Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA) Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) Reference Guide – Volume 2, June 2024

The phenomenon of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), commonly known as UFOs, has captivated the public imagination for decades. What once was dismissed as science fiction or the realm of conspiracy theories is now being treated with increasing seriousness by governments, law enforcement agencies, and scientific bodies worldwide. This shift is largely driven by growing recognition that UAPs may pose significant national security risks, public safety concerns, and unexplored scientific opportunities.

Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) is a term that encompasses not only the traditional notion of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) but also includes unidentified airborne, seaborne, spaceborne, and transmedium objects or devices. According to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY23, UAPs are defined as airborne objects that are not immediately identifiable, transmedium objects or devices, and submerged objects that display behaviors or performance characteristics that suggest they may be related to the aforementioned categories.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) considers UAPs as sources of anomalous detections in one or more domains that are not yet attributable to known actors and demonstrate behaviors that sensors or observers do not readily understand. These behaviors include capabilities or materials that exceed known performance envelopes, raising concerns about their origins and potential threats.

Several organizations and agencies are involved in investigating UAPs, ranging from government bodies to independent research organizations. In the United States, the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) leads the federal government’s efforts to address UAPs using a rigorous scientific framework and a data-driven approach. Established in July 2022, AARO’s mission is to detect, identify, and attribute UAPs near military installations, operating areas, training areas, and other areas of interest.

Other U.S. government initiatives include the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF), which operated from 2020 to 2021, and NASA’s UAP Independent Study Team, which was commissioned in June 2022 to examine UAPs from a scientific perspective. Additionally, the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC) and the National Aviation Reporting Center on Anomalous Phenomena (NARCAP) play crucial roles in documenting and analyzing UAP incidents reported by the public and aviation professionals​.

While UAPs have been reported for decades, significant attention from the U.S. government and international bodies began to increase notably in the 2000s. In 2009, the Pentagon launched the Advanced Aerospace Weapons System Application Program (AAWSAP) and later the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) to investigate next-generation aerospace technologies, including UAPs​.

The turning point came in 2021 when the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) released a preliminary assessment of UAPs. This report outlined the challenges in characterizing the potential threat posed by UAPs and called for improved data collection and reporting processes. The report also highlighted that out of 144 UAP reports between 2004 and 2021, 143 remained unexplained​.

In July 2022, the establishment of AARO marked a significant step forward, as it centralized efforts across the Department of Defense and other federal agencies to address the UAP issue comprehensively. This was followed by the UAP Disclosure Act of 2023, part of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2024, which set up a timeline and process for disclosing information about UAPs and ensuring that any recovered technology would belong to the government​.

UAP investigations are occurring both within the United States and internationally. Within the U.S., efforts are concentrated in military and intelligence agencies, with AARO taking the lead. The U.S. Congress has also become increasingly involved, with hearings and legislation aimed at improving transparency and reporting mechanisms related to UAPs​.

Internationally, several countries have their own UAP research and tracking programs. For example, France’s GEIPAN program, under the French Space Agency (CNES), investigates UFO sightings reported by the public, pilots, and military personnel using a scientific approach. In Canada, the Sky Canada Project was launched in 2022 to study how UAP reports from the public are managed and to recommend improvements​.

The importance of UAPs lies in their potential implications for national security, public safety, and scientific discovery. From a national security perspective, UAPs represent a domain awareness gap. Unidentified objects in defended airspace, especially those exhibiting advanced technology, pose a clear and present danger to pilots and military personnel. The inability to identify these objects raises concerns about potential foreign surveillance or even more exotic explanations​.

Public safety is another critical concern. UAP incidents have been reported by numerous military and commercial pilots, including close encounters that could have resulted in catastrophic accidents. There have also been reports of UAPs causing temporary or permanent failures in electronic, communications, and navigation systems, which could endanger civilian and military operations.

From a scientific standpoint, UAPs offer an intriguing mystery. While many sightings may have mundane explanations, some UAPs demonstrate capabilities that challenge our understanding of physics and technology. This has led to calls for a more rigorous scientific investigation of UAPs, with NASA and other scientific bodies playing a central role in this effort.

Law enforcement agencies, particularly those with air support units, have a unique role in the context of UAPs. These agencies often operate in controlled and restricted airspace where UAPs are frequently reported. The unknown threat posed by UAPs to public safety means that law enforcement must be prepared to respond to incidents involving these phenomena.

However, as highlighted in the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA) UAP Reference Guide, there is currently no official UAP reporting mechanism or common procedure for local law enforcement to report UAP incidents. This lack of a standardized reporting system means that many UAP encounters may go unreported, leaving gaps in our understanding of the scope and nature of these phenomena​.

To address this, there is a growing recognition of the need for improved tracking and analysis of UAP-related calls for service and police responses. Understanding the potential risks UAPs pose to officers in the field and developing appropriate policies and tactics for responding to these incidents are critical steps in ensuring public safety.

The phenomenon of UAPs, once relegated to the fringes of scientific inquiry, is now being taken seriously by governments, law enforcement, and the scientific community. The implications of UAPs for national security, public safety, and scientific understanding are profound, making it essential to continue investigating these phenomena with rigor and transparency.

As UAP investigations continue to evolve, law enforcement agencies will play a crucial role in tracking and responding to these incidents, ensuring that public safety is maintained while contributing to the broader understanding of these mysterious phenomena.