Why Are US Military Base Freezers Suddenly Stopping Working?
News Desk
Washington: The Pentagon has launched an investigation into unusual malfunctions affecting refrigeration systems at several US military bases, amid suspicions that the incidents may be linked to cyberattacks.
According to Reuters, freezer units at commissary stores across at least six US military installations experienced problems in August, resulting in substantial quantities of food being thawed and spoiled.
Four US officials familiar with the investigation told Reuters that authorities are exploring the possibility that hackers gained access to the systems. However, investigators have yet to identify those responsible, and details about the current status of the probe remain limited.
A US official disclosed that military investigators were also coordinating with French authorities following reports of similar cyber incidents involving supermarket refrigeration systems in France earlier this month.
The Pentagon confirmed that a unit of US Cyber Command was assisting the investigation in collaboration with relevant government agencies and law enforcement authorities. Meanwhile, the Army Criminal Investigation Division said its cyber field office was also involved and working alongside French law enforcement to examine the incidents.
The affected refrigeration units were located in commissary stores, which provide military personnel with food and other everyday necessities. Reports published on the official websites and social media platforms of the military installations also documented the disruptions.
In one incident, a freezer reportedly experienced an unexpected temperature increase overnight, causing its contents to thaw and become unusable by the following morning.
Fort Huachuca, a US Army installation in Arizona, disclosed in a Facebook post dated August 26 that one of its freezers had unexpectedly switched to “defrost mode,” resulting in the loss of stored food.
Comparable incidents have also been reported in France, where cybercriminals allegedly gained access to temperature-management systems at more than 350 commercial sites. The attacks forced several supermarkets to discard frozen food stocks, while some refrigeration units reportedly experienced temperature fluctuations severe enough to cause fires.
A French supermarket operator estimated that the incidents had caused financial losses worth millions of euros nationwide.
Experts have identified outdated control systems and obsolete software as possible weaknesses that could allow hackers to compromise refrigeration infrastructure. Danish technology company Danfoss also reported that several affected devices in France were running outdated firmware.
Nevertheless, the specific equipment installed at the US military facilities has not yet been identified.
Bill Moore, chief executive of industrial cybersecurity firm Zona Systems, said refrigeration controllers were traditionally managed by technicians working directly at the facilities. However, the increasing connection of these systems to the internet has exposed them to potential cyber intrusions.
Moore cautioned that attacks on refrigeration infrastructure could have consequences far beyond the loss of stored food, potentially interrupting distribution operations and disrupting broader supply chains.
The Global Food Safety Initiative also called earlier this year for closer cooperation between food safety specialists and information technology professionals to strengthen the protection of refrigeration systems against cyber threats.
Previous incidents demonstrate that refrigeration infrastructure has been vulnerable to cyberattacks in different parts of the world. Danfoss reported that older cold-storage controllers manufactured by the company were targeted at supermarkets in Russia and Israel in 2022.
In a separate case, US federal prosecutors charged a Ukrainian woman in December last year over her alleged involvement in a hacking group accused of disabling refrigeration systems at a meat-processing facility in 2024. The incident reportedly resulted in the loss of more than 2,000 pounds of meat.
If investigators establish that the incidents at US military bases were caused by cyberattacks, the case could underscore the expanding risks facing critical infrastructure.
The potential targeting of food storage facilities and refrigeration networks highlights how cyber threats can extend beyond conventional computer systems to essential services and supply chains.
