Scorpene Submarine Documents Leaked, Parrikar Asks Navy to Probe

Over 22,000 pages that have been leaked from DCNS contain information on different aspects of the submarine.

Scorpene Class Submarine INS Kalvari set afloat at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai. (File photo: http://indiannavy.nic.in)

Sensitive information related to combat and stealth aspects of India’s Scorpene submarines having been allegedly leaked, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday sought a report from the navy, adding that it appeared to be a case of hacking.

The Indian Navy, in a statement, meanwhile said it is analysing the information. The navy also made clear that the source of the leak was not in India.

The Scorpene submarines, designed by French shipbuilder DCNS and being manufactured at the Mazgaon Dockyard in Mumbai at a cost of around $3.5 billion, are conventional diesel vessels that boast of advanced stealth capabilities.

The over 22,000 pages that have been leaked from DCNS contain information on different aspects of the boat, including its underwater sensors, above-water sensors, combat management system, torpedo launch system and specifications, communications system and navigation systems.

While the leaked information is still being analysed to gauge the extent of damage, there is fear that it may compromise the submarine’s detectability. Remaining hidden, or stealth, is considered the most important attribute of a submarine.

Parrikar, at the sidelines of an event on Wednesday morning, said he got information about the alleged leak around midnight.

“The first step is to identify if it relates to us,” Parrikar told reporters.

“The Navy Chief (Admiral Sunil Lanba) has been asked to analyse what exactly has been leaked,” the Minister said, adding his first assessment was that it was an act of hacking and not a 100 percent leak.

“We do have our final integration and all that,” he said.

The Indian Navy, in a statement issued shortly after the minister spoke, stressed the leak did not happen in India.

(With inputs from IANS.)

Also read: Classified Pages on Indian Navy’s Scorpene-Class Submarines Leaked

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