View source for UNIT

{{short description|Fictional military intelligence organization in the Doctor Who franchise}}
{{Other uses|Unit (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox fictional organisation
| universe = [[Whoniverse]]
| italic_title = no
| title = {{noitalic|Unified Intelligence Taskforce}}
| image = [[File:U.N.I.T logo.svg|240px|frameless|class=skin-invert]]
| caption = Logo used since "[[The Star Beast (Doctor Who episode)|The Star Beast]]" (2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/doctor-who-season-14-finale-episodes-to-watch/|title=Doctor Who's RTD Lists 5 Episodes To Watch Before The Season 14 Finale|last=Graham-Lowery|first=Nathan|date=12 June 2024|accessdate=14 June 2024|work=[[ScreenRant]]|archive-date=16 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240616070821/https://screenrant.com/doctor-who-season-14-finale-episodes-to-watch/|url-status=live}}</ref>| type = [[Intelligence agency]], [[military organisation]]
| founded  = 
| location = Worldwide
*[[Geneva]], Switzerland
*[[Snowdon]], Wales (Unit Base 5)
*UNIT Tower, London, England
*The site of the former [[Pyramids of Mars|Scarman]] estate, England
*Under the [[Tower of London]], England
*[[Manhattan]], New York City, USA
*Airborne aircraft carrier the ''Valiant''
*UNIT Moonbase
| key_people = {{unbulleted list
| [[Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]]
| John Benton
| [[The Doctor (Doctor Who)|The Doctor]]
| [[Liz Shaw]]
| [[Jo Grant]]
| Mike Yates
| [[Harry Sullivan (Doctor Who)|Harry Sullivan]]
| [[Martha Jones]]
| [[Kate Lethbridge-Stewart]]
| [[Tegan Jovanka]]
| [[Ace (Doctor Who)|Ace]]
| [[Melanie Bush]]
| [[Donna Noble]]
| [[Ruby Sunday]]
}}
| purpose = Defending Earth from [[Extraterrestrials in fiction|extraterrestrial]] and [[paranormal]] threats
| technologies = Unreliable access to [[Gallifrey]]an technology, advanced translation software, Galvanic Beam, the Vlinx
| powers = Military authority in UN member countries
| subsid =
| footnotes =
}}

'''UNIT''' is a fictional [[military organisation]] from the British [[science fiction television]] series ''[[Doctor Who]]'' and its spin-off series ''[[Torchwood]]'' and ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]''. Operating under the auspices of the United Nations and initially led by [[Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]], its purpose is to investigate and combat [[paranormal]] and [[Extraterrestrials in fiction|extraterrestrial]] threats to Earth. Several UNIT personnel (such as the Brigadier, Sergeant Benton and Mike Yates) played a major role in the original ''Doctor Who'' series, and it was a regular feature from ''[[The Invasion (Doctor Who)|The Invasion]]'' (1968) until ''[[The Seeds of Doom]]'' (1976).

Originally referred to as the '''United Nations Intelligence Taskforce''', it was revealed in 2005 that the real-life [[UN]] was no longer happy being associated with the fictional organisation and UNIT's full name could now no longer be used (the "UNIT" and "UN" abbreviations could be used as long as it was not explained what the letters stood for).<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Davies |first=Russell T |author-link=Russell T Davies |date=14 September 2005 |title=Bay Watch |magazine=[[Doctor Who Magazine]] |location=Tunbridge Wells |publisher=[[Panini Comics|Panini Publishing Ltd]] |issue=360 |page=66 }}</ref> The organisation was renamed to the '''Unified Intelligence Taskforce'''<ref name="sfx">{{cite magazine |last=Davies |first=Russell T |author-link=Russell T Davies |date=April 2008 |title=Calling UNIT! |magazine=[[SFX (magazine)|SFX]] |page=47}}</ref> in 2008, with the name first being used in the episode "[[The Sontaran Stratagem]]". Despite the series now distancing itself from the real-life UN, dialogue in the episode, and several since, indicates that the in-world fictional version of the United Nations still supports UNIT.<ref name="sontaran stratagem">{{cite episode |title=The Sontaran Stratagem |episode-link=The Sontaran Stratagem |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Helen (writer) |last=Raynor |author-link=Helen Raynor |first2=Douglas (director) |last2=Mackinnon |author-link2=Douglas Mackinnon |network=BBC |station=[[BBC One]] |date=26 April 2008 |series-no=4 |number=4 }}</ref>

== Creation ==
[[File:UNIT logo.jpg|200px|left|thumb|U.N.I.T logo, first seen in the 1968 ''[[Doctor Who]]'' story ''[[The Invasion (Doctor Who)|The Invasion]]'']]

In a 2014 interview, former script editor [[Terrance Dicks]] recalled that he was present at the "birth" of UNIT during the production of the 1968 ''Doctor Who'' serial ''[[The Invasion (Doctor Who)|The Invasion]].'' He credited writer and script editor [[Derrick Sherwin]] and producer [[Peter Bryant]] as having come up with the idea beforehand, saying that they were testing the concept in ''The Invasion'' before it had become central to the show in the ''Doctor Who'' serial ''[[Spearhead from Space]]'' (1970).<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Dicks |first1=Terrance |author-link=Terrance Dicks |last2=Adams |first2=Matt |last3=Southwell |first3=David |date=August 2014 |title=A Ferocious Appetite for Words... |magazine=[[Doctor Who Magazine]] |location=Tunbridge Wells |publisher=[[Panini Comics|Panini UK Ltd]] |issue=475 |page=24}}</ref> In a series of interviews originally recorded for the 2006 DVD of the ''Doctor Who'' serial ''[[Inferno (Doctor Who)|Inferno]]'' (1970), actor [[Nicholas Courtney]], who played [[Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]] in ''The Invasion'', similarly described ''The Invasion'' as a "dummy run" for the idea of [[The Doctor (Doctor Who)|the Doctor]], the main [[protagonist]] of ''Doctor Who'', being exiled to Earth. Dicks also said that the idea of exiling the Doctor was done because making every serial take place on Earth was cheaper to produce than if every serial had to have a new alien planet built, and that UNIT was an idea Sherwin had come up with to answer the question of what to do with the Doctor after he was exiled to Earth.<ref name="unit family">{{cite AV media |people=[[Nicholas Courtney|Courtney, Nicholas]]; [[Terrance Dicks|Dicks, Terrance]]; [[Caroline John|John, Caroline]]; [[Barry Letts|Letts, Barry]]; [[John Levene|Levene, John]]; [[Derrick Sherwin|Sherwin, Derrick]]; [[Derek Ware (actor)|Ware, Derek]] |date=2006 |title=The U.N.I.T Family part one |type=DVD |publisher=[[BBC Worldwide]] |id=BBCDVD3671 }}</ref> Speaking in an interview on the 2012 DVD of the ''Doctor Who'' serial ''[[The Krotons]]'' (1968–69), Sherwin said that he wanted ''Doctor Who'' to be "down on Earth anyway, for credibility", and described UNIT as "the ideal vehicle" for this.<ref>{{cite AV media |first=Richard |last=Heffer |author-link=Richard Heffer |first2=Anneke |last2=Wills |author-link2=Anneke Wills |first3=Robert |last3=Shearman |author-link3=Robert Shearman |first4=Gary |last4=Russell |author-link4=Gary Russell |first5=Christopher |last5=Barry |author-link5=Christopher Barry |first6=Patrick |last6=Troughton |author-link6=Patrick Troughton |first7=Jon |last7=Pertwee |author-link7=Jon Pertwee |first8=Frazer |last8=Hines |author-link8=Frazer Hines |first9=Deborah |last9=Watling |author-link9=Deborah Watling |first10=Victor |last10=Pemberton |author-link10=Victor Pemberton |first11=Derrick |last11=Sherwin |author-link11=Derrick Sherwin |first12=Terrance |last12=Dicks |author-link12=Terrance Dicks |first13=Wendy |last13=Padbury |author-link13=Wendy Padbury |date=2012 |title=Second Time Around: The Troughton Years |type=DVD |publisher=[[BBC Worldwide]] |id=BBCDVD3480 }}</ref>

In another 2014 interview in ''Doctor Who Magazine'', Sherwin recalled that after submitting his scripts for ''The Invasion'' to Bryant, which included UNIT, Sherwin, who was also working freelance as a script editor, was told by Bryant to introduce his UNIT idea earlier, as it could "take some of the weight off [the] shoulders" of actor [[Patrick Troughton]], who played the Doctor.<ref name="dwm sherwin interview">{{cite magazine |last1=Sherwin |first1=Derrick |author-link=Derrick Sherwin |last2=Adams |first2=Matt |date=December 2014 |title=Down to Earth |magazine=[[Doctor Who Magazine]] |location=Tunbridge Wells |publisher=[[Panini Comics|Panini UK Ltd]] |issue=479 |page=57}}</ref> Speaking in an interview on the 2011 special-edition DVD of ''Spearhead from Space'', Sherwin said that he had created UNIT because he wanted to give some "considerable support" to the Doctor, "so that [Troughton] didn't have so many damn lines to learn each week".<ref>{{cite AV media |people=Kennedy, Carl; [[Derrick Sherwin|Sherwin, Derrick]]; [[Terrance Dicks|Dicks, Terrance]]; [[Jon Pertwee|Pertwee, Jon]]; [[Christine Rawlins|Rawlins, Christine]]; Squire, Robin; [[Barry Letts|Letts, Barry]] |date=2011 |title=Down to Earth: Filming Spearhead from Space |type=DVD |publisher=[[BBC Worldwide]] |id=BBCDVD3135A }}</ref>

Sherwin said in 2014 that while working as script editor on the ''Doctor Who'' serial ''[[The Web of Fear]]'' (1968), which included several [[British Army]] characters, he told scriptwriters [[Mervyn Haisman]] and [[Henry Lincoln]] to include all of the characters that he had originally invented for ''The Invasion''. Sherwin was uncertain if the military characters featured in ''The Web of Fear'' were part of UNIT, but was "convinced" that, as a teaser for UNIT's more substantial role in ''The Invasion'', ''The Web of Fear'' was supposed to have replaced the military characters that were seen in the story.<ref name="dwm sherwin interview"/> Sherwin asserted that he held the copyright on Lethbridge-Stewart, as he "created him in ''The Invasion''".<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Sherwin |first1=Derrick |author-link=Derrick Sherwin |last2=Adams |first2=Matt |date=December 2014 |title=Down to Earth |magazine=[[Doctor Who Magazine]] |location=Tunbridge Wells |publisher=[[Panini Comics|Panini UK Ltd]] |issue=479 |page=60}}</ref> In an interview recorded for the 2006 DVD release of ''Inferno'', Sherwin described ''The Invasion'' as the start of UNIT and the beginning of the Doctor "coming down to Earth".<ref name="unit family"/> Production notes in ''Doctor Who: The Complete History'' credit Haisman and Lincoln as the owners of Lethbridge-Stewart, who was the army commander from ''The Web of Fear'', and mention how Bryant and director [[Douglas Camfield]] were negotiating the use of the character for ''The Invasion'' from Haisman and Lincoln in May 1968,<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Ainsworth |editor1-first=John |date=2015 |title=Doctor Who: The Complete History |volume=13 |publisher=[[Panini Comics|Panini Magazines]]/[[Hachette (publisher)|Hachette Partworks Ltd]] |pages=57–58 |issn=2057-6048 }}</ref> subsequent to ''The Web of Fear'' being broadcast in February and March.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Ainsworth |editor1-first=John |date=2016 |title=Doctor Who: The Complete History |volume=131 |publisher=[[Panini Comics|Panini Magazines]]/[[Hachette (publisher)|Hachette Partworks Ltd]] |pages=138–140 |issn=2057-6048 }}</ref> ''The Web of Fear'' is also described in the notes as being a "major influence on ''The Invasion''".<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Ainsworth |editor1-first=John |date=2015 |title=Doctor Who: The Complete History |volume=13 |publisher=[[Panini Comics|Panini Magazines]]/[[Hachette (publisher)|Hachette Partworks Ltd]] |page=57 |issn=2057-6048 }}</ref>

