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The Department of Defense released its Fiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Annual Report on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) through the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). This document outlines findings from reports collected between May 1, 2023, and June 1, 2024, along with some older cases not covered before. It focuses on analyzing these sightings, identifying patterns, and addressing potential risks to national security, flight safety, and health. AARO’s work involves gathering data from military and civilian sources to resolve what these phenomena might be, whether they’re everyday objects or something more unusual.
AARO was established to investigate UAP across air, space, and maritime domains. The office coordinates with various government agencies to collect and examine reports. In this period, AARO handled hundreds of cases, most of which turned out to be ordinary items like balloons, birds, or drones. The report emphasizes that no evidence points to extraterrestrial origins or advanced foreign technology. Instead, it highlights the need for better data collection to resolve remaining mysteries.
This article breaks down the report’s key sections, explaining the data, trends, and implications in straightforward terms. Readers will get a clear picture of how AARO approaches these investigations and what the findings mean for public understanding of UAP.
Executive Summary
AARO’s report responds to a legal requirement under U.S. law, specifically 50 U.S.C. 3373(k), which mandates annual updates on UAP activities. It covers 757 reports received during the specified timeframe, with 485 involving incidents from that period and 272 from earlier years, mainly 2021 and 2022.
Out of these, AARO closed 118 cases, all attributed to common explanations such as balloons, birds, or unmanned aerial systems (UAS), which are essentially drones. By the end of May 2024, another 174 cases were lined up for closure, later confirmed as similar prosaic objects. AARO stresses that none of these cases show signs of extraterrestrial beings, activities, or technologies.
No reports mentioned health issues for those who observed the UAP. On flight safety, two cases involved concerns from military pilots, and three described UAP following aircraft. AARO hasn’t linked these to foreign adversaries but continues to check with intelligence partners.
The office faces challenges due to limited high-quality data from sensors. To improve, AARO is partnering with military and technical groups to refine reporting and sensor use. It’s also reaching out to international allies for shared insights on handling UAP cases.
This summary sets the stage for the report’s detailed look at trends and analyses. It shows AARO’s commitment to transparency while prioritizing national security.
Scope
The report fulfills a congressional mandate from the Fiscal Year 2023 Intelligence Authorization Act, requiring annual submissions for four years. It details UAP events from the past year and any overlooked older ones.
Key elements include:
- All UAP-related events in the reporting period.
- Older events not previously reported.
- Data analysis from these events.
- Information collected via geospatial intelligence (GEOINT), which involves satellite imagery and maps; signals intelligence (SIGINT), like intercepted communications; human intelligence (HUMINT), from people; and measurement and signatures intelligence (MASINT), which detects unique signatures from objects.
- Incidents over restricted U.S. airspace, with analysis.
- Potential threats to U.S. national security from UAP.
- Assessments on whether UAP link to foreign governments or breakthrough aerospace tech.
- Updates on consultations with allies about tracking UAP.
- Efforts to capture or study discovered UAP.
- Health effects on individuals encountering UAP.
- Incidents near military nuclear assets, like weapons or ships.
- Consultations with nuclear officials on events near nuclear facilities.
- Details on organizations handling UAP functions, such as investigations and analyses.
- Summary of reports via authorized mechanisms.
AARO prepared this in collaboration with numerous entities, including the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), military branches like the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Space Force; intelligence agencies such as the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), National Security Agency (NSA); and others like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Department of Energy (DoE).
This broad coordination ensures a thorough review, drawing on diverse expertise to address UAP questions.
Overview of Reports
Overall Trend Analysis
By October 24, 2024, AARO’s database held 1,652 total reports. This year’s focus includes the 757 new ones, with breakdowns by domain: 708 in air, 49 in space, and none in maritime or crossing domains.
Space reports came from pilots or ground observers estimating objects at high altitudes, aligning with U.S. Space Command responsibilities starting at about 100 kilometers up. Notably, 392 reports originated from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), covering all their UAP logs since 2021.
AARO resolved 49 cases to everyday items like balloons, birds, or UAS. Another 243 awaited final review but pointed to similar conclusions: balloons, birds, UAS, satellites, or aircraft. Twenty-one cases needed deeper checks with intelligence and science partners due to unusual features.
The rest, 444 cases, went into an active archive for future reference, lacking enough data for immediate resolution. AARO can revisit them if new information surfaces.
No resolved cases suggested advanced foreign tech or breakthroughs. AARO keeps watch and would alert Congress if any indicate such developments.
Figures in the report illustrate totals and resolutions. For instance, one shows report counts and adjudications, while another categorizes closed cases by object type.
Diversification and Sources of Reporting
AARO now gets weekly FAA reports, a big jump from before, thanks to stronger ties. All reports came from military channels or FAA logs, using tools like video or radar from pilots.
No data arrived from national GEOINT, SIGINT, or MASINT systems this time. AARO plans to boost intelligence community involvement for more inputs.
