In documents that have emerged in The National Archives in Kew, it has reportedly been indicated that a military intelligence unit in the 1990s took the topic seriously
Matt Davies Trendswatch Reporter
15:02, 04 Jan 2026
The Defence Intelligence Staff was reportedly tasked with investigating “unidentified aerial phenomena” or UAP
(Image: Getty Images)
Military intelligence pondered whether UAP technology “should be acquired” and they may have alluded to black triangle UFO sightings on the continent, historic documents suggest.
In eye-opening documents that emerged in The National Archives in Kew, Richmond, it has reportedly been indicated that a military intelligence unit in the 1990s took the often stigmatised topic seriously.
The Defence Intelligence Staff (the former name of Defence Intelligence, an organisation in the Ministry of Defence) was tasked with investigating “unidentified aerial phenomena” or UAP, an acronym that has also gained traction in modern times.
Indeed, in a memo (dated March 4, 1997), the author spoke of “strange objects in the sky” and acknowledged that there “may be a basis in fact” before suggesting they could even pose a risk to national security.
As reported by The Sunday Times, it reads: “Logic would indicate that if significant numbers are reporting seeing strange objects in the sky then there may be a basis in fact.
“It could be argued that UAPs pose a potential threat to the defence of the realm since we have no idea what they are!”
A military intelligence unit in the 1990s reportedly took the often stigmatised topic seriously
(Image: DoD/AFP via Getty Images)
In a further revelation, a report appeared to allude to the notorious black triangle UAP – the subject of various reports from people in Belgium from 1989 to 1990 – and it implied that they wanted to harness the technology.
In the report, which also refers to the incredible speed of the craft, it reads: “A supplementary issue is the possibility of technology acquisition. UAPs do not appear to use conventional reaction propulsion.
“The Belgian deltas (confirmed by the country’s MoD) hovered for long periods and accelerated quickly to supersonic speeds, outrunning F-16s. If this represents real technology perhaps it should be acquired.”
It wouldn’t be the only case that the documents referred to, however, as mention was also made of the Rendlesham Forest incident, noting that it was “confirmed by the US unit commander and others”.
Mention was also made of the Rendlesham Forest incident
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It refers, of course, to the famous British case involving personnel from the US Air Force, situated at RAF Bentwaters and RAF Woodbridge in Suffolk. Back in December 1980, they reported seeing bizarre lights and a UFO in the forest.
In reference to the two incidents, both Rendlesham Forest and the Belgian triangles, the document noted that the craft appeared not to have what was described as a “conventional” propulsion system.
It also detailed how they could reportedly hover and travel at “considerable” speeds and referred to a French “interest” in the subject, an American “intelligence grouping” and a so-called “Moscow report”.
In terms of the latter, it was also implied that two scientists were “responsible” for these types of craft. In a further revealing letter, it divulged that the technology, if it was indeed real, would represent an innovation that they weren’t in possession of.