==Fictional history==
[[File:UNIT wing.png|left|thumb|UNIT insignia first used in ''[[Battlefield (Doctor Who)|Battlefield]]'' (1989)]]
[[File:UNIT wing 2.png|left|thumb|UNIT variation insignia first used in ''[[Battlefield (Doctor Who)|Battlefield]]'' (1989)]]

The roots of UNIT in the ''Doctor Who'' universe lie in the [[Second Doctor]] serial ''[[The Web of Fear]]'' (1968), following which the organisation is named and established in ''[[The Invasion (Doctor Who)|The Invasion]]'' (1968).<ref name="the invasion">{{cite serial |title=[[The Invasion (Doctor Who)|The Invasion]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Derrick (writer) |last=Sherwin |author-link=Derrick Sherwin |first2=Douglas (director) |last2=Camfield |author-link2=Douglas Camfield |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC1]] |date=2 November – 21 December 1968 }}</ref> According to "[[Survivors of the Flux]]" (2021), UNIT was founded in 1958 and built over the subsequent decade, with Lethbridge-Stewart joining the taskforce after it failed to act on the events of the First Doctor story ''[[The War Machines]]'' (1966).

Following ''The Invasion'', the contribution of scientific advice in battling extraterrestrial threats is recognised and both Dr [[Liz Shaw|Elizabeth Shaw]] and the exiled [[Third Doctor]] joins UNIT just in time to help defeat the [[Auton]]s in ''[[Spearhead from Space]]'' (1970).<ref name="spearhead">{{cite serial |title=[[Spearhead from Space]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Robert (writer) |last=Holmes |author-link=Robert Holmes (scriptwriter) |first2=Derek (director) |last2=Martinus |author-link2=Derek Martinus |network=BBC |station=BBC1 |date=3–24 January 1970 }}</ref>

UNIT continued to feature in ''Doctor Who'' after ''Spearhead'', but when the Third Doctor's exile is lifted in ''[[The Three Doctors (Doctor Who)|The Three Doctors]]'' (1972–73),<ref name="the three doctors">{{cite serial |title=[[The Three Doctors (Doctor Who)|The Three Doctors]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Bob |last=Baker |author-link=Bob Baker (scriptwriter) |first2=Dave (writers) |last2=Martin |author-link2=Dave Martin (screenwriter) |first3=Lennie (director) |last3=Mayne |author-link3=Lennie Mayne |network=BBC |station=BBC1 |date=30 December 1972 }}</ref> his association with UNIT becomes more sporadic, especially after his [[Regeneration (Doctor Who)|regeneration]] into his [[Fourth Doctor|fourth incarnation]] at the end of ''[[Planet of the Spiders]]'' (1974).<ref>{{cite serial |title=[[Planet of the Spiders]] |episode=Part Six |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Robert (writer) |last=Sloman |author-link=Robert Sloman |first2=Barry (director) |last2=Letts |author-link2=Barry Letts |network=BBC |station=BBC1 |date=8 June 1974 }}</ref> Although the last appearance of UNIT in the series for many years was in ''[[The Seeds of Doom]]'' (1976),<ref name="seeds of doom">{{cite serial |title=[[The Seeds of Doom]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Robert Banks (writer) |last=Stewart |author-link=Robert Banks Stewart |first2=Douglas (director) |last2=Camfield |author-link2=Douglas Camfield |network=BBC |station=BBC1 |date=31 January – 6 March 1976 }}</ref> the organisation continued to execute its mandate to investigate and combat alien activity. The final appearance of UNIT during the original run of ''Doctor Who'' was the Seventh Doctor serial ''[[Battlefield (Doctor Who)|Battlefield]]'' (1989).<ref name="battlefield">{{cite serial |title=[[Battlefield (Doctor Who)|Battlefield]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Ben (writer) |last=Aaronovitch |author-link=Ben Aaronovitch |first2=Michael (director) |last2=Kerrigan |author-link2=Michael Kerrigan |network=BBC |station=BBC1 |date=6–27 September 1989 }}</ref>

UNIT is mentioned by both its acronym and full name in the [[Doctor Who (series 1)|2005 series]] episodes "[[Aliens of London]]" and "[[World War Three (Doctor Who)|World War Three]]", where it sent a delegation to a gathering of experts at [[10 Downing Street]].<ref name="aliens of london">{{cite episode |title=Aliens of London |episode-link=Aliens of London |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Russell T (writer) |last=Davies |author-link=Russell T Davies |first2=Keith (director) |last2=Boak |author-link2=Keith Boak |network=[[BBC One]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=16 April 2005 |series-no=1 |number=4 }}</ref><ref>{{cite episode |title=World War Three |episode-link=World War Three (Doctor Who) |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Russell T (writer) |last=Davies |author-link=Russell T Davies |first2=Keith (director) |last2=Boak |author-link2=Keith Boak |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=23 April 2005 |series-no=1 |number=5 }}</ref> UNIT appeared again the same year in "[[The Christmas Invasion]]".<ref name="christmas invasion">{{Cite episode |title=The Christmas Invasion |episode-link=The Christmas Invasion |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Russell T (writer) |last=Davies |author-link=Russell T Davies |first2=James (director) |last2=Hawes |author-link2=James Hawes |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=25 December 2005 }}</ref> In addition to ''Doctor Who'', UNIT has also featured in the spin-off series ''[[Torchwood]]''<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Reset |episode-link=Reset (Torchwood) |series=Torchwood |series-link=Torchwood |first=J.C. (writer) |last=Wilsher |author-link=J.C. Wilsher |first2=Ashley (director) |last2=Way |author-link2=Ashley Way |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC Three]] |date=13 February 2008 |series-no=2 |number=6 }}</ref> and ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]''.<ref>{{cite serial |title=[[Enemy of the Bane]] |series=The Sarah Jane Adventures |series-link=The Sarah Jane Adventures |first=Phil (writer) |last=Ford |author-link=Phil Ford (writer) |first2=Graeme (director) |last2=Harper |author-link2=Graeme Harper |network=[[CBBC (TV channel)|CBBC]] |date=1–8 December 2008 }}</ref>

From "[[The Power of Three (Doctor Who)|The Power of Three]]" (2012), the first on screen appearance of UNIT in any [[Whoniverse]] media since the two-part ''Doctor Who'' special "[[The End of Time (Doctor Who)|The End of Time]]" in 2009–2010, UNIT has been shown to have been reorganised by Kate Stewart, the Brigadier's daughter.<ref name="the power of three">{{Cite episode |title=The Power of Three |episode-link=The Power of Three (Doctor Who) |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Chris (writer) |last=Chibnall |author-link=Chris Chibnall |first2=Douglas (director) |last2=Mackinnon |author-link2=Douglas Mackinnon |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=22 September 2012 |series-no=7 |number=4 }}</ref>

In the 2019 New Year special "[[Resolution (Doctor Who)|Resolution]]", the [[Thirteenth Doctor]] attempts to call on Kate Stewart for assistance, but discovers UNIT operations have been suspended and replaced with an outsourced call centre, due to a diplomatic argument over funding.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/doctor-who-and-the-rejuvenation-of-the-daleks-1831418584|title=Doctor Who and the Rejuvenation of the Daleks|first=James|last=Whitbrook|website=io9|date=2 January 2019 }}</ref>

In the 2020 New Year's Day episode, "[[Spyfall (Doctor Who)|Spyfall, Part 1]]", it is stated that UNIT and [[Torchwood Institute|Torchwood]] no longer exist.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/doctor-who-season-12-torchwood-unit/|title = Doctor Who Writes Out Torchwood & UNIT with a Single Line|website = [[Screen Rant]]|date = 2 January 2020}}</ref> The 2021 episode "[[Survivors of the Flux]]" reveals it to be caused by Grand Serpent, a political figure who assumed the identity of Prentis and was instrumental in UNIT's formation, to facilitate the Sontarans’ invasion of Earth during the Flux crisis. UNIT is resurrected in the 2022 BBC Centenary special "[[The Power of the Doctor]]", once again under the leadership of Kate Stewart with a new building in London which is demolished by the end of the episode to defeat the [[Cybermen]].

By the time of the 2023 [[Doctor Who (2023 specials)|60th anniversary specials]] UNIT has relocated to a new headquarters in a skyscraper in the [[City of London]], while remaining under the leadership of Kate Stewart.

In "[[Lucky Day (Doctor Who)|Lucky Day]]," (2025), a young conspiracy theorist named Conrad Clark, who was rejected by Kate Stewart, tried to destroy UNIT by falsely exposing them as frauds, something that he is nearly successful in. When he tried to infiltrate UNIT HQ, Kate released an alien creature called the Shreek upon Conrad and refusing to help him until Conrad admitted that he was lying for personal gain all while live-streaming the entire thing to his social media. Although UNIT is saved as a result, Kate's willingness to cross the line and the potential consequences of her actions started affecting her.

