US Government Points to Classified Military Experiments in Explanation of UFO Sightings
A recent Pentagon report has linked the surge in UFO sightings during the 1950s and 60s to the testing of advanced US spy planes and space technology. Submitted to Congress, the report seeks to debunk prevalent beliefs in extraterrestrial encounters, asserting that there is “no evidence” of the US government encountering alien life.
Pentagon officials revealed that the majority of UFO sightings reported during that era were identified as ordinary Earth objects. The report acknowledges the enduring popularity of UFO-related beliefs, attributing it to the influence of television programs, books, movies, and extensive internet and social media content centered on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP).
Part of the broader US government’s public exploration of UFOs, termed “unidentified anomalous phenomena,” the report follows public meetings with NASA officials and congressional hearings. Issued by the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), it underscores how public opinion has been shaped by pop culture narratives, including notions of the government concealing spacecraft and alien remains.
Pentagon spokesperson Maj Gen Pat Ryder stressed that the report was approached with an open mind, but investigations yielded no evidence of encounters with extraterrestrial visitors. The study concludes that most sightings resulted from misidentifying ordinary objects and phenomena.
Referencing a 2021 Gallup poll, the report notes that over 40% of Americans believe alien spacecraft have visited Earth, marking an increase from 33% in just two years. The AARO delved into archives and classified files, debunking rumors and exposing the inauthenticity of certain UFO-related documents.
The report highlights technological advancements, such as high-altitude balloons and the U-2 spy plane, as contributors to the spike in UFO reports in the 1950s and 60s. More than half of the investigated UFO reports during that period were determined to be US reconnaissance flights.
While the report acknowledges the current pervasiveness of UAP content in popular culture, it attributes this phenomenon to a lack of trust in the US government and the popularity of online alien-related content. Despite the report’s findings, UAP sightings continue at a rate of 50 to 100 per month. The AARO plans to release a subsequent information examining more recent sightings and rumors in the future.
