A defence source familiar with the matter told The Telegraph that the K3 drones made up part of a future defence package offered by the UK to secure the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The source said that preparations for Britain’s plans in the Gulf had been conducted on the drones, adding: “This is major failure to check origins of components and we have lost confidence in the platform.”
There are also concerns that the surveillance drones have been near highly sensitive meetings between senior special forces staff, and that cameras remained active even when the drones were switched off.
The MoD said that the department took “security of our equipment, networks and data extremely seriously” and insisted that no MoD data had been compromised.
However the Tories called upon the Government to “urgently audit” its equipment for hidden Chinese footprints.
Labour attempts to reset relations
The revelation comes amid a growing threat from China, despite efforts by the Labour Government to thaw relations with the ruling Chinese Communist Party.
Last year, MI5 issued a security alert to MPs, warning that Chinese intelligence services were “relentless” in trying to “interfere” and “influence” Parliament using employment websites such as LinkedIn to harvest sensitive information. It came weeks after the case against two men, including a parliamentary researcher, accused of spying for China collapsed over the Labour Government’s inability to label Beijing as an enemy.
In 2020, the Conservative government was forced to ban Chinese phone-maker Huawei from the UK’s 5G network over security fears. The government reversed its decision to approve Huawei’s involvement after security officials in Washington warned that the access came with a spy risk, citing China’s stringent national security laws.
Since then, a number of supply-chain vulnerabilities have forced the MoD to remove Chinese hardware and cameras from sensitive spaces. Last month, The Telegraph revealed that the SBS had banned Chinese-made electric cars from its headquarters over similar espionage concerns.
Downing Street has begun a diplomatic reset with Beijing through a series of high-profile visits to the country, with the hope of lucrative trade agreements. Earlier this year, the Government approved plans for a Chinese super-embassy at Royal Mint Court in the heart of London, despite concerns about the site’s proximity to sensitive communication lines.