==Organisation==
[[File:UNIT logo 2.png|left|thumb|UNIT logo no longer in use]]

UNIT's status is supported by enabling legislation that allows it to assume [[State of emergency|emergency]] powers when necessary.<ref>{{cite serial |title=[[The Green Death]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Robert (writer) |last=Sloman |author-link=Robert Sloman |first2=Michael E. (director) |last2=Briant |author-link2=Michael E. Briant |network=BBC |station=BBC1 |date=19 May – 23 June 1973 }}</ref> Although it operates under the authority of the United Nations, its members are seconded from the host country's military and are still bound to obey that [[chain of command]].<ref name="spearhead"/> Within the UK section of UNIT, ranks are taken from the British Army: Lethbridge-Stewart is a [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|brigadier]],<ref name="the invasion"/> Yates is a captain,<ref name="terror of the autons">{{cite serial |title=[[Terror of the Autons]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Robert (writer) |last=Holmes |author-link=Robert Holmes (scriptwriter) |first2=Barry (producer) |last2=Letts |author-link2=Barry Letts |network=BBC |station=BBC1 |date=2–23 January 1971 }}</ref> a major appears in ''[[The Seeds of Doom]]'' (1976) and "[[The Christmas Invasion]]" (2005),<ref name="christmas invasion"/> and a colonel and a captain appear in "[[The Sontaran Stratagem]]"/"[[The Poison Sky]]" (2008).<ref name="sontaran stratagem"/><ref name="poison sky">{{cite episode |title=The Poison Sky |episode-link=The Poison Sky |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Helen (writer) |last=Raynor |author-link=Helen Raynor |first2=Douglas (director) |last2=Mackinnon |author-link2=Douglas Mackinnon |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=3 May 2008 |series-no=4 |number=5 }}</ref> UNIT personnel are seconded from all three branches of the [[British Armed Forces]], and are still bound by the [[chain of command]]. Major Blake reports to the Prime Minister in "The Christmas Invasion".<ref name="christmas invasion"/> UNIT is able to call on the conventional military branches for support, and in ''The Seeds of Doom'' gets the RAF to provide precision air-strikes. Due to the international nature of the organisation, it is sometimes viewed with suspicion by local military and national security agencies, who feel that it might impinge on their sovereignty.<ref name="ambassadors of death">{{cite serial |title=[[The Ambassadors of Death]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=David (writer) |last=Whitaker |author-link=David Whitaker (screenwriter) |first2=Michael (director) |last2=Ferguson |author-link2=Michael Ferguson (director) |network=BBC |station=BBC1 |date=21 March – 2 May 1970 }}</ref> UNIT's existence is known to the public, but mainly as a security organisation with scientific expertise;<ref name="the three doctors"/> its actual agenda is classified. Although the Brigadier originally states that UNIT do not arrest people,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/invasion/detail.shtml |title=Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide – The Invasion – Details |publisher=BBC |access-date=2017-05-28}}</ref> as of the 21st century, UNIT has the authority to detain persons indefinitely without trial, appeal, outside contact or legal representation, as experienced by [[Toshiko Sato]] before she was recruited to work for the British government by the [[Torchwood Institute]] in a flashback in the ''[[Torchwood]]'' episode "[[Fragments (Torchwood)|Fragments]]" (2008).<ref>{{cite episode |title=Fragments |episode-link=Fragments (Torchwood) |series=Torchwood |series-link=Torchwood |first=Chris (writer) |last=Chibnall |author-link=Chris Chibnall |first2=Jonathan Fox (director) |last2=Bassett |author-link2=Jonathan Fox Bassett |network=BBC |station=[[BBC Three]] |date=21 March 2008 |series-no=2 |number=12 }}</ref> The organisation was rearranged by Kate Stewart, the daughter of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. In "[[The Power of Three (Doctor Who)|The Power of Three]]" (2012), Kate heads UNIT's scientific research department, which now has authority over the military branch.<ref name="the power of three"/>

===Equipment===

British members of UNIT have been armed with standard British Army weapons such as the [[L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle]], [[Sterling submachine gun]], and [[Browning Hi-Power]] pistol, and they have worn [[58 pattern webbing]]. They are also shown using heavy weaponry such as bazookas, machine guns, mortars and, in ''[[Terror of the Zygons]]'' (1975), a [[depth charge]] launcher.<ref name="terror of the zygons">{{cite serial |title=[[Terror of the Zygons]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Robert Banks (writer) |last=Stewart |author-link=Robert Banks Stewart |first2=Douglas (director) |last2=Camfield |author-link2=Douglas Camfield |network=BBC |station=BBC1 |date=30 August – 20 September 1975 }}</ref> For ''[[Battlefield (Doctor Who)|Battlefield]]'' (1989), they have the [[Steyr AUG]] assault rifle while the Brigadier still uses a [[Webley Revolver]].<ref name="battlefield"/> In the 2000s, they use [[Heckler & Koch G36C]] carbine, the [[M4 carbine]] (with different scopes used such as [[Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight|ACOG]] and [[holographic weapon sight]]s, as well as equipping [[CQBR|CQB receivers]] for indoor use<ref name="poison sky"/><ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Stolen Earth |episode-link=The Stolen Earth |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Russell T (writer) |last=Davies |author-link=Russell T Davies |first2=Graeme (director) |last2=Harper |author-link2=Graeme Harper |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=28 June 2008 |series-no=4 |number=12 }}</ref>), [[SIG P226]] pistols, and for heavy duty, use [[Stinger missile]] launchers. In "[[The Power of Three (Doctor Who)|The Power of Three]]", they are further equipped with PASGT helmets, goggles, and riot armour for their shins.<ref name="the power of three"/>

UNIT's personnel have a wide range of [[firearm|weaponry]] to call on, some custom-made to combat specific threats. Among these are special ammunition described by the Brigadier in ''Battlefield'' as [[Armor-piercing shot and shell|armour-piercing]] rounds with a solid core and [[Teflon]] coating which "could go through a Dalek".<ref name="battlefield"/> Other munitions include [[explosive]] [[cartridge (weaponry)|rounds]] for Yetis, other armour-piercing rounds for robots, and gold-tipped rounds for use against the [[Cybermen]] (as well as silver bullets as suggested by the Doctor),<ref name="battlefield"/> and rad-steel coated bullets to neutralise Sontaran anti-bullet fields that target copper.<ref name="poison sky"/>

In ''The Invasion'' (1968), UNIT has a command centre established in the cargo hold of a [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules|Lockheed Hercules]] military transport aircraft.<ref name="the invasion"/> ''[[The Dæmons]]'' (1971) features the UNIT Mobile HQ, a large bus-like vehicle that could be driven to the site of an incident.<ref>{{cite serial |title=[[The Dæmons]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Guy (writer) |last=Leopold |author-link=Guy Leopold |first2=Christopher (director) |last2=Barry |author-link2=Christopher Barry |network=BBC |station=BBC1 |date=22 May – 19 June 1971 }}</ref> A mobile command centre is also shown in "The Sontaran Stratagem" and "The Poison Sky", where it is depicted as a black [[articulated lorry]] with UNIT insignia.<ref name="sontaran stratagem"/><ref name="poison sky"/>

UNIT employs unarmed helicopters for transport.<ref name="the day of the doctor">{{cite episode |title=The Day of the Doctor |episode-link=The Day of the Doctor |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Steven (writer) |last=Moffat |author-link=Steven Moffat |first2=Nick (director) |last2=Hurran |author-link2=Nick Hurran |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=23 November 2013 }}</ref> It is also shown using a tank in ''[[Robot (Doctor Who)|Robot]]'' (1974–75).<ref name="robot">{{cite serial |title=[[Robot (Doctor Who)|Robot]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Terrance (writer) |last=Dicks |author-link=Terrance Dicks |first2=Christopher (director) |last2=Barry |author-link2=Christopher Barry |network=BBC |station=[[BBC One]] |date=28 December 1974 }}</ref> In "[[Planet of the Dead]]" (2009), it uses trucks with [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM]] launchers.<ref>{{cite episode |title=Planet of the Dead |episode-link=Planet of the Dead |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Russell T |last=Davies |author-link=Russell T Davies |first2=Gareth (writers) |last2=Roberts |author-link2=Gareth Roberts (writer) |first3=James (director) |last3=Strong |author-link3=James Strong (director) |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=11 April 2009 }}</ref>

In "The Christmas Invasion", UNIT is shown to have translation software which can decipher alien languages with great accuracy. The software, or at least the results from the translation, can be loaded on a hand-held device.<ref name="christmas invasion"/>

In "The Poison Sky", UNIT is shown to be able to command and co-ordinate the world's combined nuclear arsenal for strategic strikes on orbiting alien craft.<ref name="poison sky"/>

In "[[The Sound of Drums]]" (2007), the [[Airborne aircraft carrier|flying aircraft carrier]] the ''Valiant'' is introduced.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=The Sound of Drums |episode-link=The Sound of Drums |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Russell T (writer) |last=Davies |author-link=Russell T Davies |first2=Colin (director) |last2=Teague |author-link2=Colin Teague |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=23 June 2007 |series-no=3 |number=12 }}</ref> The ''Valiant'' is also shown (in "The Poison Sky") to be equipped with a scaled down version of the [[Torchwood Institute]] weapon that destroyed the Sycorax ship in "The Christmas Invasion".<ref name="christmas invasion"/><ref name="poison sky"/>

It is mentioned in ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'' story ''[[Death of the Doctor]]'' (2010) that UNIT has a Moonbase.<ref name="death of the doctor">{{cite serial |title=[[Death of the Doctor]] |series=The Sarah Jane Adventures |series-link=The Sarah Jane Adventures |first=Russell T (writer) |last=Davies |author-link=Russell T Davies |first2=Ashley (director) |last2=Way |author-link2=Ashley Way |network=[[CBBC (TV channel)|CBBC]] |date=25–26 October 2010 }}</ref>

In "[[The Power of Three (Doctor Who)|The Power of Three]]", UNIT is shown to have a scientific research department with a large laboratory in the base beneath the Tower of London. During the story, the laboratory is dedicated to studying cubes that appeared out of nowhere. Kate Stewart, daughter of the Brigadier and head of the scientific research department, has a handheld device that can scan a body (picking up the [[Eleventh Doctor]]'s twin hearts), and also serves as a communication device. The computers at UNIT HQ can detect anomalies such as artron energy spikes, and can also access CCTV on the streets. There is also mention of them using helicopters and tanks while testing the destructibility of the cubes.<ref name="the power of three"/>

"[[The Day of the Doctor]]" (2013) shows that the Tower of London base contains the Black Archive housing various alien technological devices that UNIT has salvaged over the years and kept hidden away. Protected by various alien defences that erase the memories of visitors to ensure that they cannot reveal what is inside the Archive, the Archive is also '[[TARDIS]]-proof', and has been used by UNIT as a means of assessing [[Doctor (Doctor Who)|the Doctor]]'s [[Companion (Doctor Who)|companions]] to confirm whether they can be trusted. UNIT is also shown to at least have access to the Under-Gallery, a secret gallery containing works of art dating back to the [[Elizabethan era]] that [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]] ordered locked away as they were too dangerous for the public.<ref name="the day of the doctor"/>

===Uniform===

Across the eras, UNIT have been identified with different styles of uniform.

