New Delhi, Feb. 7 -- The Union government has scrapped three deals to procure 400 drones for the armed forces as the local private sector companies were using Chinese components in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the Times of India reported.

The contracts were cancelled for 200 medium-altitude, 100 heavy-weight and 100 light-weight logistics drones, collectively worth over Rs.230 crore, said the report.

The deals were signed in 2023 with a Chennai-based company.

"Unfortunately, some Indian companies are using Chinese components and electronics in the drones they are producing for the armed forces. This is a major cybersecurity threat, with the possibility of data security and operations being compromised," the report quoted a source a...