The Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Consolidated Annual Report on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) by the Department of Defense’s All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) provides an in-depth review of UAP sightings reported between May 2023 and June 2024. Compiled to address congressional requirements, the report documents sightings, analyses, and trends associated with UAP, along with AARO’s steps to enhance transparency, establish data protocols, and improve the accuracy of UAP identification.

Overview of Reporting and Analysis

Reporting Data and Sources

As of June 2024, AARO had processed a total of 1,652 UAP reports, with 757 reports specifically collected during this period. These UAP reports, submitted mainly through U.S. military personnel and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), are categorized by the domain of occurrence:

• Air Domain: The majority of sightings, totaling 708, were aerial.
• Space Domain: A smaller number, 49 reports, originated from observations made from the ground. These sightings were reported by pilots or ground observers rather than by space-based assets.
• Maritime and Transmedium Domains: No reports were recorded in these domains during this period.

The geographical distribution of UAP sightings reveals notable hotspots near U.S. military assets, including areas in East Asia and the Middle East, with East Asia alone generating 100 reports. Reports from these areas were largely identifiable as objects like balloons and drones, contributing to a clearer understanding of the types of phenomena typically reported near sensitive locations.

Trends in UAP Shapes and Characteristics

The report provides detailed information on the observed shapes and physical characteristics of UAP, revealing significant consistency with previous trends. Key shapes reported during this period include:

• Round or Spherical Shapes: The most frequently reported morphology for UAP. These include orb-like shapes often perceived as lights with undefined boundaries, frequently associated with UAP sightings during nighttime or low-light conditions.
• Cylindrical and Elongated Objects: A smaller number of sightings involve cylindrical or rocket-like objects, occasionally described as metallic or reflective. These are sometimes noted in reports involving high-altitude observations, where other shapes, like round objects, are not as common.
• Unusual Descriptions: A subset of reports provided unique descriptions, such as “green fireballs,” “jellyfish-like shapes with multicolored flashing lights,” and a “silver rocket approximately six feet long.” These reports, though fewer in number, highlight the diversity in UAP shapes and contribute to AARO’s interest in cataloging anomalous characteristics.

Many of these sightings lack sufficient data to conclusively classify their nature, making it challenging for AARO to confirm if these phenomena involve breakthrough aerospace technology. Instead, the lack of high-quality, actionable data has led to many cases being archived for potential future analysis.

Resolution and Findings

AARO’s efforts to investigate and classify UAP reports have resulted in significant progress in identifying and categorizing reported sightings. In this period, 118 cases were resolved and classified as prosaic objects, such as balloons, birds, and drones. An additional 243 cases were pending peer review and expected to be classified as similar objects, while 21 cases continue to be analyzed due to their anomalous behavior or characteristics.

Archival of Unresolved Cases

For cases that cannot be conclusively analyzed, AARO uses an “Active Archive” system to store incomplete reports. Currently, 444 reports have been archived, with the possibility of reopening these cases should additional data become available. This archival process allows AARO to maintain a database of sightings that could provide trend analysis insights in the future.

UAP Observations Associated with Military Sites

Reports from military sites also included incidents involving UAP near U.S. nuclear infrastructure. For example, 18 drone sightings were reported near nuclear facilities, with 16 of these cases involving a single drone per incident, while two events reported multiple drones. A noteworthy case involved six consecutive nights of UAP sightings at a Virginia fuel cycle facility. These patterns suggest heightened UAP activity near critical infrastructure, though no evidence indicates that foreign adversaries are responsible.

Flight Safety and Security Concerns

Flight Safety Incidents

Of the 392 UAP reports from the FAA during this period, only one incident raised concerns regarding flight safety. This incident involved a commercial aircrew reporting a near miss with a “cylindrical object” over the Atlantic Ocean near New York. AARO continues to investigate this case to determine the origin and nature of the object.