For ''[[The Invasion (Doctor Who)|The Invasion]]'', Privates and Corporals wore [[British Army uniform#No.7: Warm weather barrack dress|No.7 dress]], while ranks of Sergeant and above wore uniforms based on [[British Army uniform#No.4: Warm weather Service Dress (officers only)|No.4 dress]], but lacking buttons and with the jacket – which appears to be fastened by [[velcro]] – tucked into the trousers. All UNIT members wore oval patches with 'U.N.I.T' embroidered on them on their left sleeves and NCOs wore their badges of rank on their right sleeves.<ref name="the invasion"/> Sand/Beige coloured berets, similar to those worn by the [[Special Air Service]] with the black UNIT logo on a round white background as a cap badge were worn by all ranks. For UNIT's next appearance, ''[[Spearhead from Space]]'' (1970), the No.4s became uniform for all ranks, except for two radar operators seen in the opening who wear No.7s; the female officer wearing a tie with a UNIT logo printed on.<ref name="spearhead"/> The No.4 style of uniform stayed throughout ''[[Doctor Who and the Silurians]]'' (1970).<ref>{{cite serial |title=[[Doctor Who and the Silurians]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Malcolm (writer) |last=Hulke |author-link=Malcolm Hulke |first2=Timothy (director) |last2=Combe |author-link2=Timothy Combe |network=BBC |station=BBC1 |date=31 January – 14 March 1970 }}</ref>

Christine Rawlins had a new futuristic-looking design produced for ''[[The Ambassadors of Death]]'' (1970), which features only in this story. All ranks are given khaki-coloured zip-up jackets without lapels, which are worn over tan rolled-neck sweaters. The Brigadier retained his No.4 uniform.<ref name="ambassadors of death"/>

For ''[[Inferno (Doctor Who)|Inferno]]'' (1970), these changed to [[Denison smock]] camouflage uniforms.<ref name="inferno">{{cite serial |title=[[Inferno (Doctor Who)|Inferno]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Don (writer) |last=Houghton |author-link=Don Houghton |first2=Douglas (director) |last2=Camfield |author-link2=Douglas Camfield |network=BBC |station=BBC1 |date=9 May – 20 June 1970 }}</ref> From ''[[Terror of the Autons]]'', producer [[Barry Letts]] decided to have UNIT wearing 1960 pattern fatigues, as well as appropriate contemporary British Army or RAF uniform, such as [[British Army uniform#No.2: Service dress (temperate parade uniform)|service dress]] and [[British Army uniform#No.13: Temperate barrack dress|barrack dress]]. The UNIT patches and tan berets remain standard, although personnel are also seen in British Army peaked caps with regulation cap badges.<ref name="terror of the autons"/>

In ''[[Terror of the Zygons]]'', they wear [[Disruptive Pattern Material|DPM camouflage]] jackets and tactical black cap badges.<ref name="terror of the zygons"/> ''[[The Android Invasion]]'' (1975) sees them wearing barrack dress,<ref>{{cite serial |title=[[The Android Invasion]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Terry (writer) |last=Nation |author-link=Terry Nation |first2=Barry (director) |last2=Letts |author-link2=Barry Letts |network=BBC |station=BBC1 |date=22 November – 13 December 1975 }}</ref> which they also wear for their brief appearance in ''[[The Seeds of Doom]]'' (1976).<ref name="seeds of doom"/>

UNIT then had a lengthy absence from the screen. They made a small cameo appearance in "[[The Five Doctors]]" (1983), which sees Colonel Crichton wearing service dress and a Sergeant in barrack dress, both with the oval patches on their uniform. Captain Yates returns in the serial also wearing service dress but with no markings.<ref>{{cite serial |title=[[The Five Doctors]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Terrance (writer) |last=Dicks |author-link=Terrance Dicks |first2=Peter (director) |last2=Moffatt |author-link2=Peter Moffatt |network=[[PBS]] |date=23 November 1983 }}</ref>

For their full return in ''[[Battlefield (Doctor Who)|Battlefield]]'', their look was completely updated. Their appearance in this serial is close to the real-world United Nations Peacekeeping troop outfits. UNIT are represented by a nuclear missile convoy wearing UN issued blue berets and DPM camouflage. They have a new UNIT insignia patch of a winged globe, which is worn the upper sleeves and beret. There is also a [[Czech people|Czech]] engineer team wearing Czech camouflage with the same UN issued blue beret as the convoy. The Brigadier returns, wearing at different times service dress, barrack dress, and DPM while wearing a cap rather than beret.<ref name="battlefield"/>

After the series was cancelled and recommissioned, UNIT first had a minor appearance in the episode "[[Aliens of London]]" (2005). In this episode, UNIT were represented by four high-ranking US military officers, wearing [[Army Green Service Uniform|Army Service Uniform]] with real UN peacekeeper patches on the sleeves, and [[Uniforms of the United States Navy#Service Dress Blue|Navy Service Uniform]]. Only the female officers wore headwear, the Army officer a [[garrison cap]], the Navy officer a white female variation [[combination cap]].<ref name="aliens of london"/>

UNIT's first major appearance in the new series was in "[[The Christmas Invasion]]" in 2005. Here, a new insignia has been designed based on the ''Battlefield'' version. The troopers wear black uniforms consisting of police clothing/[[Special Air Service|SAS]] Counter Revolutionary Warfare (CRW) Wing overalls and a red Royal Military Police beret, and equipment. Insignia is a small silver-metal UNIT parawings on a red beret and a large UNIT Parawing patch worn over the left breast pocket on the utility vest or fatigues. Commanding officers wear [[British Army Uniform#No.2: Service dress (temperate parade uniform)|No. 2 service dress]] with UNIT insignia.<ref name="christmas invasion"/> Variations include Captain Magambo from "[[Turn Left (Doctor Who)|Turn Left]]" (2008) wearing a black version of service dress with a red beret,<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Turn Left |episode-link=Turn Left (Doctor Who) |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Russell T (writer) |last=Davies |author-link=Russell T Davies |first2=Graeme (director) |last2=Harper |author-link2=Graeme Harper |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=21 June 2008 |series-no=4 |number=11 }}</ref> and Colonel Karim in ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'' story ''[[Death of the Doctor]]'' wearing black civilian clothes with UNIT insignia and rank epaulettes.<ref name="death of the doctor"/>
 
UNIT returns in the series 7 episode "[[The Power of Three (Doctor Who)|The Power of Three]]". Their uniforms in this series are an alteration of the uniforms seen since 2005. They no longer wear ID cards on the right breast pocket, and appear to lack the logos on the arms. They wear PASGT helmets with black covering and black goggles in place of berets. They also wear riot armour for their forearms and shins, and plain black brassards on the left arm. The scientific research department that now serves as the head of UNIT consists of plainclothes civilians.<ref name="the power of three"/>

The series 8 episode "[[Death in Heaven]]" introduces an officer uniform, consisting of black or navy-blue jacket and trousers, white shirt and black tie, with medal ribbons and rank epaulettes, inspired by (but not identical to) officers' No. 2 service dress, sans the gloves, peaked cap and Sam Browne shoulder belt.

===Prominent members of UNIT===
[[File:UNIT Logo New.png|200px|right|thumb|U.N.I.T logo used in ''[[The Day of the Doctor]]'' (2013)]]

[[The Doctor (Doctor Who)|The Doctor]], the main [[protagonist]] of ''Doctor Who'', is a member of UNIT. In "[[Aliens of London]]", after reading up about the Doctor during his twelve-month absence, [[Mickey Smith]] tells [[Rose Tyler]] that the [[Ninth Doctor]] knows UNIT because "he's worked for them".<ref name="aliens of london"/> In "[[The Sontaran Stratagem]]", [[Colonel Mace]] tells the [[Tenth Doctor]], "Technically speaking, you're still on staff."<ref name="sontaran stratagem"/> In "[[The Day of the Doctor]]", the [[Eleventh Doctor]] tells [[Clara Oswald]] that he works for UNIT and that UNIT is his "job".<ref name="the day of the doctor"/> In "[[Death in Heaven]]" (2014), [[Kate Lethbridge-Stewart|Kate Stewart]] describes the [[Twelfth Doctor]] as "technically" still "on the payroll", as he never resigned.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Death in Heaven |episode-link=Death in Heaven |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Steven (writer) |last=Moffat |author-link=Steven Moffat |first2=Rachel (director) |last2=Talalay |author-link2=Rachel Talalay |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=8 November 2014 |series-no=8 |number=12 }}</ref>

Prominent members of the British contingent of UNIT include [[Liz Shaw|Dr. Elizabeth Shaw]],<ref name="spearhead"/> [[Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart|Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart]],<ref name="the invasion"/> Sergeant Benton,<ref name="ambassadors of death"/> Captain Yates, UNIT operative [[Jo Grant]]<ref name="terror of the autons"/> and later, [[Harry Sullivan (Doctor Who)|Surgeon-Lieutenant Harry Sullivan, RN]].<ref name="robot"/> After leaving the Doctor, [[Martha Jones]] joins UNIT.<ref name="sontaran stratagem"/> In ''[[The Claws of Axos]]'' (1971), an American agent named Bill Filer was sent from [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]] to assist in the hunt for [[The Master (Doctor Who)|The Master]].<ref>{{cite serial |title=[[The Claws of Axos]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Bob |last=Baker |author-link=Bob Baker (scriptwriter) |first2=Dave (writers) |last2=Martin |author-link2=Dave Martin (screenwriter) |first3=Michael |last3=Ferguson |author-link3=Michael Ferguson (director) |network=BBC |station=BBC1 |date=13 March – 3 April 1971 }}</ref> Kate Stewart, the Brigadier's daughter, becomes Head of Scientific Research<ref name="the power of three"/> and Chief Scientific Officer,<ref name="the day of the doctor"/> and then Commander in Chief of UNIT, and appears in multiple episodes beginning with "[[The Power of Three (Doctor Who)|The Power of Three]]" in 2012.<ref name="the power of three"/>

===Republican Security Forces===
[[File:Doctor Who Republican Security Forces logo.svg|100px|right|thumb|RSF logo used in ''[[Inferno (Doctor Who)|Inferno]]'']]

The 1970 serial ''[[Inferno (Doctor Who)|Inferno]]'' sees the [[Third Doctor]] visit a parallel universe. In this reality, Britain is a fascist republic, with the [[British royal family]] having been executed for treason in 1943, as depicted in the novel ''I, Alastair''; the novel also shows that the leader of Britain in this universe was an associate of [[British Union of Fascists]] (BUF) leader [[Oswald Mosley]], and eventually became leader of the country following the downfall of the old order, with his picture being visible in the Brigade Leader's office in ''Inferno''. The parallel version of UNIT is an [[SS]]-like state paramilitary organisation known as the '''Republican Security Forces''' (RSF), manning their version of the drilling project as a "scientific labour camp".

They are armed with a mixture of Soviet and German weapons, such as the [[SKS]] rifle and the [[Walther P38]] pistol. Their rank system uses titles based loosely on that of the BUF: Sergeant Benton is Platoon Under Leader Benton, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart is Brigade Leader Lethbridge-Stewart, and Elizabeth Shaw, a soldier rather than a scientist in their dimension, has the rank of Section Leader (which appears to be an officer rank). Their uniforms consist of contemporary US Army olive green military fatigues for Other Ranks, tan uniforms with black rank slides on the shoulders (based on the [[Sturmabteilung|brown shirts]]) for officers, and black garrison caps with white piping and an RSF cap-badge as head-dress for both. The organisation has full authority to interrogate, court-martial, and formally execute prisoners as they see fit under the "Defence of the Republic Act, 1943".

