German drone maker supplying Ukraine reports cyberattack
German defence group Quantum Systems faced a cyberattack last month that prompted the German military to briefly ground its fleet of the company’s drones, with suspicion falling on Russia, sources said Friday.
Attackers are increasingly targeting European defence firms supplying Ukraine for its fight against Russia.
As well as frequent cyberattacks, factories have been hit by explosions, corporate offices targeted with petrol bombs and executives have faced Russia-linked assassination plots.
Quantum, a producer of reconnaissance drones and other unmanned systems based near Munich, said “hostile actors” launched the cyberattack in late October.
“The threat was contained thanks to the swift response of our IT and security teams in close and transparent collaboration with the authorities,” it said in a statement.
There was no risk to operations of the firm’s systems, it said.
The company declined to give further details.
But a source close to the matter told AFP that a malicious file had been sent through its servers that transmit updates for ground control and planning systems.
After being informed of the incident, the German military briefly grounded its Quantum drones as a precaution, the source said.
Initial indications suggested Russia was behind the attack and intelligence agencies were investigating, the source said.
The defence ministry did not respond to requests for comment.
Germany, one of Ukraine’s strongest backers, has accused Russia of waging a campaign of cyberattacks, espionage and sabotage on its soil.
Russia consistently denies being behind any such incidents.
Quantum linked the incident to its role in supplying Ukraine.
The group’s reconnaissance drones are used in Ukraine, and it also has a joint venture with a Ukrainian start-up making attack and spy drones for the country’s military.
“Companies at the forefront of supporting Ukraine are being targeted precisely because our work is critically relevant to customers’ security,” it said.
