Back UNIT Catalan UNIT (Doctor Who) Spanish UNIT (Doctor Who) Basque یونیت (دکتر هو) Persian United Nations Intelligence Taskforce French UNIT Korean UNIT Polish ЮНИТ Russian UNIT Serbian UNIT Turkish
| Unified Intelligence Taskforce | |
|---|---|
 Logo used since "The Star Beast" (2023)[1] | |
| Universe | Whoniverse |
| In-universe information | |
| Type | Intelligence agency, military organisation |
| Location | Worldwide
|
| Key people | |
| Purpose | Defending Earth from extraterrestrial and paranormal threats |
| Technologies | Unreliable access to Gallifreyan technology, advanced translation software, Galvanic Beam, the Vlinx |
| Powers | Military authority in UN member countries |
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 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 (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).[2] The organisation was renamed to the Unified Intelligence Taskforce[3] 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.[4]
- ^ Graham-Lowery, Nathan (12 June 2024). "Doctor Who's RTD Lists 5 Episodes To Watch Before The Season 14 Finale". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on 16 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ Davies, Russell T (14 September 2005). "Bay Watch". Doctor Who Magazine. No. 360. Tunbridge Wells: Panini Publishing Ltd. p. 66.
- ^ Davies, Russell T (April 2008). "Calling UNIT!". SFX. p. 47.
- ^ Raynor, Helen (writer); Mackinnon, Douglas (director) (26 April 2008). "The Sontaran Stratagem". Doctor Who. Series 4. Episode 4. BBC. BBC One.