Project CONDIGN (UK)
"The British Government have long denied they have carried out any secret study of the UFO phenomenon. But they were wrong. Between 1996 and 2000 the Ministry of Defence paid a security-cleared expert... to carry out a study and draw up a secret report on the potential threat posed to the UK by “Unidentified Aerial Phenomena” – UFOs. The report asserts “that UAP exist is indisputable...[they] clearly can exhibit aerodynamic characteristics well beyond those of any known aircraft or missile – either manned or unmanned.” But the study attempts to explain the phenomena [as natural phenomena]." The 4 volume, 460 page report of the study – formerly classified SECRET - was obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request filed by Dr David Clarke and colleague Gary Anthony, and published on the UK MoD website on May 15, 2006. The classified study, completed in March 2000, was codenamed Project Condign. (source: Dr. David Clarke - http://www.uk-ufo.org)
key articles, documents & resources
MoD’s UFO Study – 'The Condign Report' – Background
Dr. David Clarke
Dr David Clarke, senior lecturer in journalism at Sheffield Hallam University, learned of the existence of the classified Project Condign study in January 2005. Dr Clarke and Gary Anthony made a request using the FOI in September that year. The report was released by the MoD in April 2006. Here is an in-depth background article by Dr. Clarke on Project Condign.
Project Condign
Nick Pope, Daily Express (UK), 15 May 2006
On 15 May 2006, under the Freedom of Information Act, the Ministry of Defence published a formerly secret report on UFOs. Much information about UFOs has already been released, both at the National Archives and on the Ministry of Defence's website. But the release of this latest study is different and totally unprecedented.
The Project Condign Report: Official Website for Complete Report
UK Ministry of Defence
The UK Ministry of Defense has published the results of a once-highly-classified official investigation into the existence of Unidentified Flying Objects. The full report of "Project Condign," which is entitled "Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) in the UK Air Defence Region", is available at this site for download in PDF format.
The Project Condign Report: the Executive Summary
UK Ministry of Defence
The Findings and Recommendations of the Project Condign report are contained in this Executive Summary.
The Project Condign Report: Volume 1
UK Ministry of Defence
The Main Report (Volume 1) describes the Background, Methodology used, the Data Base and the Statistical Analysis. For downloading purposes, please note that Volume 1 has been split into several sections.
The Project Condign Report: Volume 2
UK Ministry of Defence
Volume 2 - Supporting Technical Point Papers covering topics relevant to an understanding of the phenomena. Volume 2 is also split into several sections for easier download.
The Project Condign Report: Volume 3
UK Ministry of Defence
Volume 3 considers classified radar performance data and contains an assessment of relevant technologies in the context of potential military applications and an assessment of UAP as potential hazards to aircraft. Volume 3 is also split into several sections.
Valuable UK UFO Project
Isaac Koi, UFO Updates Mailing List, 13 May 2006
As detailed below, I consider the Condign Report to be a very useful and valuable document. The report is valuable as a case study of the risks inherent in scientific research being conducted in secrecy, including the risks of inefficiency and ineffectiveness. R
other articles & documents
MoD's UFO Study - 'The Condign Report' - 1997 Policy Reviewed
Dr. David Clarke
Periodically the MoD’s Air Staff have reviewed their procedures for handling UFO reports and responses to inquiries from members of the public, MPs and the media.
MoD's UFO Study - 'The Condign Report' - Intro/Commentary
Dr. David Clarke
Introduction/commentary on 'The Condign Report'.
MoD's UFO Study - 'The Condign Report' - Summary of Contents
Dr. David Clarke
Summary of the contents of 'The Condign Report'.
Press article: 'British skies UFO-free for last 30 years'
Agence France Presse, May 15, 2006
AFP press report: "None of the numerous UFOs reported over Britain in the last 30 years was a flying saucer, the government said as it released previously secret defence files probing mysterious aerial sightings." R
Press article: 'UFO study finds no sign of aliens'
BBC News, May 7, 2006
BBC press report. "A confidential Ministry of Defence report on Unidentified Flying Objects has concluded that there is no proof of alien life forms. In spite of the secrecy surrounding the UFO study, it seems citizens of planet Earth have little to worry about. The report, which was completed in 2000 and stamped "Secret: UK Eyes Only", has been made public for the first time." R
Press article: 'UFOs? No such thing, secret U.K. study finds'
Reuters, May 8, 2006
Reuters press article on the release of the declassified report of Project Condign. "The Ministry of Defense confirmed on Sunday a secret study completed in December 2000 had found no evidence that “flying saucers” or unidentified flying objects were anything other than natural phenomena." R
UK MoD press release on Project Condign: 'UFOs exist - it's official!'
UK Ministry of Defense
The MOD has today published the results of a once-highly-classified official investigation into the existence of Unidentified Flying Objects. The report concludes that UFOs exist - but are a mixture of natural and-man-made phenomena, rather than evidence of extraterrestrial life.