By the end of the story, most of the members of the RSF are killed when a volcanic cataclysm engulfed the world and left much of it devastated.<ref name="inferno"/>

== Main characters ==
* [[The Doctor (Doctor Who)|The Doctor]] has been UNIT's principal scientific advisor since their [[Third Doctor|third incarnation]] was exiled to Earth (having previously collaborated with UNIT during their [[Second Doctor|second incarnation]]).<ref name="the invasion2">{{cite serial|title=The Invasion|title-link=The Invasion (Doctor Who)|series=Doctor Who|series-link=Doctor Who|first=Derrick (writer)|last=Sherwin|author-link=Derrick Sherwin|first2=Douglas (director)|last2=Camfield|author-link2=Douglas Camfield|network=[[BBC]]|station=[[BBC1]]|date=2 November – 21 December 1968}}</ref><ref name="the three doctors2">{{cite serial|title=The Three Doctors|title-link=The Three Doctors (Doctor Who)|series=Doctor Who|series-link=Doctor Who|first=Bob|last=Baker|author-link=Bob Baker (scriptwriter)|first2=Dave (writers)|last2=Martin|author-link2=Dave Martin (screenwriter)|first3=Lennie (director)|last3=Mayne|author-link3=Lennie Mayne|network=[[BBC]]|station=[[BBC1]]|date=30 December 1972 }}</ref> The Doctor departed from UNIT's full-time employment during their [[Fourth Doctor|fourth incarnation]],<ref>{{cite serial|title=Pyramids of Mars|title-link=Pyramids of Mars|series=Doctor Who|series-link=Doctor Who|first=Stephen (writer)|last=Harris|author-link=Robert Holmes (scriptwriter)|first2=Paddy (director)|last2=Russell|author-link2=Paddy Russell|network=[[BBC]]|station=[[BBC1]]|date=25 October – 15 November 1975}}</ref> leaving a space-time telegraph<ref>{{cite serial|title=Revenge of the Cybermen|title-link=Revenge of the Cybermen|series=Doctor Who|series-link=Doctor Who|first=Gerry (writer)|last=Davis|author-link=Gerry Davis (screenwriter)|first2=Michael E. (director)|last2=Briant|author-link2=Michael E. Briant|network=[[BBC]]|station=[[BBC1]]|date=19 April – 10 May 1975}}</ref> (and, later, the TARDIS's telephone number)<ref name="the sontaran stratagem3">{{Cite episode |title=The Sontaran Stratagem |episode-link=The Sontaran Stratagem |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Helen (writer) |last=Raynor |author-link=Helen Raynor |first2=Douglas (director) |last2=Mackinnon |author-link2=Douglas Mackinnon |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=26 April 2008 |series-no=4 |number=4}}</ref> with which they could be summoned in emergencies. They retain their credentials, still bearing their third incarnation's portrait;<ref name="battlefield3">{{cite serial|title=Battlefield|title-link=Battlefield (Doctor Who)|series=Doctor Who|series-link=Doctor Who|first=Ben (writer)|last=Aaronovitch|author-link=Ben Aaronovitch|first2=Michael (director)|last2=Kerrigan|author-link2=Michael Kerrigan|network=[[BBC]]|station=[[BBC1]]|date=6–27 September 1989}}</ref> and, initially, UNIT personnel [[Harry Sullivan (Doctor Who)|Surgeon-Lieutenant Harry Sullivan]] and [[Sarah Jane Smith]] as their [[Companion (Doctor Who)|companions]]. Despite the looseness of their UNIT affiliation and their frequent disagreements with the organization, The Doctor continues to consider UNIT's scientific advisor to be their job, even into their [[Thirteenth Doctor|thirteenth]], fourteenth and fifteenth incarnations. In several instances, the Doctor is often valued as being the ultimate authority, often being made President of Earth.
* [[Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart|Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart]] (later Sir Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart) is a founder of UNIT and the original commander of its British contingent. During the Third Doctor's exile on Earth, he hires the Doctor as his scientific advisor. He was the father of Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, another UNIT commander.<ref name="the power of three2">{{Cite episode |title=The Power of Three |episode-link=The Power of Three (Doctor Who) |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Chris (writer) |last=Chibnall |author-link=Chris Chibnall |first2=Douglas (director) |last2=Mackinnon |author-link2=Douglas Mackinnon |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=22 September 2012 |series-no=7 |number=4}}</ref>
* Sergeant Benton first appears as Corporal Benton in ''[[The Invasion (Doctor Who)|The Invasion]]'' and becomes a regular fixture of UNIT stories from ''[[The Ambassadors of Death]]'' until ''[[The Android Invasion]]''. In his final three appearances, during the Fourth Doctor era, he has been promoted to [[regimental sergeant major]].
* [[Liz Shaw]], originally drafted from the [[University of Cambridge]] as UNIT's scientific advisor, first appears in ''[[Spearhead from Space]]'' and accepts the position of the Third Doctor's assistant when he takes the job of scientific advisor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Liz Shaw {{!}} Doctor Who {{!}} Doctor Who |url=https://www.doctorwho.tv/characters/liz-shaw |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=www.doctorwho.tv |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Jo Grant]] is a civilian employee of UNIT who was assigned as assistant to the Third Doctor, replacing Liz Shaw. The character appears from the serial ''[[Terror of the Autons]]'' in 1971<ref name="terror of the autons2">{{cite serial|title=Terror of the Autons|title-link=Terror of the Autons|series=Doctor Who|series-link=Doctor Who|first=Robert (writer)|last=Holmes|author-link=Robert Holmes (scriptwriter)|first2=Barry (producer)|last2=Letts|author-link2=Barry Letts|network=[[BBC]]|station=[[BBC1]]|date=2–23 January 1971}}</ref> until ''[[The Green Death]]'' in 1973.<ref name="the green death">{{cite serial|title=The Green Death|title-link=The Green Death|series=Doctor Who|series-link=Doctor Who|first=Robert (writer)|last=Sloman|author-link=Robert Sloman|first2=Michael E. (director)|last2=Briant|author-link2=Michael E. Briant|network=[[BBC]]|station=[[BBC1]]|date=19 May – 23 June 1973}}</ref> According to the novelisation of ''Terror of the Autons'', she holds the rank of Corporal.
* Captain Mike Yates also makes his first appearance in ''Terror of the Autons'' and appears regularly throughout the Third Doctor era. He is an officer who mainly serves as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart's adjutant.
* [[Sarah Jane Smith]] is an [[Investigative journalism|investigative journalist]] who becomes a UNIT associate by way of her companion relationship with the Third, Fourth, [[Tenth Doctor|Tenth]] and [[Eleventh Doctor|Eleventh]] [[The Doctor (Doctor Who)|Doctors]]. Sarah Jane maintains contact with, and receives support from, senior UNIT personnel throughout her lifetime.<ref name="death of the doctor2">{{cite serial|title=Death of the Doctor|title-link=Death of the Doctor|series=The Sarah Jane Adventures|series-link=The Sarah Jane Adventures|first=Russell T (writer)|last=Davies|author-link=Russell T Davies|first2=Ashley (director)|last2=Way|author-link2=Ashley Way|network=[[CBBC (TV channel)|CBBC]]|date=25–26 October 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite serial|title=The Lost Boy|title-link=The Lost Boy (The Sarah Jane Adventures)|series=The Sarah Jane Adventures|series-link=The Sarah Jane Adventures|first=Phil (writer)|last=Ford|author-link=Phil Ford (writer)|first2=Charles (director)|last2=Martin|author-link2=Charles Martin (director)|network=[[CBBC (TV channel)|CBBC]]|date=12–19 November 2007}}</ref>
* [[Harry Sullivan (Doctor Who)|Harry Sullivan]], a Surgeon-Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, is a medical officer in UNIT at the time of the Doctor's third regeneration and becomes his companion for several adventures.
* {{anchor|Osgood|Petronella Osgood}} Petronella Osgood, played by [[Ingrid Oliver]], is a UNIT scientist and assistant to Kate Stewart in "[[The Day of the Doctor]]" (2013). She wears a long, knitted scarf of many colours, reminiscent of the [[Fourth Doctor]]'s scarf, and suffers from a respiratory ailment for which she uses an inhaler when over-excited. In "The Day of the Doctor", she comes to be impersonated by a Zygon, and the two get along rather well.<ref name="The Day of the Doctor">{{Cite episode |title=The Day of the Doctor |episode-link=The Day of the Doctor |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Steven (writer) |last=Moffat |author-link=Steven Moffat |first2=Nick (director) |last2=Hurran |author-link2=Nick Hurran |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=23 November 2013}}</ref> Following a peace treaty between humans and Zygons, which resulted in 20 million Zygons settling on earth disguised as humans, the Zygon duplicate remains in the form of Osgood, with neither version of Osgood revealing to others which is which. One version of Osgood works with Kate Stewart and the [[Twelfth Doctor]], in the episode "[[Death in Heaven]]" (2014), wearing a [[bow tie]] reminiscent of the [[Eleventh Doctor]] and [[Chuck Taylor All-Stars|Converse]] reminiscent of the [[Tenth Doctor]]. She is shown to be eager to please the Doctor and admires him. The Doctor hints that he might consider making her a companion, but she is disintegrated by [[Master (Doctor Who)#Missy|Missy]]. Osgood displayed a great deal of self-control as she near-calmly tried persuading Missy to spare her with logical explanations.<ref name="death in heaven">{{Cite episode |title=Death in Heaven |episode-link=Death in Heaven |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Steven (writer) |last=Moffat |author-link=Steven Moffat |first2=Rachel (director) |last2=Talalay |author-link2=Rachel Talalay |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=8 November 2014 |series-no=8 |number=12}}</ref> In "[[The Zygon Invasion]]" (2015), the surviving Osgood is kidnapped by a splinter group of Zygons led by Bonnie, who seeks war with the humans. After being rescued by the Doctor, she travels with him to UNIT Black Archive in an attempt to keep the peace while refusing to tell him whether she is human or Zygon. In "[[The Zygon Inversion]]", the Doctor, after successfully convincing Bonnie to live peacefully with humanity, offers Osgood a trip in the TARDIS. Osgood refuses, revealing Bonnie has become her new duplicate.
* [[Martha Jones]], codename "Greyhound 6", becomes a medical doctor after her adventures with the Doctor, and subsequently a Medical Officer for UNIT. She contacts the Doctor so he could help UNIT in the episode "[[The Sontaran Stratagem]]" (2008).<ref name="the sontaran stratagem3"/> She becomes trusted enough in UNIT to be given the Osterhagen Key, part of a mechanism for a program to destroy Earth.
* [[Kate Lethbridge-Stewart]], also known as Kate Stewart, is the Commander in Chief of UNIT; formerly the Chief Scientific Officer and ''de facto'' leader of UNIT's UK contingent in the 2010s and 2020s. She first appears in "[[The Power of Three (Doctor Who)|The Power of Three]]" (2012), introduced by [[Chris Chibnall]], before returning in the fiftieth anniversary special "[[The Day of the Doctor]]" (2013) and subsequently recurring during the [[Twelfth Doctor|Twelfth]], [[Thirteenth Doctor|Thirteenth]], [[Fourteenth Doctor|Fourteenth]] and [[Fifteenth Doctor]]'s eras. Kate is the daughter of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. The character was created for the unofficial spin-off videos ''[[Downtime (Doctor Who)|Downtime]]'' (1995) and ''[[Dæmos Rising]]'' (2004), in which she was played by [[Beverley Cressman]]. She is depicted as a single mother to Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, who to date has not been referred to in ''Doctor Who'', although Kate has referred to herself as a divorcee and "mother-of-two" in the programme.
* [[Tegan Jovanka]] is a former airhostess and former companion to the Fourth and [[Fifth Doctor|Fifth]] Doctors, she was hired to work as a freelancer for UNIT and employee by Kate Stewart before [[The Power of the Doctor]]. She met the [[Thirteenth Doctor|Thirteenth]] and assisted her by blowing up the Cybermen and the new UNIT base and saw a hologram of an aged Fifth Doctor.
*[[Ace (Doctor Who)|Ace]], who was a former companion to the [[Seventh Doctor|Seventh]], was a 16-year-old when she first met the Doctor. She was hired to work as a freelancer for UNIT and employed by Kate Stewart before "[[The Power of the Doctor]]". She met the [[Thirteenth Doctor|Thirteenth]] and assisted her by destroying the Daleks plan with her baseball bat and using her Nitro-9 with the assist of [[Graham O'Brien]] and saw a hologram of an aged Seventh Doctor.
* Shirley Anne Bingham is the 56th and current scientific adviser to UNIT who made her first appearance in [[The Star Beast (Doctor Who episode)|The Star Beast]] where she was in charge of investigating the seemingly crashed ship of [[List of Doctor Who villains|the Meep]]. She also assisted UNIT and the [[Fourteenth Doctor]] in investigating the eponymous Giggle in [[the Giggle]], as well as being present in ''Lucky Day'' and ''The Reality War''.
* [[Melanie Bush]], a computer programmer and former companion to the [[Sixth Doctor|Sixth]] and [[Seventh Doctor|Seventh]] Doctors, she was hired to work as a computer scientist for UNIT by Kate Stewart sometime after 2022's [[The Power of the Doctor]]. She was present for the [[Fourteenth Doctor|Fourteenth]] and [[Fifteenth Doctor|Fifteenth]] Doctors' battle against the Toymaker at UNIT Tower in 2023. She also fought against Sutekh in ''Empire of Death'', against Conrad in ''Lucky Day'' and against Omega in ''The Reality War''.
* Colonel Christofer Ibrahim is a UNIT field officer who answers directly to Kate Stewart and follows her without question. He made his debut in The Giggle, bringing the Doctor and Donna to his boss, and was present for the Toymaker's defeat. He later reappears in ''The Legend of Ruby Sunday'', ''Empire of Death'', ''Lucky Day'' and ''The Reality War''; these episodes have a subplot where he is heavily implied to be in love with Kate.
* Donna Noble is recruited by Kate at the end of ''The Giggle'', in an unspecified capacity.
* Rose Noble is shown working for UNIT in ''The Legend of Ruby Sunday'' / ''Empire of Death'', in an unspecified capacity. She is later shown leading the UNIT resurgence against Conrad in ''The Reality War''.
* Morris Gibbons is a thirteen-year-old boy genius and scientific advisor who appears in the series 14 two-part finale "[[The Legend of Ruby Sunday]]" / "[[Empire of Death (Doctor Who episode)|Empire of Death]]".
* Susan Triad is a woman who has been stalking the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby during their travels. After Sutekh brings her to life in ''Empire of Death'', she is recruited by Kate to her personal staff, in an unspecified capacity. She returns in ''The Reality War''.
* Ruby Sunday is revealed to have been recruited to UNIT after she and the Doctor parted ways. She is shown on Kate's personal staff alongside Shirley and Ibrahim from ''Lucky Day'' onwards, though her exact role has never been revealed. 

