DEFENCE chiefs "can't rule out the idea" that aliens were visiting or observing earth and must “keep an open mind”, top secret documents obtained by Sun Online reveal.

The files, which have not yet been released to the public, also reveal how intelligence and defence chiefs within the Ministry of Defence were “at war” about whether to investigate UFOs.

5 Secret government document reveal defence chiefs believed in the possibility of alien visitation Credit: Getty

The MoD decided to release all its UFO-related documents in 2008 - and all were made public apart from two, which have now been seen by Sun Online.

In one bombshell file, radar experts state: "...we cannot rule out entirely the idea of extra-terrestrial observation/visitation, either covert or overt.

“Our current policy to retain an open mind on these matters is therefore probably correct."

In another 1997 report MoD intelligence officers state: "The only logical conclusion that we can come to is that we do not know if UAPs [unidentified aerial phenomena] represent a threat to the defence of the realm.

"We cannot eliminate the possibility."

The files show how relations became strained between the open-minded Defence Intelligence Staff (DIS) - the MoD’s intelligence faction - and the sceptical Sec(AS) department, which handled UFO policy issues.



Government at war over UFOs

Following one meeting between the opposing sides, one member of DIS writes about a female member of Sec(AS): "...she believes that all sightings are explainable

“When asked on what basis of logic or analysis this had been done there was none."

Another document reveals how Sec(AS) staff angered intelligence staff by only forwarding to them UFO reports they deemed credible.

According to the files, DIS wanted to do in-depth research into the UFO phenomenon including going back through the archives and looking for patterns.

The documents, which span the years 1992 to 2003, show Sec(AS) were worried about this, stating they had “some concerns about what is planned”.

They were concerned that by researching UFO sightings, the MoD would contradict what they had told Parliament, which is that the UFO topic had "no defence significance" and wasn’t being studied in depth.

We cannot rule out entirely the idea of extra-terrestrial observation/visitation, either covert or overt Ministry of Defence official

"How are we able to maintain the line that the Government's policy is not to examine reports [of UFOs] further and that we have nothing to hide?"a 1997 letter from Sec(AS), included in the files, reads.

Nick Pope, who headed up the UK’s UFO project - as part of Sec (AS) - was sent the documents by the MoD before their public release and shared them with Sun Online.

He said: “These files show how different divisions at the MoD were at war with each other over the UFO issue.

“I had an excellent working relationship with colleagues in the Defence Intelligence Staff and because I had a high security clearance and the same open-minded views on the phenomenon, our positions were seamless.

“Sadly, things broke down after 1994, when I was promoted and moved to another job.

“For whatever reasons, my successors clearly didn't enjoy the same good working relationship with the DIS that I had, and things went wildly off-track.

“It was ridiculous for my successors to try to filter reports by forwarding only those they deemed credible, because they had no clue how intelligence works, and were clearly regarded with contempt by the real experts.



The truth is out there (soon)

“I don't know if it was scepticism, laziness, or even religious belief - some government officials oppose serious UFO research because they believe the phenomenon is demonic - but for whatever reason, some of my successors wanted to get out of the subject altogether.”

Although the UFO project officially ended in 2009, Nick believes the phenomenon is still being investigated by intelligence chiefs.

“While they may think they won the battle in 2009 when the MoD terminated its UFO project, intelligence officers don't stop being interested in anomalous sightings if they think there are threats and opportunities in terms of technology acquisition.

"This is irrespective of whether they believe the good-quality UFO sightings are generated by foreign military aircraft or drones, exotic atmospheric plasma phenomena - or extra-terrestrial visitation.

“I'm sure they're still looking at such things, but outside the scope of a formally-constituted UFO program.

"As seems to have been the case in the US with the Pentagon's AATIP program, the UK's current UFO project is probably hidden by virtue of being embedded in an intelligence program looking at future aerospace threats."

Most read in news HAPPY MEAL McDonald’s worker pays customer’s bill after he calls mum to ask for her order Exclusive HAPPY MEAL McDonald’s worker who paid for lad’s meal has secretly bought food for MONTHS Exclusive PIERS PRESSURE Couple wiped out village's internet for 18 MONTHS to watch Piers on £30 TV 'we need it more than ever' PM backs The Sun's campaign to save Poppy Appeal from Covid STORE TOT SNATCH Family's horror as 'kidnap gang try to rip girl, 1, from pram' in TK Maxx TIME AT THE BAR Boozy Brits kicked out of pubs & bars across UK early as 10pm curfew begins

The documents are due to be released later this year and Nick hopes they will be placed in the National Archives as soon as possible, digitized and available free of charge so the public can see for themselves "the dramas and disagreements" the UFO subject caused.

“This is a fascinating part of the official history of the most bizarre subject the MoD ever handled and I think people would be surprised, amused and intrigued to find out that MoD officials got drawn into just the same believer versus sceptic arguments about UFOs that one sees anywhere else,” he said.

“The only difference was that the stakes were higher: the prize was the chance to set government policy on the issue.”

5 The two documents - each containing hundreds of files - are the only remaining UFO documents not yet made public by the MoD Credit: Alamy

5 The files are currently listed as 'closed and retained' by the MoD on the National Archives website Credit: National Archives website

5 Nick Pope used to run the MoD's UFO programme

5 Nick says some MoD staff didn't want to investigate the UFO topic as they believed it was 'demonic' Credit: Getty

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.