Australian journalist Cameron Stewart, who broke the Scorpene Submarine data leak story on The Australian, has contradicted India's statement that the leak does not compromise the Indian Navy's secrecy. Cameron has claimed that India is downplaying the threat posed by the leaked documents.
A day after breaking the story, The Australian published more excerpts from the leaked confidential document pertaining to the Scorpene class Submarine being constructed by French firm DCNS in Mumbai for the Indian Navy. The report carried specifics on the entire sonar systems used to identify and target enemy vessels, forcing India to accept that a few pockets of concern remain in the establishment.
Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar said, "It is my understanding that there are a few pockets of concern, assuming that what is claimed to have been leaked has actually been leaked."
On the question of the potential impact over other ongoing negotiations with French company Dassault Aviation for the purchase of Rafale combat aircraft, Parrikar said, "You stop using all products from France? Obviously, the companies are different, the type of equipment is different and an incident should be punished with whatever the contractual punishment is there. It was not intentionally leaked."
Meanwhile, India is awaiting a response from the French Director General of Armament from whom he has asked for a detailed report on the leak.
A high level committee constituted by India's Ministry of Defense is undertaking a detailed assessment of the potential impact over the ongoing USD 3.5 billion Scorpene submarine project. The first of the Scorpene class submarines being built in India, the INS Kalvari, took part in sea trials in May and is expected to be inducted soon in the Indian Navy.
