The Australian newspaper reported on Wednesday that over 22,000 pages containing top secret data about India submarines had been leaked. The newspaper termed this leak an "intelligence bonanza for China and Pakistan". The leak has caused a massive storm in India’s defence and political circles. Here’s what has happened.
According to a , ‘Top Secret’ data written on India’s Scorpene submarine had been copied and leaked in 2011 by a former French Navy Officer.
The Scorpene Submarines are designed by French company DCNS which also won the $50 billion bid to build 12 ‘Shortfin Barracuda’ submarines for Australia.
According to the report, the former French Navy Officer who copied the data was a subcontractor of DCNS. So, the leak is reported to have taken place at DCNS.
The leaked documents contained data about the stealth capabilities of India’s six new Scorpene subs. Frequencies at which these subs gather intelligence, noise levels at various speeds, diving depth, range and endurance, their combat system, radiated noise levels when the subs surface, Magnetic, electromagnetic and infrared data, propeller’s noise specifications have also been leaked.
While the Indian Navy has sought to downplay the damage this leak may have caused, some experts believe it’s a huge setback for the India maritime security.
The newspaper uploaded more documents on its website on Thursday pertaining to this leak that showed data about the sonar system had also been leaked.
There are concerns in Australia as well about the safety of top secret defence data. Senator Nick Xenophon said he will question the government and the Department of Defence when the parliament sits next week.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull allayed the fears and said the leak pertained to the Indian submarines, and that the subs DCNS will design for Australia are different from the ones that the company designed for India.
The Australian newspaper redacted the top secret frequencies and information before uploading the leaked documents on its website.
The newspaper reported that the data was sent to a company in South Asia to help a regional Navy. It was then sent to a second company before being sent to Australia on a data disk through regular mail.
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