LD LEAK 2

Commodore Uday Bhaskar (Retd), Director of Society of Commodore Uday Bhaskar (Retd), Director of Society ofPolicy Studies, said, "We have to first establish the veracityof the documents and see if it pertains to India’s Scorpenesubmarines since DCNS supplies subs to other countries too. "If it is found so, then it definitely compromises theIndian platform. This is so because the leakage of so muchtechnical details compromises the submarines capability tostay undetected." Rear Admiral Raja Menon (Retd), a submariner who onceheaded naval operations, said not much details have emergedabout the nature of leak. "A lot of volume is there but that does not meananything. But I gather from the naval headquarters that theleaked data does not compromise our submarines. "However, breach of security of data should not havehappened. The loss of data is a serious issue. From thenational security point of view, we can take assurance fromthe fact that the actual capability of the submarine has notbeen compromised". Navy sources said the leak of data "was a matter ofserious concern" but added that the document was dated and theIndian submarine had undergone "many changes" from the initialdesign the details of which have been leaked. The details leaked included what frequencies thesubmarines gather intelligence at, what levels of noise theymake at various speeds and their diving depths, range andendurance — all sensitive information that is highlyclassified, the Australian said. It said that ‘Marked "Restricted Scorpene India", theDCNS documents­detail the most sensitive combat capabilitiesof IndiaÂ’s submarine fleet and would provide an intelligencebonanza if obtained by IndiaÂ’s strategic rivals, such asPakistan or China.’ The data tells the submarine crew where on the boat theycan speak safely to avoid detection by the enemy. It alsodiscloses magnetic, electromagnetic and infra-red data as wellas the specifications of the submarineÂ’s torpedo launch systemand the combat system, the newspaper said. It details the speed and conditions needed for using theperiscope, the noise specifications of the propeller and theradiated noise levels that occur when the submarine surfaces. The data, accessed by the paper, includes 4457 pages onthe submarine’s underwater sensors, 4209 pages on itsabove-water sensors, 4301 pages on its combat managementsystem, 493 pages on its torpedo launch system andspecifications, 6841 pages on the sub’s communications systemand 2138 on its navigation systems. "I have asked the Navy chief to study the entire issueabout what has been leaked, what is there about us and to whatextent. It came to my knowledge at about 12 midnight. What Iunderstand is there is a hacking. So we will find out allthis," Parrikar said. The Defence Minister said he does not suspect the leak tobe 100 per cent since a lot of final integration lies withIndia. He said a clear picture will emerge in a couple of days. In a statement, the Navy said, "A case of suspected leakof documents related to Scorpene submarines has been reportedby a foreign media house. "The available information is being examined atIntegrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Navy) and ananalysis is being carried out by the concerned specialists. "It appears that the source of leak is from overseas andnot in India."PTI SAP GSNGSN