Within Investigations
Why did the Eglin UAP case fade?
The 2023 Eglin case shows how a serious military UAP report can be investigated without becoming proof of anything exotic.
On this page
- What the pilot reported in the Florida training range
- How radar, imagery, and object behaviour were checked
- Why AARO favoured a lighter than air explanation
Page outline Jump by section
Introduction
The Eglin pilot UAP case became one of Florida’s most discussed modern military UFO incidents because it appeared to contain several elements that believers often treat as strong evidence: a trained pilot, airborne sensors, a military training range, multiple objects on radar, and reported equipment problems during the encounter. Yet the same case also became an example of how later technical review can steadily reduce the mystery without fully satisfying everyone who followed the story.
The incident took place in January 2023 near the Eglin Air Force Base training range over the Gulf of Mexico. Early public descriptions, amplified by political comments and online UFO discussion, made the encounter sound dramatic. But when the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) later released a formal case resolution, investigators argued that the most likely explanation was not exotic technology but a lighter-than-air object, probably a commercial or hobby-style balloon. AARO [The War Zone]twz.comeglin afb pilot likely saw a lighting balloon not a ufo pentagon concludesThe War ZoneEglin AFB Pilot Likely Saw A Lighting Balloon, Not A UFO…24 Apr 2024 — AARO reported that was “a close visual match to the…
The case matters within Florida UFO history because it shows the gap between an initial “unidentified” report and the slower process of reconstruction using imagery analysis, radar interpretation, environmental conditions, and known object profiles.
What the pilot reported in the Florida training range
According to AARO’s published case summary, the event occurred on 26 January 2023 while a military pilot was operating in the Eglin training range. The pilot initially detected four airborne objects on radar at roughly 16,000 to 18,000 feet and believed they appeared to be moving in formation. AARO [Fox News]outkick.comufo 2023 military pilot florida findingGovernment Releases Report On Major UFO Sighting | OutKick29 Apr 2024 — On 26 January 2023, a military pilot reported four potential unid…
As the aircraft closed distance, the pilot reportedly obtained visual contact with only one object. The object was later described as resembling an Apollo capsule or cone-like structure, with a darker upper section and an illuminated orange or reddish underside. The pilot also captured infrared imagery using the aircraft’s electro-optical and infrared targeting system. [AARO]aaro.milAAROEglin UAP Case Resolution(U) The pilot reported that upon closing to within 4,000 feet of the object, the radar on the aircraft malfu… [Reddit]reddit.comAir Force Releases Details About 2023 UAP Sighting…Notably, upon approaching within 4,000 feet of the lead UAP, the pilot's radar…
One feature of the story attracted particular attention online and in Congress: the pilot stated that the aircraft radar malfunctioned after approaching within about 4,000 feet of the object. Post-flight maintenance reportedly could not determine a definitive cause for the malfunction. AARO [EURASIAN TIMES]eurasiantimes.comjammed its radar moving with beyond human capabilitiesUS Air Force: UFO That "Jammed" Fighter Jet's Radar…25 Apr 2024 — The report concluded with “moderate confidence” that the pilot had i…
That radar issue became central to later speculation. In UFO discussion spaces, it was often treated as evidence of electronic interference or advanced technology. But investigators did not conclude that the object caused the malfunction. AARO instead treated the radar problem as unresolved but not necessarily connected to anything extraordinary. [AARO]aaro.milAARO HomeWelcome to the website for the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). Our team of experts leads the U.S. government's effo…
The case gained wider public attention after Representative Matt Gaetz referred to a striking Eglin-related pilot encounter during a congressional hearing in 2023. Although public retellings sometimes merged details from different reports, the Eglin story quickly entered the modern UAP narrative as a supposedly difficult military case. [Facebook]facebook.comFacebookU.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz said military pilots took photos of UFO…U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz said military pilots took photos of UFO near…
Why the case initially sounded more mysterious than it probably was
Several features made the incident appear stronger than many ordinary UFO sightings.
First, the witness was a military aviator rather than a casual observer on the ground. Pilot testimony usually carries more weight because trained aircrew are accustomed to estimating speed, altitude, and relative movement. Second, the event involved onboard systems rather than naked-eye observation alone. Third, the incident occurred in restricted military airspace associated with advanced aviation activity. [AARO]aaro.milUAP ImageryThe United States European Command submitted a report of an unidentified anomalous phenomenon to the All-domain Anomaly Resolu…
But these same conditions can also create confusion.
