Project Condign

Background

Project Condign was a secret unidentified flying object (UFO) study undertaken by the British Government's Defence Intelligence Staff (DIS) between 1997 and 2000. The study compiled a 400-page report titled Unidentified Aerial Phenomena in the UK Air Defence Region.

• Based on approximately 10,000 sightings gathered by DI55, a section within the Directorate of Scientific and Technical Intelligence
• Released to the public on 15 May 2006 following a Freedom of Information Act request
• Requested by UFO researchers David Clarke and Gary Anthony

Key Findings

The report concluded that UFOs had an observable presence but found no evidence of hostile intent.

• Most sightings attributed to misidentification of common objects
• Unexplained cases proposed to result from 'Buoyant Plasma Formation' phenomena similar to ball lightning
• Overall assessment: UFOs demonstrated an observable presence in the UK Air Defence Region