=== Other media ===
==== Originating in audio ====
* Colonel Vikram Shindi is a field officer in the ''UNIT: The New Series'' audio plays, an old-school, humourless soldier who follows Kate Stewart without question.
* Captain Josh Carter is a company officer in ''UNIT: The New Series'', more of a man of action.
* Lieutenant Sam Bishop is a company officer in ''UNIT: The New Series'', and serves as a troubleshooter.
* Lieutenant Jimmy Tan is a company officer introduced later in ''UNIT: The New Series''.

==== Originating in TV but expanded in other media ====
* Allison Williams is the assistant and scientific advisor to Professor Rachel Jensen when UNIT existed as the Incursion Countermeasures Group. She originated in ''Remembrance of the Daleks'' but was fleshed out in the ''Countermeasures'' audio series.

==Other appearances==
UNIT has also been featured in many [[Doctor Who spin-offs|''Doctor Who'' spin-offs]]. Different spin-offs have made varying attempts to be consistent with other stories.

===Stage play===
In 1984, a stage comedy titled ''Recall UNIT: The Great T-Bag Mystery'' was produced, written by [[Richard Franklin (actor)|Richard Franklin]] (Captain Yates) who reprised his character in the play. The cast also included [[John Levene]] as Benton, and the play was performed between 20 and 24 August as part of the [[Edinburgh Fringe]] Festival.<ref>''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' Winter 1991 Special ("UNIT Exposed"), [[Marvel UK|Marvel Comics Ltd.]], pp. 44–45.</ref> Due to other commitments, [[Nicholas Courtney]] was unable to appear as the Brigadier, but pre-recorded a telephone message from Lethbridge-Stewart which was written into the plot.

===Novels===
The novelisation of ''[[Remembrance of the Daleks]]'' (1990) by [[Ben Aaronovitch]] mentions that the troops that Gilmore commands were from the "Intrusion Counter-Measures Group".<ref>{{cite book |last=Aaronovitch |first=Ben |author-link=Ben Aaronovitch |date=21 June 1990 |title=Remembrance of the Daleks |title-link=Remembrance of the Daleks#In print |publisher=[[Target Books]] |isbn=0-426-20337-2 }}</ref> ''UNIT Exposed'', the 1991 ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]] Winter Special'', suggests that the ICMG is a forerunner of UNIT.

Both [[Virgin Publishing]]'s [[Virgin Missing Adventures|Missing Adventures]]{{vague|date=April 2015}}{{which|date=April 2015}}{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}<!--No Missing Adventure set in the Pertwee era appears in this section, unless you count Who Killed Kennedy.--> and [[BBC Books]]' [[Past Doctor Adventures]]{{vague|date=April 2015}}{{which|date=April 2015}} have set stories in the UNIT era and have revealed new information about UNIT's past, present and future. The novel ''Business Unusual'' sees the Sixth Doctor assist UNIT in an investigation involving the now-retired Brigadier being held prisoner by the agents of the Nestene Consciousness, while ''Deep Blue'' sees the Fifth Doctor interact with the Third Doctor's UNIT colleagues at a time when his past self was away. ''Bullet Times'' pits the Seventh Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith against a branch of UNIT known as the 'Cortez Project', who consider ''any'' alien activity on Earth to be dangerous even if said aliens have no hostile intent, forcing the Doctor to discreetly work with a Chinese triad to help a crashed alien ship repair itself and depart.

''[[No Future (novel)|No Future]]'' (1994) by [[Paul Cornell]] featured an intelligence section of UNIT in an alternate 1970s called Broadsword. Broadsword agents wore plain clothes and were "hand-picked to offer us lateral and non-military solutions, backed up by [[Special Air Service|SAS]] training and sheer common sense".<ref>{{cite book |last=Cornell |first=Paul |author-link=Paul Cornell |date=February 1994 |title=No Future |title-link=No Future (novel) |series=[[Virgin New Adventures]] |publisher=[[Virgin Books]] |isbn=0-426-20409-3 }}</ref>

The 1996 [[Virgin New Adventures|New Adventures]] novel ''[[Just War (novel)|Just War]]'' by [[Lance Parkin]] mentions "LONGBOW", a world security organisation set up by the [[League of Nations]] that encountered the occasional extraterrestrial incident but was disbanded after it and the League failed to prevent [[World War II]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Parkin |first=Lance |author-link=Lance Parkin |date=January 1996 |title=Just War |title-link=Just War (novel) |series=[[Virgin New Adventures]] |publisher=[[Virgin Books]] |isbn=0-426-20463-8 }}</ref>

The standalone 1996 Virgin novel ''[[Who Killed Kennedy]]'' by [[David Bishop (writer)|David Bishop]], which provides a fictional history of UNIT from an [[investigative journalism|investigative journalist's]] perspective, reveals Lethbridge-Stewart's role in proposing the formation of UNIT after the Yeti incident.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Stevens |first1=James |last2=Bishop |first2=David |author-link2=David Bishop (writer) |date=April 1996 |title=Who Killed Kennedy |title-link=Who Killed Kennedy |publisher=[[Virgin Books]] |isbn=0-426-20467-0 }}</ref>

By the 26th century, UNIT has transformed into a [[secret society]] called the Unitatus, pledged to defend the Earth against alien threats, first seen in Parkin's ''[[Cold Fusion (novel)|Cold Fusion]]'' (1996).<ref>{{cite book |last=Parkin |first=Lance |author-link=Lance Parkin |date=December 1996 |title=Cold Fusion |title-link=Cold Fusion (novel) |series=[[Virgin Missing Adventures]] |publisher=[[Virgin Books]] |isbn=0-426-20489-1 }}</ref>

''[[The Dying Days]]'' (1997), also by Parkin, names the French division of UNIT as NUIT ('''N'''ations '''U'''nies '''I'''ntelligence '''T'''askforce).<ref>{{cite book |last=Parkin |first=Lance |author-link=Lance Parkin |date=April 1997 |title=The Dying Days |title-link=The Dying Days |series=[[Virgin New Adventures]] |publisher=[[Virgin Books]] |isbn=0-426-20504-9 }}</ref>

The Unitatus lasts at least until the 30th century, according to ''[[So Vile a Sin]]'' (1997) by Ben Aaronovitch and [[Kate Orman]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Aaronovitch |first1=Ben |author-link=Ben Aaronovitch |last2=Orman |first2=Kate |author-link2=Kate Orman |date=May 1997 |title=So Vile a Sin |title-link=So Vile a Sin |series=[[Virgin New Adventures]] |publisher=[[Virgin Books]] |isbn=0-426-20484-0 }}</ref>

''[[The Devil Goblins from Neptune]]'' (1997) by [[Keith Topping]] and [[Martin Day (writer)|Martin Day]] introduced a division within the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] headed by a man known only as Control,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Topping |first1=Keith |author-link=Keith Topping |last2=Day |first2=Martin |author-link2=Martin Day (writer) |date=2 June 1997 |title=The Devil Goblins from Neptune |title-link=The Devil Goblins from Neptune |series=[[Past Doctor Adventures]] |publisher=[[BBC Books]] |isbn=0-563-40564-3 }}</ref> which has featured as a rival to UNIT in subsequent novels ''[[The King of Terror]]'' and ''[[Escape Velocity (Doctor Who)|Escape Velocity]]'', ''King'' seeing the Fifth Doctor working with the Brigadier on an investigation in 1999 that forces them to work with the CIA and Control, and ''Escape'' depicting Control trying to deal with a new alien presence on Earth before UNIT discover it, only for the threat to be thwarted by the amnesic [[Eighth Doctor]]. ''Alien Bodies'' (1997) by [[Lawrence Miles]] introduced a more ruthless UN division called UNISYC ('''U'''nited '''N'''ations '''I'''ntelligence '''S'''ecurity '''Y'''ard '''C'''orps), which by the 2040s has replaced UNIT.<ref>{{cite book |last=Miles |first=Lawrence |author-link=Lawrence Miles |date=November 1997 |title=Alien Bodies |title-link=Alien Bodies |series=[[Eighth Doctor Adventures]] |publisher=[[BBC Books]] |isbn=0-563-40577-5 }}</ref>

''[[The Face of the Enemy (Doctor Who)|The Face of the Enemy]]'' (1998) by [[David A. McIntee]] has the British branch of UNIT facing a menace without the [[Third Doctor]] to help them, as he and [[Jo Grant]] are elsewhere (and elsewhen) experiencing the television serial ''[[The Curse of Peladon]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last=McIntee |first=David A. |author-link=David A. McIntee |date=5 January 1998 |title=The Face of the Enemy |title-link=The Face of the Enemy (Doctor Who) |series=[[Past Doctor Adventures]] |publisher=[[BBC Books]] |isbn=0-563-40580-5 }}</ref>