Military training environments are dense with aircraft, electronic systems, radar reflections, countermeasures, test activity, and atmospheric effects. Even experienced pilots can misjudge distant objects without reliable range cues. A small balloon illuminated by sunlight can appear metallic, structured, or oddly shaped depending on viewing angle and sensor zoom. Infrared systems can also exaggerate visual ambiguity because they compress depth and detail into simplified heat signatures. AARO [NASA Science]science.nasa.govNASA ScienceIndependent Study Team ReportUnidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) are one of our planet's greatest mysteries. Observations…
Another important factor was timing. The encounter happened only weeks before the major February 2023 Chinese balloon incident dominated headlines across North America. Public awareness of balloons and high-altitude objects changed dramatically during that period, but before the shootdowns many observers still tended to assume that unusual aerial objects detected by military systems must involve something more advanced. [Wikipedia]Wikipedia2023 Chinese balloon incident2023 Chinese balloon incident
The Eglin case therefore landed in a cultural moment when UAP discussion was expanding rapidly but before the public fully appreciated how often balloons, drifting objects, and sensor ambiguity appear in military reporting.
How radar, imagery, and object behaviour were checked
AARO’s later investigation focused heavily on reconstruction rather than speculation. Investigators reviewed pilot testimony, radar information, environmental data, and the infrared imagery collected during the encounter. [AARO]aaro.milAAROEglin UAP Case Resolution(U) The pilot reported that upon closing to within 4,000 feet of the object, the radar on the aircraft malfu…
The office concluded that the evidence did not support claims of extraordinary manoeuvres or advanced propulsion. One key issue was that the “formation” detected on radar may not have represented four solid craft travelling together in a controlled way. Radar tracks can fragment, merge, or generate misleading returns depending on range, angle, clutter, and atmospheric conditions. AARO ultimately concentrated on the single visually observed object rather than treating all four radar returns as confirmed vehicles. [AARO]aaro.milAARO HomeWelcome to the website for the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). Our team of experts leads the U.S. government's effo…
The infrared imagery became especially important. AARO stated that its scientific and technical partners found the object visually consistent with a Mylar-type balloon viewed from above. Investigators argued that reflected light from clouds or the Earth below — sometimes called “earth shine” — could explain the illuminated underside described by the pilot. [UFO Transparency]ufotransparency.comUFO TransparencyAARO Eglin AFB Case Resolution, October 2023, All-domain…The S&T partner assesses that the image is consistent with a…
The reported orange-red colour may also have had a mundane source. According to the case resolution report, many commercial balloons contain coloured tether points or structural features that can appear bright under certain lighting conditions. [UFO Transparency]ufotransparency.comUFO TransparencyAARO Eglin AFB Case Resolution, October 2023, All-domain…The S&T partner assesses that the image is consistent with a…
Importantly, AARO did not present the balloon explanation as absolute certainty. The office used moderate-confidence language rather than claiming the case had been solved beyond dispute. That distinction matters because some elements of the encounter remained incomplete or ambiguous, especially the radar malfunction and the limited imagery available publicly. AARO [EURASIAN TIMES]eurasiantimes.comjammed its radar moving with beyond human capabilitiesUS Air Force: UFO That "Jammed" Fighter Jet's Radar…25 Apr 2024 — The report concluded with “moderate confidence” that the pilot had i…
Why AARO favoured a lighter-than-air explanation
The balloon explanation was not based on one single clue. It emerged from the cumulative fit between the object’s appearance, its apparent movement, environmental conditions, and known characteristics of reflective lighter-than-air objects.
Several points pushed investigators in that direction:
- The imagery reportedly resembled previously identified balloon cases.
- The object did not display confirmed extreme acceleration or impossible manoeuvres once the data were reviewed carefully.
- Lighting effects could plausibly account for the glowing underside and metallic appearance.
- The observed shape matched known balloon profiles more closely than a structured craft.
- The motion was compatible with drifting behaviour rather than controlled high-performance flight. AARO [The War Zone]twz.comeglin afb pilot likely saw a lighting balloon not a ufo pentagon concludesThe War ZoneEglin AFB Pilot Likely Saw A Lighting Balloon, Not A UFO…24 Apr 2024 — AARO reported that was “a close visual match to the…
This reflected a broader pattern in modern Pentagon UAP work. AARO and earlier intelligence reviews have repeatedly found that many initially alarming reports eventually reduce to balloons, drones, clutter, sensor artefacts, or ordinary aircraft seen under unusual conditions. The office has publicly stated that only a small minority of cases remain genuinely difficult after analysis. [DefenseScoop]defensescoop.comuap aaro chief unveils pentagon annual caseload analysis new effortsDefenseScoop'The truly anomalous': New AARO chief unveils Pentagon's…14 Nov 2024 — “AARO has successfully resolved hundreds of cases i… [2U.S.] Department of War
For sceptical investigators, the Eglin incident therefore became less important as evidence of something exotic and more important as a demonstration of investigative discipline. The initial account sounded extraordinary. The later technical review pulled the case back toward a conventional explanation without claiming complete certainty.
