China Stole US Navy Secrets, Newspaper Reports

Chinese government hackers have stolen a huge trove of sensitive information from a U.S. Navy contractor, including secret plans to develop a new type of submarine-launched anti-ship missile, according to the Washington Post newspaper.

Investigators told the newspaper that the hacks were executed in January and February by a division of the Chinese Ministry of State Security operating in Guangdong.

The contractor, which was not named in the report, works for the Naval Undersea Warfare Centre, based in Newport, Rhode Island. It conducts research and development for submarines and underwater weapons systems.

According to the Post, hackers swiped 614 gigabytes of data that included information relating to sensors, submarine cryptographic systems and a little-known project called Sea Dragon.

The Pentagon has not said much about Sea Dragon, launched in 2012, except that it is aimed at adapting existing military technologies to new uses.

At the Navy's request, the Post withheld information about the compromised new missile system, but said it was for a supersonic anti-ship missile that could be launched from submarines.

Washington says Chinese hackers have been targeting the US military for years to steal information. The Pentagon says they have previously swiped crucial data on the new F-35 stealth fighter, the advanced Patriot PAC-3 missile system and other highly sensitive projects.

News of the hack comes amid rising tensions between Beijing and Washington on a range of issues including trade and military matters. (AFP)