Scorpene document leak not a big worry; 90 percent data commercially available, Indian defence minister claims

NEW DELHI, India - Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said that the leaked Scorpene document was “not a big worry” for the government, although there were a few areas of concerns.

DCSN, the French shipbuilder, faced a massive security breach when classified details about Project 75 under which six Scorpene class submarines are being built at Mazagon Docks India was put on The Australian’s website.

Parrikar has however assured that the documents leaked were not of concern.

He added that the Indian Navy had taken up the matter with the French Directorate General of Armament and that they were waiting for the report. 

“Basically, what is on the website is not of big concern. We are assuming, on our own, that this has leaked, and we are taking all precautions. What I am given to understand that there are few pockets of concern assuming that what is claimed to have been leaked has leaked actually.”

The defence minister said that they were going to the “worst case scenario,” and therefore, there was not much to worry about.

Defence ministry sources added that no critical data about the submarines’ weapon system had been leaked and that 90 percent of the information leaked is commercially available.

The sea trials of the first submarine have not been completed yet, and a leak of this profile would have a more serious consequence.

The impact of the security breach will be truly revealed only after France sends full details of the leak to India. Although future relations between the two countries in space, nuclear and defence sectors might not be impacted, if the leaked data does turn out to be of a serious nature, France will be responsible for answering questions.

Senior military officials also believe that the document does not contain sensitive information.

“…none of the leaked documents is classified above ‘restricted.’ And information contained in ‘restricted’ documents is more or less available on the internet. So, if no ‘secret’ document has been leaked, the danger to us is very little,” Retired Air Marshal Pranob K Barbora was quoted as saying.

A preliminary investigation for breach of trust has been launched by the Paris public prosecutor. 

“We filed a complaint against unknown persons for breach of trust with the Paris prosecutor on Thursday afternoon,” a spokesman for the shipbuilder was quoted as saying. 

A government source also added that DCNS was robbed, and the documents were not a leak, and therefore, it was highly unlikely that classified information was stolen.

Whistleblower to hand over information to Australia

The Australian government is reportedly set to gain access to the disk from the whistleblower behind the Scorpene document leak on Monday, according to a report in The Australian. 

The newspaper added that Authorial authorities were aware of the identity of the whistleblower. While sources claim that the data was removed from DCNS by a former French Navy officer (who remains unnamed).

According to the report, the whistleblower revealed the information as a warning sign for the Australian government that would be partnering with France in the future, and to ensure that the $50 billion submarine project between the two countries does not meet the same fate as its Indian counterpart.

“He has not broken any law, and the authorities know who he is. He plans to surrender the disk to the government on Monday,” the newspaper was quoted as saying.

Australian defence industry minister said that the leak of secret data was embarrassing.

“Obviously, it is a very serious matter for the Indian Navy and for the DCNS project,” Christopher Pyne opined. 

He added, “The French government is obviously investigating a very serious leak. It’s embarrassing for DCNS, and it’s embarrassing for the Indian army.”

Although the minister said that it would not impact the project - Australia has, along with the French naval contractor and the country’s defence officials warned DCNS to increase the security in Australia where it will build a fleet of submarines.