Why some UFO researchers still dispute the conclusion
Not everyone accepted AARO’s resolution.
Some UFO commentators argued that the public release was incomplete, that the imagery quality was too poor to justify firm conclusions, or that the radar malfunction deserved more attention than investigators gave it. Others claimed the balloon comparison relied too heavily on visual resemblance rather than fully disclosed telemetry or tracking data. [Reddit]reddit.comRecap of the Eglin UFO Sighting Controversy1.9K; Why do most UFO/alien incidents seem to come from the US? r/UFOs - Why do most UFO/alien incidents…Read more…
A recurring criticism was that AARO released only limited material from the incident. Critics argued that without the full sensor package, outside analysts could not independently test the government’s interpretation. Supporters of the official conclusion responded that classified military systems and operational security limit what can be published. [The Debrief]thedebrief.orgThe Debrief Incident at Eglin Air Force BaseIncident at Eglin Air Force BaseMay 2, 2024 — In January 2023, a U.S. military pilot reported an encounter with a group of unusual object…
The disagreement highlights a wider problem in modern UAP debates. In many military cases, the public sees only fragments: a still image, a short clip, or a summary report. That leaves room for competing narratives. Believers may view missing data as suspicious, while sceptics may argue that incomplete evidence should lower confidence in extraordinary claims rather than increase it.
Why the Eglin case faded from the stronger end of UFO claims
The Eglin encounter initially gained traction because it appeared to combine credible witnesses with military instrumentation. But over time, the case weakened as evidence for exotic behaviour failed to solidify.
No publicly released data showed impossible flight characteristics. No corroborated evidence emerged for non-human technology. The radar malfunction remained unexplained but not demonstrably linked to the object itself. The imagery, once analysed in detail, looked less like a structured craft and more like a reflective balloon under unusual lighting. AARO [The War Zone]twz.comeglin afb pilot likely saw a lighting balloon not a ufo pentagon concludesThe War ZoneEglin AFB Pilot Likely Saw A Lighting Balloon, Not A UFO…24 Apr 2024 — AARO reported that was “a close visual match to the…
That does not mean the pilot fabricated the encounter or that the event was trivial. The most balanced reading is that a sincere military witness encountered something genuinely confusing in a complex operational environment. What changed was not the sincerity of the report but the weight of the later evidence.
Within Florida’s UFO history, the Eglin case stands as a useful modern example of how serious-sounding UAP incidents can move from dramatic speculation toward a narrower, more conventional interpretation once investigators compare testimony against sensor limitations, atmospheric effects, and known airborne objects.
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Endnotes
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Source: aaro.mil
Link: https://www.aaro.mil/portals/136/PDFs/case_resolution_reports/Case_Resolution_of_Eglin_UAP_2508.pdfSource snippet
AAROEglin UAP Case Resolution(U) The pilot reported that upon closing to within 4,000 feet of the object, the radar on the aircraft malfu...
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Source: twz.com
Title: eglin afb pilot likely saw a lighting balloon not a ufo pentagon concludes
Link: https://www.twz.com/air/eglin-afb-pilot-likely-saw-a-lighting-balloon-not-a-ufo-pentagon-concludesSource snippet
The War ZoneEglin AFB Pilot Likely Saw A Lighting Balloon, Not A UFO...24 Apr 2024 — AARO reported that was “a close visual match to the...
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/ufo/comments/1b88fn3/air_force_releases_details_about_2023_uap/Source snippet
Air Force Releases Details About 2023 UAP Sighting...Notably, upon approaching within 4,000 feet of the lead UAP, the pilot's radar...
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Source: war.gov
Title: dod working to better understand resolve anomalous phenomena
Link: https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3368109/dod-working-to-better-understand-resolve-anomalous-phenomena/Source snippet
Department of WarDOD Working to Better Understand, Resolve Anomalous...19 Apr 2023 — ' The majority of unidentified objects reported to...
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FacebookU.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz said military pilots took photos of UFO...U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz said military pilots took photos of UFO near...
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Source: science.nasa.gov
Link: https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/uap-independent-study-team-final-report.pdfSource snippet
NASA ScienceIndependent Study Team ReportUnidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) are one of our planet's greatest mysteries. Observations...
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Source: Wikipedia
Title: 2023 Chinese balloon incident
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Chinese_balloon_incident -
Source: defensescoop.com
Title: uap aaro chief unveils pentagon annual caseload analysis new efforts
Link: https://defensescoop.com/2024/11/14/uap-aaro-chief-unveils-pentagon-annual-caseload-analysis-new-efforts/Source snippet
DefenseScoop'The truly anomalous': New AARO chief unveils Pentagon's...14 Nov 2024 — “AARO has successfully resolved hundreds of cases i...
