[2] The Interceptors are white and red space fighters used over the Moon and in Earth's orbit, each equipped with a single self-destroying frontal nuclear missile.

The Interceptors were designed by Mike Trim and effects director Derek Meddings from a one-line description in the script for the first episode.

[4] Meddings questioned the Interceptor's effectiveness in defending Earth, noting that by firing its one missile, the craft rendered itself "practically useless".

[7] Michael Peck, a contributor to Foreign Policy magazine, likens the Interceptors to "space-flying Harrier jump jets".

He also writes that as they only ever flew in threes, it was fortunate for SHADO that "while the aliens could design spacecraft that travelled seven times the speed of light, they never mastered the tactic of attacking with four UFOs".

[14] Early versions can be easily detected, as they have a slight raised rim around the chrome gun panel in front of the canopy.