MOD file DEFE 24/2032/1

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•• ·... roli of ~he air force in this &.rea is vory clearly set C'".lt. The role of
~~~(4~~-~ -_. -". .
: 1t;~,'· ·air force staff consists solely in estimating whether certarh information
, amongst the evidence that they receive is likely. to affect national defence;·
this is not, in fact so, as we shall shor-tly see.
It is therefore clear that it is not within their province to make any state-
menta on the origin of' such a strange phenomenon, nor to question the veracity
of observations communicated to them officially, either by police or by
territorial or operational high commands.
;a.
However, it is their task, whenever possible, to correlate there observations
with ureal aero-space phenomena" which, under given atmospheric conditionS
might very easily be interpreted by non-specialized observers as strange
phenomena •
.A.ftc:- e.ne~ysis of th~se dossiers from the' tinat:i.onal defence" angle, they are
sent to the CNES (National Centre for space studies) to be examined scienti-
fically.
In 1976, study of reports recorded over 25 yeara by the air force has only
enabled the following facts to be brought to light, from two points of view~
"National deience" 'Point of View
No acts of aggression, either against persons or property, civilian or military,
have been detected.
Tnese strange manifestations do not alter the geo-physical balance of the
terrestrial environment. No atmospheric disturbcm.ce was detected after they
had passed.
Air.defence systems (radar and combat aircraft), which ensure continuous air
cover ~f the national territory, anu also meteorological department radars,
do not 11Vlsualize" UFOs in 99.~ of cases.