Top secret data of over 22,000 pages containing secret information on six highly advanced submarines being built for the Indian Navy was leaked. The Scorpene class submarines were being built in collaboration with French company DCNS. Here are all-questions-answered on the scorpene leak:
What does this secret data contain?
The secret data included details of the capabilities of SM39 anti-ship missile expected to be used on the Scorpene and classified information about the number of targets the missile was capable of processing.
Which are these submarines?
Security of the 6 French designed Scorpene Class submarines being built at the Mazgaon docks in Mumbai is expected to be hit. The first submarine of the class, named Kalvari (Tiger Shark) is presently being tested before acceptance by the Indian Navy. The other submarines are in various phases of construction.
How serious is this leak?
Short Answer – moderately serious if action taken immediately. The stealth capabilities of the sub stand compromised. The propulsion mechanism of the boat, which goes to the basic design of the submarine, is also out in the public domain due to the leak.
The only thing, which if leaked out from the supplier that can really compromise the operation of our submarines is the source code of the Fire Control System, which is safe as of now.
The other information leaked include frequencies at which they gather intelligence, their range, endurance, diving depths, the noise they radiate at different speeds as well as their magnetic and infra-red signatures.
Even if the frequencies of the sonar system are out in the public domain, our adversaries can easily take advantage. The DNA of any submarine is its opacity. Every boat has a specific signature. Experts have now said if details about that signature are leaked then vital security details will be out.
How seriously is this issue being taken?
Although India has said that a massive data leak from French shipbuilder DCNS of submarines designed for India’s navy did not “pose any security compromise”, India’s Navy Chief Sunil Lanba has termed the Scorpene data leak as ‘a matter of serious concern’.
The leak of these classified documents has been an enormous blow for the Indian Navy which says it is working to ensure that the leak of the data doesn’t actually affect the operations of the submarine fleet itself.
The World-Wide Impact
An Aussie publication ‘The Australian” has been temporarily banned by a court in New South Wales from releasing any more confidential data on the Indian Scorpene Class submarines.
The DCNS has also sought a court order to the newspaper to hand over the documents in its possession and removal of the contents from its website.
DCNS also filed a petition to prevent ‘The Australian” from making any more information public.
The leaks scandal has grown into a firestorm in India and France where it has been front-page news, as both governments seek to grapple with the damage it has done to India’s national security and to DCNS’s global reputation.
About Project-75:
Under Project-75, French company DCNS provides design and technology to public sector Mazagon Docks to make six Scorpene submarines, the first of which, INS Kalvari was put out for sea trials earlier this year. The hulls of the other five submarines have been cast, and they are scheduled to be commissioned by 2020.
The Aftermath:
Only six navies have successfully built ballistic missile submarines, including India. There is no need to be overly concerned as we have the capability of tweaking the design, and the weapon and sensor deployment capability to mitigate any risk from information being compromised.
