f9-4d69-896a-4dae91057458","deploymentId":null,"companyId":"76a0f3b2-bf71-421f-8e67-7189a51c8af9","dataCenterId":null,"aliases":[],"collisionRisk":"none","reviewNote":null,"severity":"moderate","rootCauseCategory":null,"rootCauseDetail":null,"affectedUnitsCount":null,"affectedUnitsBasis":null,"remediationStatus":null,"regulatoryAction":"investigation","regulatoryBody":"UK Ministry of Defence","propertyDamageEstimateUsd":null,"damageEstimateBasis":null,"bodilyInjurySeverity":null,"fatalityCount":null,"lossCostClass":null,"sourceQualityTier":null,"oshaRecordable":null,"oshaCaseNumber":null,"rootCauseDisclosed":null,"publicDisclosureDate":null,"insuranceClaimPublic":null,"formFactor":"maritime","latitude":null,"longitude":null,"autonomyClass":null,"legalOutcomeClass":"unknown","createdAt":"2026-09-05T17:05:25.699Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-29T19:18:28.069Z","model":{"id":"19e12408-31f9-4d69-896a-4dae91057458","companyId":"76a0f3b2-bf71-421f-8e67-7189a51c8af9","modelName":"Kraken USV platform","slug":"kraken-technology-group-usv","description":"Modular uncrewed surface vessel (USV) platform for naval defence missions including surveillance, mine countermeasures, and force protection. Designed for autonomous operations with swappable payloads.","formFactor":"maritime","industryVertical":null,"environment":null,"maturityStage":"pilot","lifecycleState":"active","supersededByModelId":null,"specs":{},"manufacturerSerial":null,"reviewStatus":"reviewed","sources":[{"url":"https://krakentechnology.com/articles/kraken-technology-group-raises-160m-at-1bn-valuation","title":"Kraken Technology Group raises $175m at $1bn valuation","source_name":"Kraken Technology Group (company announcement)","date_accessed":"2026-07-27"},{"url":"https://www.dtcp.capital/news-and-insights/detail/dtcp-defence-leads-175-million-series-b-financing-round-in-kraken-technology-group/","title":"DTCP Defence Leads $175 Million Series B Financing Round in Kraken Technology Group","source_name":"DTCP","date_accessed":"2026-07-27"},{"url":"https://smartmaritimenetwork.com/2026/07/09/uncrewed-vessel-firm-kraken-technology-group-raises-175m/","title":"Uncrewed vessel firm Kraken Technology Group raises $175m","source_name":"Smart Maritime Network","date_accessed":"2026-07-27"},{"url":"https://krakentechnology.com/platforms/k3-scout","title":"K3 Scout USV","sourceName":"Kraken Technology"}],"aliases":["Kraken USV"],"collisionRisk":"low","reviewNote":null,"manufacturerTermForTeleop":null,"keyFacts":[{"label":"K3 Scout hull (company-claimed)","value":"8.4 m long, 1.93 m beam, 0.8 m draft; 2,500 kg max displacement; composite."},{"label":"K3 Scout payload (company-claimed)","value":"600 kg; optional EO, radar and sonar."},{"label":"K3 Scout performance (company-claimed)","value":"Diesel stern drive; 55 knots max; 650 nm at 25 knots; up to 30 days."},{"label":"Autonomy (company-claimed)","value":"Autonomous crew running Auterion OS."}],"createdAt":"2026-07-28T03:38:51.987Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-12T22:36:57.144Z","unitsInFieldClaimed":null,"unitsInFieldVerified":null,"unitsManufacturedClaimed":null,"unitsManufacturedVerified":null,"unitsAsOf":null,"unitsSource":null,"salesModel":null,"priceUndisclosedSince":null,"autonomyClass":null,"autonomyStatement":null,"autonomyStatementSource":null,"demoForensics":null,"exportControlClass":null,"minCommitment":null,"warrantyTerms":null,"serviceModel":null,"productionRateClaimed":null,"productionRateEvidenced":null,"teleopRatioDisclosed":null,"interventionRateDisclosed":null},"deployment":null,"company":{"id":"76a0f3b2-bf71-421f-8e67-7189a51c8af9","name":"Kraken Technology Group","slug":"kraken","description":"British defense technology company developing uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and autonomous maritime platforms for naval and security applications. Founded by Mal Crease in 2020, Kraken builds a line of dual-use autonomous boats — the K3 Scout, K4 Manta, and K5 Kraken — that can be configured for surveillance, logistics, anti-submarine warfare, and precision strike missions. Raised $175M Series B at $1B valuation in July 2026, achieving unicorn status. The company builds through manufacturing partnerships with [Rheinmetall](/companies/rheinmetall), [Anduril](/companies/anduril-industries), and Inocea's Davie Shipbuilding rather than operating its own shipyards.","status":"private","founded":2020,"hq":"London, United Kingdom","hqLat":51.5074456,"hqLng":-0.1277653,"hqGeocodedAt":"2026-10-10T04:22:29.304Z","hqAddress":null,"hqPrecision":null,"website":"krakentech.com","fundingTotal":"175000000","type":"hardware","roles":[],"reviewStatus":"reviewed","heatIndex":0,"lifecycleState":"active","supersededByCompanyId":null,"sources":[{"url":"https://smartmaritimenetwork.com/2026/07/09/uncrewed-vessel-firm-kraken-technology-group-raises-175m/","title":"Uncrewed vessel firm Kraken Technology Group raises $175m","sourceName":"Smart Maritime Network"},{"url":"https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-08/former-speedboat-racer-s-startup-is-europe-s-newest-defense-unicorn","title":"Former Speedboat Racer's Startup Is Europe's Newest Defense Unicorn","sourceName":"Bloomberg"},{"url":"https://www.tectonic-defense.com/2026/07/09/kraken-raises-175m-at-a-1b-valuation/","title":"Kraken Raises $175M at a $1B Valuation","sourceName":"Tectonic Defense"},{"url":"https://krakentechnology.com/articles/kraken-technology-group-raises-160m-at-1bn-valuation","date":"2026-07-09","title":"Kraken Technology Group raises $175m at $1bn valuation","sourceName":"Kraken Technology"}],"keyFacts":[{"label":"CEO (reported, unconfirmed)","value":"Mal Crease."