UAP in Proximity to Nuclear Sites

Eighteen UAP incidents were reported in the vicinity of nuclear sites, often identified as drones or unmanned aerial systems (UAS). These incidents included:

• Short Duration Flyovers: Most UAS sightings lasted under five minutes, with a few lasting longer—one for 53 minutes and another for nearly two hours.
• Multiple Drone Sightings: Sixteen of the cases reported a single drone, while two incidents involved multiple drones.
• Unidentified Crashed Drone: A UAS recovered by the D.C. Cook Nuclear Power Plant was handed over to local law enforcement for further examination.

The concentration of UAP sightings near nuclear sites highlights potential security implications and has led AARO to focus more resources on understanding and monitoring UAP activity around such critical infrastructure.

Organizational Roles, Responsibilities, and Engagements

Roles and Mechanisms for Reporting

AARO’s comprehensive data collection and analysis efforts depend on collaboration with a range of U.S. government entities, including the Department of Defense (DoD), federal and state law enforcement, and international allies. These partnerships enhance data quality and ensure that all UAP sightings, whether recent or historical, are properly documented.

In October 2023, AARO launched a secure portal allowing authorized personnel from the U.S. Government to submit confidential UAP-related reports. This reporting mechanism serves as a centralized repository for firsthand accounts and includes historical cases dating back to 1945.

Technical Collaboration and Research Initiatives

AARO collaborates with several academic and research institutions to advance UAP detection capabilities and scientific analysis. Key partnerships include:

• Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL): Provides materials analysis for potential UAP samples.
• Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI): Developed the GREMLIN sensor architecture for UAP detection, which is expected to be fully operational in FY2025.
• MIT Lincoln Laboratory: Works on prototype data processing systems to improve UAP tracking capabilities using radar systems.

These collaborations expand AARO’s capacity to analyze and categorize UAP sightings with higher accuracy, particularly those involving unusual or anomalous characteristics.

Program Divisions and Strategic Communication

Analytic, Operations, and Science & Technology Divisions

Analytic Division

The Analytic Division focuses on processing case data to identify consistent trends and patterns in UAP sightings. Due to data limitations, the majority of cases remain unresolved. However, for those that warrant further analysis, AARO uses advanced techniques, including simulation and modeling, to understand anomalous behavior more comprehensively.

Operations Division

The Operations Division is instrumental in coordinating with U.S. military branches and combat commands to refine UAP detection and reporting processes. In recent months, the division has initiated working groups to focus on specific UAP phenomena across the space and maritime domains, broadening AARO’s overall operational scope.

Science and Technology Division

The Science and Technology Division is addressing challenges in UAP detection, particularly concerning the lack of high-quality sensor data. The division’s initiatives, such as the GREMLIN sensor architecture, are designed to overcome existing technological limitations and facilitate more effective UAP tracking. This division also actively engages with the scientific community to promote open research on UAP topics.

Strategic Communications and Transparency Efforts

AARO maintains an active commitment to transparency. Its website publishes declassified data, case resolutions, and analysis trends for public awareness. In March 2024, AARO published the “Historical Record Report Volume I” and made it available to the public, addressing historical UAP sightings and investigations.

In addition to its website, AARO utilizes social media to communicate updates, promote public understanding, and share insights from newly published reports. This outreach includes a secure portal for government employees to report UAP-related knowledge.

Summary and Way Forward

AARO’s FY24 report emphasizes that UAP sightings continue to be predominantly airborne, with a high concentration around U.S. military operations. Through strengthened partnerships with the intelligence community, government agencies, and academic institutions, AARO aims to improve sensor technologies, enhance analytic tools, and develop a scientific foundation for UAP study across the air, space, and maritime domains.

Future efforts will focus on expanding sensor technology, improving reporting mechanisms, and addressing data gaps, all of which will contribute to a more systematic understanding of UAP phenomena. AARO’s ongoing collaboration with the intelligence community will prioritize data quality and help refine national UAP analysis, allowing for a clearer, evidence-based approach to future reports and studies.