Military and FAA reports form case foundations. AARO uses intelligence partners for advanced analysis, like applying GEOINT to pilot videos. For specific cases, it searches databases across intelligence types to aid resolutions.
This diversification helps build a fuller picture, reducing gaps in understanding UAP.
Overview of Analysis and Findings
Reported Morphologies
UAP shapes in reports match past trends. Lights and round, spherical, or orb-like objects dominated when descriptions were clear.
The “other” category held unique reports, like a green fireball, a jellyfish with multicolored flashing lights, or a silver rocket about six feet long.
About 22.4% of reports (170) had too little or no data for shape identification.
A figure in the report charts these morphologies, showing lights and orbs as most common.
Reported Altitudes
Altitude patterns stayed steady. Most UAP appeared between ground level and 40,000 feet, typical for aircraft and drones.
Space domain cases were at or above 100 kilometers, or roughly 328,000 feet.
A table details altitude ranges, updated to use feet for the space boundary instead of kilometers for consistency.
Geographic Trends
Reports cluster near U.S. military sites and sensors worldwide, showing a bias in collection.
Eighty-one reports came from U.S. military areas. Over the East Asian Seas, 100 reports arrived, with 40 resolved as balloons or UAS; others archived for lack of data.
In the Middle East, 57 reports led to 13 resolutions as balloons, UAS, or satellites. Two might be satellite flares, under review with modeling. Forty-two archived.
Maps in the report highlight hotspots and global distribution, emphasizing military presence influences reporting locations.
Notable Trends Regarding Prosaic Objects
AARO sees more cases linking to the Starlink satellite network. One example: a pilot saw white flashing lights at night, no altitude or speed noted. It matched a Starlink launch from Cape Canaveral, along the orbital path.
AARO checks if other open cases tie to expanding satellite constellations in low Earth orbit.
Birds often get mistaken for UAP due to sensor issues like compression making them look like blobs or orbs. Glare distorts shapes, and video shows flickering from wing flaps, confirming birds.
These trends help explain many sightings as normal occurrences.
Flight Safety Issues
Among 392 FAA reports, one noted a safety concern: a commercial crew’s near miss with a cylindrical object over the Atlantic near New York. AARO investigates this.
Two military reports flagged safety worries, and three involved UAP trailing planes. No confirmation of foreign involvement, but coordination with intelligence continues.
UAS Observations Near U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure, Weapons, and Launch Sites
AARO got 18 reports from nuclear officials on incidents near nuclear sites, all deemed UAS.
Ten lasted under five minutes over protected areas; two longer at 53 minutes and nearly two hours. Six had unknown durations.
Most involved one UAS; two had two each. One entered and left a protected area twice.
Security spotted UAS in at least half the cases. On August 3, 2023, at the D.C. Cook Nuclear Plant, a crashed UAS was recovered and handed to local law enforcement in Berrien County, Michigan. No further details available.
From October 10-15, 2023, the BWXT Fuel Cycle Facility in Lynchburg, Virginia, saw UAS nightly for six days, one per night, durations unknown.
These incidents underscore vigilance around sensitive sites.
AARO Possesses No Data to Indicate the Capture or Exploitation of UAP
AARO lacks evidence of captured UAP materials. It develops processes with partners for handling any future discoveries, using existing government procedures.
No Health/Physiological Impacts from UAP Incidents Reported
No observers reported health effects from UAP encounters. AARO notes effects could appear later and will document any that do.
Engagement, Roles, Responsibilities, and Reporting
Roles and Responsibilities of Assigned Line Organizations
AARO runs a partner engagement program for outreach to DoD, law enforcement, CI, security, and foreign entities.
It assists military services and commands in creating response plans and reporting.
In May 2023, the Joint Staff sent a message requiring UAP reports to operations centers and CI within 96 hours.
For analyses, AARO leads scientific, tech, and operational data reviews as designated by top officials.
Mechanism for Authorized Reporting
The report summarizes authorized reporting under 50 U.S.C. 3373b, though details are truncated in the provided document.
AARO ensures structured channels for safe, accurate reporting.
AARO Program Updates
Analytic Division
This group handles data analysis, identifying patterns and resolving cases. It uses intelligence tools to attribute UAP to known objects.
Operations Division
Focuses on real-time responses, coordinating field investigations and data collection.
Science and Technology Division
Develops advanced methods for detection and analysis, partnering with labs like the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).
Strategic Communications Division
Manages public and partner outreach, ensuring clear information sharing.
Way Forward
AARO plans to enhance sensor tech, expand international cooperation, and refine reporting for better resolutions.
It aims to close data gaps and maintain security focus.
Summary
This report from AARO provides a detailed look at UAP activities, resolving most to everyday explanations while archiving others for future study. No extraterrestrial or adversarial breakthroughs appear. Ongoing efforts strengthen data collection and partnerships, promoting safety and understanding. The findings reassure that many mysteries stem from common sources, with work continuing on the rest.
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