AARO Report: UAP Reporting Trends 1996 – November 20, 2023
As of November 20, 2023, the topic of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) has seen significant advancements in understanding and reporting, as detailed in a recently released document by the Department of Defense. Cleared for open publication on November 21, 2023, this updated document provides a comprehensive analysis of UAPs, offering insights into their characteristics, behaviors, and observed patterns.
The Department of Defense’s latest report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) marks a clear shift in its investigative approach, prioritizing debunking and rational explanations over affirming the existence of true anomalies. Spearheaded by the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) in collaboration with Intelligence and Science and Technology (S&T) teams, the strategy focuses on demystifying cases initially viewed as extraordinary. This has led to prosaic explanations for various mysterious incidents, reflecting a commitment to clarifying uncertainties in aerial phenomena and emphasizing logical interpretations over endorsing unexplained occurrences.
One of the key sections of the report, “Reported-UAP Altitudes,” sheds light on the varying elevations at which these phenomena are observed. This section likely presents data on how UAPs’ operational altitudes range, offering valuable clues about their capabilities and possibly their origins.
In “Typically-Reported UAP Characteristics,” the document looks into the common features observed in these phenomena. This could include aspects like speed, maneuverability, size, shape, and perhaps even emission patterns, providing a framework for identifying and categorizing UAP encounters more effectively.
The “Reported UAP-Morphology” section presumably examines the physical structure of these phenomena. Understanding the morphology of UAPs is crucial in discerning whether these are advanced technological crafts, natural atmospheric phenomena, or something entirely unexplained.
The “Reported-UAP Hotspots” focuses on geographical areas where UAP sightings are most frequent. Identifying these hotspots not only helps in concentrating investigative efforts but also aids in understanding any potential patterns or intentions behind UAP appearances.
Sensor Artifacts
AARO’s comprehensive analysis, in collaboration with Intelligence and Science and Technology (S&T) partners, concludes that the UAPs reported in three specific cases were most likely conventional objects, not exhibiting anomalous behaviors. The observed effects, initially thought to be atmospheric wakes or anomalous propulsion, are identified as sensor artifacts.
- Case One: The object remains unidentified, but AARO confidently rules out anomalous behaviors.
- Case Two: Involves two objects; one almost certainly a military aircraft, the other likely a prosaic aircraft, with its oblong shape attributed to camera aberration.
- Case Three: The object is identified with high confidence as a commercial Airbus A380 aircraft, traveling in a recognized corridor.
Location and Intelligence Assessment
These reports originated from missions in the Middle East and the Mediterranean Sea across 2022 and 2023. AARO’s Intelligence partners assert high confidence that the “atmospheric wake” in each video is a sensor anomaly, not an anomalous propulsion signature. The reports were initially filed due to potential mission hazards and the appearance of anomalous propulsion.
Western United States military airspace in 2021
In a significant revelation by the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), an investigation into a series of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs) has led to an unexpected conclusion. Initially presumed to be an incursion into restricted military airspace, these UAPs were actually commercial aircraft. These flights were navigating along established air corridors, some as distant as 300 nautical miles from the observation point. This conclusion emerged from an exhaustive review of data conducted by AARO’s Intelligence and Science and Technology (S&T) partners.
The case drew attention when military personnel reported seeing five equidistant lights in the Western United States military airspace in 2021. These lights, perceived as potential threats, were observed at altitudes between 20,000 to 40,000 feet and appeared as oblong dots or lights, maintaining a consistent pace across the sky.
Further technological assessments and analysis of air-traffic control data led AARO to determine that the observed UAPs were significantly more distant than originally believed. Any apparent alterations in the shapes of these UAPs were not due to extraordinary capabilities but rather a result of sensor vibration and autofocus issues.
Corroborating these findings, AARO’s S&T partners conducted boresight analyses and independently concluded that the observed UAPs were indeed commercial aircraft. These aircraft were operating at altitudes typical for commercial flights in the region and were transiting known flight corridors between major airports. This comprehensive analysis and corroboration effectively resolved the case, reclassifying what was once deemed an unexplained phenomenon into a case of misidentified commercial aircraft.
Southeast Asia Triangles
In an intriguing case resolution by the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) of the US Department of Defense, the mystery of the “Southeast Asia Triangles” observed in 2017 has been conclusively solved. On March 17, 2023, AARO released their findings, asserting with high confidence that the phenomena, initially flagged as potentially anomalous and a navigation risk, were in fact cone-shaped static fishing nets floating on the ocean’s surface.
This conclusion was reached after a comprehensive review of various evidences by AARO’s Intelligence and Science and Technology (S&T) Partners. The initial image, showing six dark, triangular objects in a formation, sparked concerns due to its anomalous appearance and the potential threat to navigation in the Southeast Asia region. However, additional imagery from 2017 was discovered and collected, providing a clearer perspective of the objects in question.
AARO’s Intelligence partners conducted a detailed analysis, comparing the size, shape, and location of these triangular objects with existing imagery and known morphologies. They located a clearer image in the vicinity of the objects, which showed several similar triangles. These were confirmed to be static, cone-shaped fishing nets, each approximately 1m x 7m in size. The high confidence in this identification led to the reassessment that these objects did not pose a hazard to navigation.
Further supporting this conclusion, three of AARO’s S&T partners concurred that the objects imaged in 2017 were fishing nets. One partner highlighted the clarity of subsequent images, noting that the location and size comparison were pivotal in the assessment. The second partner analyzed other images from the same geographical area taken in late 2022 and early 2023, revealing multiple similar triangular shapes and downstream turbidity, indicating the nets’ presence on the water. The third partner found stock footage of fishing nets on the same river, further confirming the underlying analysis.
In summary, this resolution by AARO exemplifies the importance of thorough analysis and cross-referencing in understanding and resolving unidentified aerial phenomena. The case of the “Southeast Asia Triangles” demonstrates how objects that initially appear mysterious can often have conventional explanations upon closer examination.
The Department of Defense’s approach, as demonstrated in their latest report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), reflects a strategy focused more on debunking and explaining away incidents rather than confirming the existence of genuine anomalies. The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), in partnership with Intelligence and Science and Technology (S&T) divisions, has been instrumental in discrediting several cases that were initially considered extraordinary. Their efforts have led to mundane explanations for events previously shrouded in mystery, such as identifying commercial aircraft in secure military zones, rebranding peculiar occurrences as mere sensor misinterpretations, and explaining the “Southeast Asia Triangles” as nothing more than ordinary fishing nets. This trend in their investigations highlights a tendency towards rationalizing and demystifying aerial encounters, focusing on dispelling myths rather than acknowledging unexplained aerial phenomena.
