British Military Intelligence Probed UFOs in the 1990s Seeking Technological Edge

Declassified records reveal that British military intelligence, specifically the Defence Intelligence Staff (DIS)—now known as Defence Intelligence—engaged in serious investigations into Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) throughout the 1990s. The primary motivation behind these inquiries was the potential to acquire advanced, possibly extraterrestrial, technology. This heightened investigative activity followed a significant surge in reported sightings, as confirmed by documentation recently transferred to The National Archives in Kew.

Internal memos from the era underscore the seriousness with which these reports were treated. For instance, a document dated March 4, 1997, suggested that if a substantial number of individuals reported observing unusual aerial objects, there was likely a factual basis underpinning these sightings. Furthermore, these intelligence assessments noted that the reported maneuvers far exceeded the capabilities of contemporary engineering knowledge and the expected performance of potential adversaries.

Intelligence officers paid particular attention to a wave of thousands of sightings reported across Belgium between late 1989 and early 1990. These incidents frequently involved large, silent, low-flying black triangles. According to the Belgian Ministry of Defence, these craft were observed hovering before suddenly accelerating to supersonic speeds, easily outdistancing accompanying F-16 fighter jets. This performance led one internal memorandum to speculate: If this represents genuine technology, perhaps it should be acquired. The reports also highlighted that the Belgian craft appeared to lack conventional jet propulsion, strongly suggesting a technological leap.

The scope of the DIS investigation was broad, encompassing notable historical events. The infamous Rendlesham Forest incident from December 1980, where US military personnel stationed at RAF Woodbridge in Suffolk reported glowing lights and a suspected object landing, was also reviewed alongside the Belgian events. In both cases, the DIS noted that the observed UAP exhibited agility surpassing known engineering limits. Internal correspondence emphasized that identifying the technology behind these phenomena, and potentially securing it, was a clear mandate for the DIS, regardless of the objects' ultimate origin.

Despite this intense internal scrutiny, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) officially concluded its dedicated investigation into UAP reports in 2009. The official rationale cited the need to redirect personnel resources toward more pressing defense activities. More recently, in late 2024, the Minister for Armed Forces Readiness, Luke Pollard, confirmed that no resources are currently allocated to such inquiries. He also stated that over more than five decades, no UAP report has indicated a direct military threat to the United Kingdom. All MoD files concerning UFOs created prior to 2009 have since been archived. This historical period clearly demonstrates the military establishment's strategic interest in understanding technology that was beyond their current grasp, viewing it through a lens similar to conventional weapons development.