On Friday (June 25), the U.S. intelligence community released a much-anticipated report that documents a series of mysterious flying object sightings in restricted U.S. military airspace over the past several decades. The report says the U.S. government has encountered 144 unidentified flying object (UAP, commonly known as UFO) phenomena.
In a report submitted to Congress, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) said that of the 144 UFO sightings, only one can be explained, while the others remain a mystery.
The report offers several possible explanations for the UFO sightings, including aerial clutter, natural atmospheric phenomena, top-secret U.S. government programs and foreign adversary systems, and foreign adversaries, but it also leaves the door open for “other” explanations.
“Depending on the range of appearances and behaviors described in existing reports, there may be multiple types of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) that require different explanations,” the report states.
“Most of the UAP phenomena described in our dataset may remain undetermined due to limited data or collection processing/analysis challenges, but we may need additional scientific knowledge to successfully collect, analyze, and characterize some of them (UAP).” The report adds.
U.S. government gives rare public account of UFO phenomenon
In response to the UFO incidents that have long captivated the public, the report makes a rare public statement about what the U.S. government already knows and what it doesn’t know.
Of the 144 UAP cases, 18 involved observers reporting “unusual UAP movement patterns or flight characteristics,” the report said.
The report said, “Some UAPs appeared to remain stationary in high winds, move against the wind, jerk in a specific manner, or move at a considerable speed without an apparent propulsion pattern.”
Investigators have found no evidence that the sightings represent extraterrestrial life or significant technological advances by foreign adversaries such as Russia or Communist China.
U.S. Official: Most Sightings Are “Physical”
CNN reported that a senior U.S. official said, “Of the 144 reports we’re dealing with here, we have no clear indication of any explanation from extraterrestrials, but we’ll follow whatever direction the data leads.”
The official told reporters Friday, but investigators are also confident that most of the objects in the sightings are “physical.”
“We’re absolutely confident that what we’re seeing are not just sensor artifacts. These are things that are physically present.” The official said. He also noted that 80 of the reported incidents included data from multiple sensors. In 11 cases, investigators believe (the UFOs) had a near-collision with U.S. personnel.
Most of the UFO sightings occurred at U.S. military training and testing ranges. The report says this may be due to an overwhelming focus of attention, an increase in the number of latest-generation sensors in these areas, and collection bias due to personal expectations.
However, the report also said these UAP phenomena represent flight safety and possible national security concerns, especially if they are “sophisticated collections by foreign governments targeting U.S. military activities or potential adversaries demonstrating groundbreaking aerospace technology.
The U.S. official said the majority of the 144 UAP sightings covered in the report were recorded by U.S. Navy pilots; although some were reported by other U.S. government sources, investigators found significant “reporting bias” when examining the data set.
The official said, “We observed a variety of phenomena that ended up in the UAP category. But there is no single explanation for UAP.”
In 143 unexplained cases, investigators simply lacked the necessary data to categorize the cases.
Senators: report is only the first step
Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who has been supportive of releasing the UFO report, said in a statement Friday, “For years, the men and women we trust to defend our country have reported encounters with aircraft of superior capability and unidentified status, and for years their concerns have been routinely ignored and ridiculed. “
“This report is an important first step in categorizing these incidents, but it is only the first step.” Rubio added, “The Department of Defense and the intelligence community have a lot of work to do before we really know whether these air threats pose a serious national security problem.”
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.) similarly said in his own statement that Friday’s “fairly inconclusive report only marks the beginning of efforts to understand and articulate the causes of these risks to aviation in many parts of the country and the world.”
Pentagon: Takes UFO Intrusion Report Very Seriously
In a separate statement on the report, the Pentagon said the department “takes reports of (UFO) incursions – any identified or unidentified aerial object – very seriously and conducts investigations “
Following the report’s release, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks directed the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security to develop a plan to formalize the work currently being done by the Pentagon task force established last year, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said.
“The plan will be developed in coordination with various DoD components, including the military departments and combatant commands, as well as ODNI and other interagency partners,” Kirby said in a statement.
“The plan will establish procedures for synchronized collection, reporting and analysis of UAP; provide recommendations for ensuring military testing and training coverage; and identify requirements for establishing and operating a new DoD follow-on activity to lead this effort, including coordination, resources, staffing, authorities and implementation timelines.”
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