The Southeast Asian contingent of UNIT is identified in McIntee's ''[[Bullet Time (novel)|Bullet Time]]'' (2001) as UNIT-SEA.<ref>{{cite book |last=McIntee |first=David A. |author-link=David A. McIntee |date=August 2001 |title=Bullet Time |title-link=Bullet Time (novel) |series=[[Past Doctor Adventures]] |publisher=[[BBC Books]] |isbn=0-563-53834-1 }}</ref>

The 2003 [[Eighth Doctor Adventures|Eighth Doctor Adventure]] ''[[Emotional Chemistry]]'' by [[Simon A. Forward]] names the Russian division of UNIT ОГРОН (OGRON) ('''О'''перативная '''Г'''руппа '''Р'''азведки '''О'''бъединённых '''Н'''аций, or, '''O'''perativnaya '''G'''ruppa '''R'''azvedki '''O'''byedinyonnih '''N'''atsiy, which roughly translates as "United Nations Reconnaissance Operations Group").<ref>{{cite book |last=Forward |first=Simon A. |author-link=Simon A. Forward |date=October 2003 |title=Emotional Chemistry |title-link=Emotional Chemistry |series=[[Eighth Doctor Adventures]] |publisher=[[BBC Books]] |isbn=0-563-48608-2 }}</ref>

===Comic strips===
One story in the ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' [[comic strip]], ''Final Genesis'' (DWM #203–206), is set in a [[Parallel universe (fiction)|parallel universe]] in which humanity has made peace with the [[Silurian (Doctor Who)|Silurians]], and UNIT has become the '''U'''nited '''R'''aces '''I'''ntelligence '''C'''ommand.<ref>{{Cite comic | writer = [[Scott Gray (writer)|Gray, Warwick]] | artist = [[Colin Andrew (comics)|Andrew, Colin]] | story = Final Genesis | title = [[Doctor Who Magazine]] | issue = Issues 203–206 | date = 1 September – 24 November 1993 | publisher = [[Marvel UK]] | panel = }}</ref>

The [[Eighth Doctor]] comic strip ''The Flood'' (DWM #346–353) establishes that [[MI6]] views UNIT with some degree of contempt in the early 21st century, and deliberately does not inform them when it detects a [[Cyberman]] incursion due to this and other unspecified problems with the United Kingdom's relationship with the United Nations.<ref>{{Cite comic | writer = [[Scott Gray (writer)|Gray, Scott]] | penciller = [[Martin Geraghty|Geraghty, Martin]] | inker = [[David Roach (comics)|Roach, David A.]] | story = The Flood | title = [[Doctor Who Magazine]] | issue = Issues 346–353 | date = 18 August 2004 | publisher = [[Panini Comics]] | panel = }}</ref>

The [[Tenth Doctor]] comic strip ''The Age of Ice'' (DWM #408–411) is set in UNIT's Australian base beneath [[Sydney Harbour]].<ref>{{Cite comic | writer = [[Dan McDaid|McDaid, Dan]] | penciller = [[Martin Geraghty|Geraghty, Martin]] | inker = [[David Roach (comics)|Roach, David A.]] | story = The Age of Ice | title = [[Doctor Who Magazine]] | issue = Issues 408–411 | date = 29 May – 19 August 2009 | publisher = [[Panini Comics]] | panel = }}</ref> The [[Eleventh Doctor]] strip ''The Golden Ones'' (DWM #425–428) introduces UNIT Japan.<ref>{{Cite comic | writer = [[Jonathan Morris (author)|Morris, Jonathan]] | penciller = [[Martin Geraghty|Geraghty, Martin]] | inker = [[David Roach (comics)|Roach, David A.]] | story = The Golden Ones | title = [[Doctor Who Magazine]] | issue = Issues 425–428 | date = 15 September – 15 December 2010 | panel = }}</ref>

UNIT has also appeared in cameo roles in unrelated comics. In issue No. 218 of ''[[Uncanny X-Men]]'', a character identified as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart is seen briefly from behind, addressing a Sergeant-Major Benton who is loading an unconscious [[Juggernaut (character)|Juggernaut]] into a lorry; [[2000 AD (comics)|2000 AD]]'s ''[[Caballistics, Inc.]]'' strip has Lethbridge-Stewart (referred to solely by rank) appearing in several adventures as a military liaison and referring to ''The Web of Fear''; and ''[[Hip Flask (comics)|Hip Flask]]'' has a 22nd-century UNIT tied into the origins of the Elephantmen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hipflask.com/issues/introduction/index.html |title=Hip Flask & Elephantmen, issues, Introduction |publisher=Hipflask.com |access-date=9 May 2011}}</ref> [[Marvel Comics]] also has two major characters called Dr [[Alistaire Stuart]] (who has claimed to know "a chap from Gallifrey") and Brigadier [[Alysande Stuart]], Scientific Advisor and commander, respectively, of Britain's Weird Happenings Organisation (W.H.O.) taskforce. 

The Titan Comics [[Ninth Doctor]] series includes a storyline where the Ninth Doctor, [[Rose Tyler]] and Captain [[Jack Harkness]] work with UNIT in the mid-1970s when rival anti-alien organization 'Avalon Defence' try to undermine UNIT's reputation so that they can take over in exchange for financial benefits. The storyline concludes with UNIT nurse Tara Misha joining the TARDIS crew after she sacrifices her own reputation to expose Avalon's deceptions.

===Audio plays===
An [[Parallel universe (fiction)|alternate universe]] version of UNIT and the Brigadier appear in the ''[[Doctor Who Unbound]]'' audio play ''[[Sympathy for the Devil (audio drama)|Sympathy for the Devil]]'' (2003), produced by [[Big Finish Productions]]. In this story, UNIT is commanded by the abrasive Colonel Brimmicombe-Wood. The story concerns a UNIT that never had the Third Doctor working for it, with many different outcomes; ''[[Terror of the Autons]]'' resulted in "the Plastic Purges", Mike Yates died on a time-travel mission to destroy the Silurians, and so on.<ref>{{cite serial |title=[[Sympathy for the Devil (audio drama)|Sympathy for the Devil]] |series=Doctor Who Unbound |series-link=List of Doctor Who audio plays by Big Finish#Doctor Who Unbound |first=Jonathan (writer) |last=Clements |author-link=Jonathan Clements |first2=Gary (director) |last2=Russell |author-link2=Gary Russell |publisher=[[Big Finish Productions]] |date=June 2003 }}</ref>

In December 2004, Big Finish released ''[[UNIT: Time Heals]]'', the first audio drama in a ''UNIT'' spin-off series, which features a retired General Sir Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart as an advisor to a new generation of officers.<ref>{{cite serial |title=[[UNIT: Time Heals|Time Heals]] |series=UNIT |series-link=List of Doctor Who audio plays by Big Finish#UNIT |first=Iain |last=McLaughlin |author-link=Iain McLaughlin |first2=Claire (writers) |last2=Bartlett |author-link2=Claire Bartlett |first3=Jason (director) |last3=Haigh-Ellery |author-link3=Jason Haigh-Ellery |publisher=[[Big Finish Productions]] |date=December 2004 }}</ref> A preview episode (given away free with ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' No. 351, and later available as a free download on the Big Finish website),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigfinish.com/UNIT-The-Coup|title=UNIT: The Coup|website=[[Big Finish Productions]]|year=2008|access-date=14 April 2015}}</ref> ''[[UNIT: The Coup]]'', has Lethbridge-Stewart finally breaking decades of secrecy by informing a press conference of UNIT's true purpose as humanity's first line of defence against the unknown (although, as it turns out, the general public believe this to be a hoax).<ref>{{cite serial |title=[[UNIT: The Coup|The Coup]] |series=UNIT |series-link=List of Doctor Who audio plays by Big Finish#UNIT |first=Simon (writer) |last=Guerrier |author-link=Simon Guerrier |first2=Ian (director) |last2=Farrington |author-link2=Ian Farrington |publisher=[[Big Finish Productions]] |date=2004 }}</ref> 

The protagonists for most of this series are Colonel Emily Chaudhry, Lieutenant Will Hoffman and Colonel Robert Dalton. Hoffman and Dalton are killed in the third instalment, ''[[UNIT: The Longest Night]]'' (2005).<ref>{{cite serial |title=[[UNIT: The Longest Night|The Longest Night]] |series=UNIT |series-link=List of Doctor Who audio plays by Big Finish#UNIT |first=Joseph (writer) |last=Lidster |author-link=Joseph Lidster |first2=Edward (director) |last2=Salt |author-link2=Edward Salt |publisher=[[Big Finish Productions]] |date=March 2005 }}</ref> The fourth play, ''[[UNIT: The Wasting]]'' (2005), features this universe's version of Brimmicombe-Wood, and is revealed to have been the commander of ICIS all along, and working to destroy UNIT from within.<ref>{{cite serial |title=[[UNIT: The Wasting|The Wasting]] |series=UNIT |series-link=List of Doctor Who audio plays by Big Finish#UNIT |first=Ian |last=McLaughlin |author-link=Ian McLaughlin |first2=Claire (writers) |last2=Bartlett |author-link2=Claire Bartlett |first3=Nicola (director) |last3=Bryant |author-link3=Nicola Bryant |publisher=[[Big Finish Productions]] |date=June 2005 }}</ref> The short story "The Terror of the Darkness" in the collection ''[[Short Trips: A Day in the Life]]'' (2005) reveals that Chaudhry and Hoffman had previously travelled with the [[Sixth Doctor]].<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Farrington |editor-first=Ian |editor-link=Ian Farrington |date=June 2005 |title=Short Trips: A Day in the Life |title-link=Short Trips: A Day in the Life |series=[[Big Finish Short Trips]] |publisher=[[Big Finish Productions]] |isbn=1-84435-147-5 }}</ref> Their adventures then continue in "Incongruous Details" in ''[[Short Trips: The Centenarian]]'' (2006)<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Farrington |editor-first=Ian |editor-link=Ian Farrington |date=July 2006 |title=Short Trips: The Centenarian |title-link=Short Trips: The Centenarian |series=[[Big Finish Short Trips]] |publisher=[[Big Finish Productions]] |isbn=1-84435-191-2 }}</ref> before ending in ''[[Short Trips: Defining Patterns]]'' (2008).<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Farrington |editor-first=Ian |editor-link=Ian Farrington |date=March 2008 |title=Short Trips: Defining Patterns |title-link=Short Trips: Defining Patterns |series=[[Big Finish Short Trips]] |publisher=[[Big Finish Productions]] |isbn=978-1-84435-268-5 }}</ref>

Following the death of Lethbridge-Stewart's actor [[Nicholas Courtney]] in 2011, in 2015, Big Finish announced a new series of UNIT audio dramas to be released in six-month intervals beginning with ''[[UNIT: Extinction]]'' in November. The series features Lethbridge-Stewart's daughter Kate Stewart in her role as Head of Scientific Research, as established in "[[The Power of Three (Doctor Who)|The Power of Three]]" (2012), and is the first time that Big Finish have been licensed elements from the 2005 revival series from [[BBC Worldwide]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bigfinish.com/news/v/unit---extinction |title=UNIT – Extinction |date=9 February 2015 |website=[[Big Finish Productions]] |access-date=14 April 2015}}</ref>

