UFO Policy and Policy Statements 1970–1971 (AIR 2/19086)

The file contains correspondence, briefing papers and policy statements concerning how the UK Ministry of Defence should respond to public and parliamentary inquiries about UFOs. It records the MOD's long-standing view that UFO reports are examined only to determine whether they present any defence or security threat; once it is established that they do not, no further action is taken. Most sightings are attributed to conventional explanations such as aircraft, balloons, satellites, meteors or atmospheric phenomena. The documents illustrate the MOD's desire to limit resources devoted to the subject and to avoid encouraging speculation about extraterrestrial visitation. No evidence of any threat to UK defence was identified in the reviewed cases.