},{"label":"Series B (company-claimed, Jul 2026)","value":"$175M at a $1B valuation, led by DTCP."},{"label":"Investors (reported, unconfirmed)","value":"British Business Bank, NATO Innovation Fund, Rheinmetall, Inocea Group and Speedinvest."},{"label":"Customers (company-claimed)","value":"UK Ministry of Defence, NATO European partners and USSOCOM."},{"label":"Manufacturing partners (company-claimed)","value":"Rheinmetall in Germany, Anduril in the US and Inocea/Davie Shipbuilding in Canada."},{"label":"K3 Scout (company-claimed)","value":"27 ft, air-deployable, 650 nm range, 28 mph, 600 kg payload, 30-day endurance."},{"label":"K4 Manta (company-claimed)","value":"18 ft semi-submersible diving 30+ ft, 220 lb payload."},{"label":"K5 Kraken (company-claimed)","value":"36 ft, 50 knots, 1,000 nm range, 30-day endurance; K7 in development."}],"aliases":["Kraken Technology"],"collisionRisk":"low","reviewNote":null,"atsProvider":null,"atsSlug":null,"factoryLocations":null,"manufacturingCapacity":null,"orgType":null,"burnSignal":null,"litigationEvents":null,"insurancePostureDisclosed":null,"unitEconomicsDisclosed":null,"tickerSymbol":null,"stockExchange":null,"secCik":null,"revenueUsd":null,"revenueBasis":null,"revenueAsOf":null,"employeeCount":null,"employeeCountBasis":null,"employeeCountAsOf":null,"marketCapUsd":null,"marketCapAsOf":null,"marketCapSource":null,"createdAt":"2026-09-03T05:08:48.805Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-12T22:07:16.729Z"},"derived":{"status":"active"},"sources":[{"id":"dd54b1b8-4503-48a1-8ca0-989fa76e7379","incidentId":"811a53c3-1c8a-408f-9831-8db1d834501f","url":"https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/defence/spy-cameras-royal-navy-drone-boats-china-whiteley-fareham-8848147","label":null,"publishedAt":"2026-08-10T00:00:00.000Z","notes":null,"title":"Spy cameras on Royal Navy drone boats secretly sent data to China","sourceName":"The News Portsmouth","mediaType":"article","videoId":null,"channel":null,"durationSec":null,"timestampSec":null,"createdAt":"2026-09-29T19:18:28.988Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-29T19:18:28.988Z"},{"id":"a45ac9ec-a35d-405f-bd4b-5aee9949b687","incidentId":"811a53c3-1c8a-408f-9831-8db1d834501f","url":"https://www.twz.com/sea/chinese-components-in-royal-navys-new-drone-boat-raise-cyber-security-concerns","label":null,"publishedAt":"2026-08-11T00:00:00.000Z","notes":null,"title":"Chinese Components In Royal Navy's New Drone Boat Raise Cyber Security Concerns","sourceName":"The War Zone","mediaType":"article","videoId":null,"channel":null,"durationSec":null,"timestampSec":null,"createdAt":"2026-09-29T19:18:27.693Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-29T19:18:27.693Z"},{"id":"bf1311b0-01f7-4d51-92c2-758823d6a926","incidentId":"811a53c3-1c8a-408f-9831-8db1d834501f","url":"https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/royal-navy-china-data-leak-37531546","label":null,"publishedAt":null,"notes":null,"title":"Royal Navy drones secretly sent data to China in huge security breach","sourceName":"The Mirror","mediaType":"article","videoId":null,"channel":null,"durationSec":null,"timestampSec":null,"createdAt":"2026-09-05T17:05:26.094Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-05T17:05:26.094Z"}],"responses":[],"statusEvents":[],"jsonLd":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/kraken-k3-camera-china-data-leak","url":"https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/kraken-k3-camera-china-data-leak","headline":"K3 Scout drone cameras secretly transmitted heartbeat data to Chinese IP address","description":"Cameras fitted to K3 Scout USVs operated by the Royal Navy transmitted heartbeat communications to an IP address in China. The discovery was made at the Special Boat Service HQ in Poole, Dorset, after the 12m drone fleet entered service in March 2026. The UK MoD said a routine cyber vulnerability assessment identified the issue; Kraken conducted a full audit and confirmed no sensitive data was shared outside intended channels. The cameras were third-party, US NDAA-compliant components with some subcomponents originating from outside the UK.","identifier":"811a53c3-1c8a-408f-9831-8db1d834501f","datePublished":"2026-03-01T00:00:00.000Z","articleSection":"regulatory action","publisher":{"@id":"https://deploy.report/#organization"},"author":{"@id":"https://deploy.report/#organization"}},"framework_metadata":{"framework_schema_version":"0.1.0","verification_status":"verified","maturity_stage":null,"lifecycle_state":null,"architectural_position":{"cohort":null,"sub_cohorts":[]},"within_cohort_verified_vs_claimed_pair":null,"cap_flags":[],"verification_depth":{"sources_count":3,"primary_source_types":[]}}}