THE U.S. Navy is vulnerable to “persistent cyberattacks” from China and other countries due to “aging and fragmented” technology, officials have warned.

An internal memo revealed that sensitive research and data were at risk of being exposed in cyberattacks to countries that want information about the U.S. military's advanced weapon systems, all due to outdated technology, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Worn-down and old technology — some of which dates back to the 1990s — are failing to do their jobs in preventing cyberattacks, Thomas Modly, acting Navy Secretary said in the 17-page memo.

Some sailors have been unable to do simple things like share files, chat or video call, or use cloud collaboration — let alone prevent cybersecurity attacks.

Current systems “fail to deliver modern user experience, and many users work around the network to accomplish their jobs,” the memo said, as reported by the WSJ.

The dated tech limits the Navy’s ability to identify and stop cyberattacks, and once the hackers are inside, U.S. military info becomes exposed.

Modly told the WSJ this has caused information to leak "like a sieve" and given hackers confidence "to do things that perhaps they wouldn't do otherwise."

He added that cybersecurity’s “impact on warfighting and warfighting capability is critical."

In the memo, Modly warned of the threat posed to the military.

The memo said: “Once inside, malign actors steal, destroy and/or modify critical data and information,” WSJ reported.

Alongside the warning of impending threat, Modly called for employees and systems to be audited continuously to help halt attacks.

He also promised for contractors and sub-contractors to aid in cybersecurity efforts.

The memo followed a year after an internal audit found the Navy was “under cyber siege” by Chinese hackers.

In September, the Navy began to restructure systems and appointed Aaron Weis as chief information officer, and assigned other staff that would report to him, WSJ reported.

Although the memo said action is already being taken in effort against hacks, and called for further steps to be taken in combating the cyber attacks, it did not lay out a detailed process that would be taken.

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