===Direct-to-video productions===
In 1987, [[John Levene]] reprised his role as Benton for a made-for-video film entitled ''[[Wartime (Doctor Who)|Wartime]]''. Produced by [[Reeltime Pictures]], this was the first independently made ''Doctor Who'' spin-off film.<ref>{{cite AV media |first=Andy |last=Lane |author-link=Andy Lane |first2=Helen (writers) |last2=Stirling |author-link2=Helen Stirling |first3=Keith (director) |last3=Barnfather |author-link3=Keith Barnfather |date=1987 |title=Wartime |title-link=Wartime (Doctor Who) |type=home video |publisher=[[Reeltime Pictures]] }}</ref> In 1997, the film was revised with voice-over dialogue provided by [[Nicholas Courtney]] in character as Lethbridge-Stewart.<ref>{{cite AV media |first=Andy |last=Lane |author-link=Andy Lane |first2=Helen (writers) |last2=Stirling |author-link2=Helen Stirling |first3=Keith (director) |last3=Barnfather |author-link3=Keith Barnfather |date=1997 |title=Wartime |title-link=Wartime (Doctor Who) |type=home video, reissue |publisher=[[Reeltime Pictures]] }}</ref> The Brigadier himself got a made-for-video film, ''[[Downtime (Doctor Who)|Downtime]]'', which also sees appearances from UNIT and a corrupt UNIT officer named Captain Cavendish.<ref>{{cite AV media |first=Marc (writer) |last=Platt |author-link=Marc Platt (writer) |first2=Christopher (director) |last2=Barry |author-link2=Christopher Barry |date=2 September 1995 |title=Downtime |title-link=Downtime (Doctor Who) |type=home video |publisher=[[Reeltime Pictures]] }}</ref>

[[Bill & Ben Video|BBV]] have made a [[Auton (film series)|trilogy of UNIT videos involving the Autons]], although they feature none of the original members, with the main character being Lockwood (a codename for the otherwise nameless UNIT Operative 8954B)—an investigator with psychic powers. The trilogy introduced one of UNIT's facilities (the Warehouse) for containing the remains of alien technology; the Containment Team responsible for these facilities and preventing alien outbreaks at them; and the Internal Security Division.<ref>{{cite AV media |first=Nicholas (writer/director) |last=Briggs |author-link=Nicholas Briggs |date=1997 |title=Auton |title-link=Auton (film series)#Auton |type=home video |publisher=[[Bill & Ben Video|BBV]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |first=Nicholas (writer/director) |last=Briggs |author-link=Nicholas Briggs |date=1998 |title=Auton 2: Sentinel |title-link=Auton (film series)#Auton 2: Sentinel |type=home video |publisher=[[Bill & Ben Video|BBV]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |first=Arthur |last=Wallis |author-link=Nicholas Briggs |first2=Paul (writers) |last2=Ebbs |author-link2=Paul Ebbs |first3=Bill |last3=Baggs |first4=Patricia (directors) |last4=Merrick |author-link4=Patricia Merrick |date=1 June 1999 |title=Auton 3 |title-link=Auton (film series)#Auton 3 |type=home video |publisher=[[Bill & Ben Video|BBV]] }}</ref>

===Other media===
In the internet [[Adobe Flash|Flash]] animation ''[[Scream of the Shalka]]'', Major Kennet hands [[Shalka Doctor|the Doctor]] a folder with a UNIT crest on it.<ref>{{cite serial |title=[[Scream of the Shalka]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Paul (writer) |last=Cornell |author-link=Paul Cornell |first2=Wilson (director) |last2=Milam |author-link2=Wilson Milam |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC Online|BBCi]] |date=13 November – 18 December 2003 }}</ref>

For the new television series, BBC created a [[Doctor Who tie-in websites|faux website]] for UNIT,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unit.org.uk/ |title=Top Secret |publisher=Unit.org.uk |access-date=9 May 2011}}</ref> complete with [[Easter egg (virtual)|"easter eggs"]] that can be accessed by the reader with the passwords "bison" and "buffalo" (the latter mentioned on screen in "World War Three"). The 'public' part of the website advertises UNIT Conferences and publications relating to "extra-territorial threats", as well as press releases on the establishment of a central New York Liaison office; the press releases and publications also make reference to off-screen adventures, such as the ''Skaniska Incident'' and ''Jersey Tollgate Situation'', with the most recent covering the events of "[[The Christmas Invasion]]" (2005) ("Alien Life Confirmed"). The Secure Login link, using the password "badwolf" (originally "bison") uncovers a 'private' section which provides UNIT point-of-view reports about various events in the 2005 series, as well as mention of missions such as ''The Fourth Reich'' and ''Guatemala "Big Locust" Problem''. Due to the objections by the United Nations as noted above, the letters "UN" are no longer expanded to "United Nations" on the website.

==UNIT dating==
The original 1963–1989 series presents conflicting evidence about when the stories featuring UNIT are meant to take place, and there has been much confusion and continuing fan debate on this subject. Initially the production team intended for the UNIT stories to take place in the 1980s.<ref>{{cite news |author=Brian Dean |title=End of time for Dr Who |url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/images/2/2e/1969-06-21_Daily_Mail.jpg |date=21 June 1969 |access-date=2020-06-18 }}</ref><!--Pyramids is made by a different production team to that of most of the early UNIT era, and near future is put in quotes, as if it's quoting a production team member.--> In the 1975 story ''[[Pyramids of Mars]]'', Sarah Jane Smith explicitly states that she is "from 1980",<ref>{{cite serial |title=[[Pyramids of Mars]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Stephen (writer) |last=Harris |author-link=Robert Holmes (scriptwriter) |first2=Paddy (director) |last2=Russell |author-link2=Paddy Russell |network=BBC |station=BBC1 |date=25 October – 15 November 1975 }}</ref> but the 1983 story ''[[Mawdryn Undead]]'' explicitly states that the Brigadier retired from UNIT in 1976 and that Warrant Officer Benton left the army in 1979.<ref>{{cite serial |title=[[Mawdryn Undead]] |series=Doctor Who |series-link=Doctor Who |first=Peter (writer) |last=Grimwade |author-link=Peter Grimwade |first2=Peter (director) |last2=Moffatt |author-link2=Peter Moffatt |network=BBC |station=BBC1 |date=1–9 February 1983 }}</ref>

A reference to this confusion appeared in the 2008 episode "[[The Sontaran Stratagem]]", where the Doctor was unsure if his time on the UNIT staff took place during the 1970s or the 1980s.<ref name="sontaran stratagem"/><ref name="Factfile">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/episodes/?episode=s4_04&action=factfile |title=The Sontaran Stratagem: Fact File |date=26 April 2008 |work=Doctor Who |publisher=BBC |access-date=28 April 2008}}</ref> Similarly, ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'' story ''[[The Lost Boy (The Sarah Jane Adventures)|The Lost Boy]]'' displays a UNIT file on Sarah Jane Smith which says, "The service quickly expanded, making our presence felt in a golden period that spanned the sixties, the seventies, and, some would say, the eighties." Yet another reference occurred in "[[The Day of the Doctor]]", where Kate Stewart refers to "one of [[Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart|my father's]] incident files. Codename: Cromer. Seventies or eighties depending on the dating protocol".<ref name="the day of the doctor"/> The ''Cromer'' wording is a reference to the 1972–73-story ''[[The Three Doctors (Doctor Who)|The Three Doctors]]'' which, as well as being the first time that Doctors from different eras come together to fight a common foe<ref name="the three doctors"/> was the occasion where Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, on first being transported to an alien world, likened it to the Norfolk coastal town of [[Cromer]].<ref name="the three doctors"/> Kate Stewart again refers to the confusion when she describes events from ''[[Terror of the Zygons]]'' as occurring in the "'70s (or) '80s" ("[[The Zygon Invasion]]").<ref>{{cite web|last=McAlpine |first=Fraser |url=http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2015/11/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-zygon-invasion/ |title='Doctor Who': 10 Things You May Not Know About 'The Zygon Invasion' &#124; Anglophenia |publisher=BBC America |date=16 October 2015 |access-date=2017-05-28}}</ref>

A possible justification for at least some of these dating anomalies can be found in the audio adventure ''The Legacy of Time: The Split Infinitive'', when a temporal anomaly results in the 1960s and 1970s becoming briefly linked when a flawed time travel experiment essentially splits an individual between these eras. When the crisis concludes after the Seventh Doctor brings the two aspects together, he notes that the resulting temporal explosion will cause a range of minor anomalies to anyone in this era who has dealt with time travel, reflecting that this explains how someone who was working in the eighties could have retired in the seventies.

The episode "[[Survivors of the Flux]]" makes reference to the conflicting dates during a scene in which Kate Stewart accuses The Grand Serpent of deliberately tampering with evidence, photographs and dates to cover up his infiltration of UNIT.<ref>{{cite web|last=Belam|first=Martin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/nov/28/doctor-who-recap-flux-chapter-five-survivors-of-the-flux/ |title='Doctor Who recap: Flux chapter five – Survivors of the Flux' |work=The Guardian |date=28 November 2021}}</ref>

==Critical reception==
The concept of UNIT has been generally well received by ''Doctor Who'' fans. In [[Andrew Cartmel]]'s ''Through Time: An Unauthorised and Unofficial History of Doctor Who'', the sharp contrast between the Doctor's eccentric personality and the seriousness and normality of UNIT is described by Cartmel as an "inspired stroke".<ref name="Through Time">{{cite book |title= Through Time: An Unauthorised and Unofficial History of Doctor Who|last= Cartmel|first= Andrew|author-link= Andrew Cartmel|year= 2005| publisher=Continuum International Publishing Group|location= London|isbn= 0-8264-1734-5|pages= 93–95|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=9yzLe5TiYJsC&q=united+nations+intelligence+taskforce+doctor+who&pg=PA93| access-date=24 February 2011}}</ref>

The organisation is often seen within the context of other international organisations which featured in science fiction of the post-war era. Among others, these included SMERSH and [[SPECTRE]] from the [[James Bond]] novels, [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]] from [[Marvel Comics]], and [[U.N.C.L.E.]] from ''[[The Man from U.N.C.L.E.]]''—like UNIT, intended as a fictional United Nations intelligence agency.<ref name="Through Time"/> There was even a one-season wonder telecast by NBC, in 1979, in which [[Robert Conrad]] played [[A Man Called Sloane]] who worked for a top-secret agency openly called UNIT.{{fact|date=September 2024}}

{{clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|BBC}}
* {{official website|http://www.unit.org.uk/}} (BBC-sponsored)
{{TardisIndexFile}}
* {{cite web |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/datingunit.shtml |title= Dating the UNIT Stories |work= Episode guide |series= Doctor Who |publisher= BBC }}

{{UNIT stories}}
{{Doctor Who}}

[[Category:UNIT| ]]
[[Category:Doctor Who organisations]]
[[Category:Fictional intelligence agencies]]
[[Category:Fictional paramilitary organizations]]
[[Category:Fictional paranormal investigation agencies]]