UK Ministry of Defence

Background

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is the British government department responsible for implementing defence policy.

• Since the 1950s, it has maintained an interest in UFO sightings within the UK Air Defence Region.
• Initially through the secret Flying Saucer Working Party (1950) and later through a dedicated UFO desk within Secretariat (Air Staff).

UAP Involvement

Over the decades, the MoD received over 12,000 sighting reports and conducted investigations.

• Including the classified Project Condign study (1996-2000).
• In December 2009, the MoD closed its public-facing UFO desk.
• Stating that in over fifty years no evidence had been found of a threat.
• Confirmed that genuine airspace incursions would still be handled through normal defence channels.

Key Contributions

The MoD's work focused on assessing potential defence implications of UFO reports.

• Maintained dedicated structures for handling sightings over decades.
• Conducted secret studies like Project Condign.