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Source: war.gov
Title: dod examining unidentified anomalous phenomena
Link: https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3965403/dod-examining-unidentified-anomalous-phenomena/Source snippet
Department of WarDOD Examining Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena14 Nov 2024 — "AARO has successfully resolved hundreds of cases in its hol...
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Source: reddit.com
Title: Recap of the Eglin UFO Sighting Controversy
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/1crfpi2/recap_of_the_eglin_ufo_sighting_controversy/Source snippet
1.9K; Why do most UFO/alien incidents seem to come from the US? r/UFOs - Why do most UFO/alien incidents...Read more...
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Source: aaro.mil
Link: https://www.aaro.mil/Source snippet
AARO HomeWelcome to the website for the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). Our team of experts leads the U.S. government's effo...
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Source: aaro.mil
Link: https://www.aaro.mil/UAP-Cases/Official-UAP-Imagery/Source snippet
UAP ImageryThe United States European Command submitted a report of an unidentified anomalous phenomenon to the All-domain Anomaly Resolu...
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/1ke1n8m/aaros_analysis_determined_the_jellyfish_uap_is_a/Source snippet
AARO used full-motion video and pixel analyses to inform its assessment...
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Source: reddit.com
Title: aaro released its resolution for the case known
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/1cc7fx2/aaro_released_its_resolution_for_the_case_known/Source snippet
as...24 Apr 2024 — Today, AARO released its resolution for the case known as the "Eglin UAP." It presents AARO's analysis of a January 2...
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/1fqhn02/wikipedia_says_aaro_has_resolved_half_of_its_510/Source snippet
s of "weather balloons". AARO has resolved only four cases...Read more...
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Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/1ci1mjs/coulthart_this_aaro_foia_response_acknowledges_a/Source snippet
[Coulthart] This AARO FOIA response acknowledges a video...This@DoD_AAROFOIA response acknowledges a video does exist from the Jan 2023...
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Department of Defense Releases the Annual Report on...14 Nov 2024 — AARO received 757 UAP reports during this period; 485 of these repor...
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All-domain Anomaly Resolution OfficeIn March 2024, AARO released a report titled "Report on the Historical Record of U.S...
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Title: The Debrief Incident at Eglin Air Force Base
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Incident at Eglin Air Force BaseMay 2, 2024 — In January 2023, a U.S. military pilot reported an encounter with a group of unusual object...
Published: May 2, 2024
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Source: outkick.com
Title: ufo 2023 military pilot florida finding
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Government Releases Report On Major UFO Sighting | OutKick29 Apr 2024 — On 26 January 2023, a military pilot reported four potential unid...
Published: January 2023
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Source: thedebrief.org
Link: https://thedebrief.org/aaro-has-only-moderate-confidence-in-findings-from-its-latest-uap-investigation-its-easy-to-see-why/Source snippet
The DebriefAARO Has Only “Moderate Confidence” in Findings From...25 Apr 2024 — The Pentagon's AARO has released a report on its finding...
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Source: eurasiantimes.com
Title: jammed its radar moving with beyond human capabilities
Link: https://www.eurasiantimes.com/jammed-its-radar-moving-with-beyond-human-capabilities/Source snippet
US Air Force: UFO That "Jammed" Fighter Jet's Radar...25 Apr 2024 — The report concluded with “moderate confidence” that the pilot had i...
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Source: ufotransparency.com
Link: https://ufotransparency.com/files/decade-2020s-aaro-eglin-uap-case-resolution-2023-case-resolution-of-eglin-uap-2-508Source snippet
UFO TransparencyAARO Eglin AFB Case Resolution, October 2023, All-domain...The S&T partner assesses that the image is consistent with a...
Published: October 2023
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Source: media.defense.gov
Title: DOPSR 2024 0263 AARO HISTORICAL RECORD REPORT VOLUME 1 2024
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Historical Record Report Volume 18 Mar 2024 — misidentified, drones, balloons, aircraft, rockets, rocket exhaust... involve UAP exploita...
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Source: thedebrief.org
Link: [https://thedebrief.org/this-well-known-ufo-debunker-is-skeptical-of-the-dods-recent-investigationsSource snippet
This Well-Known UFO Debunker is Skeptical of the DoD's...7 May 2024 — Although West concedes this point, he also notes that AARO's repor...
Published: May 2024
Additional References
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Source: mightytravels.com
Link: https://www.mightytravels.com/2024/05/7-intriguing-facts-about-the-unidentified-aircraft-spotted-over-eglin-air-force-base/Source snippet
Pilots Report Unidentified Aircraft Over Eglin Air Force Base21 May 2024 — The recent UAP sighting near Eglin Air Force Base has been res...
Published: May 2024
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Source: read-me.org
Title: fiscal year 2024 consolidated annual report on unidentified anomalous phenomena
Link: https://read-me.org/more-social-sciences/2024/12/21/fiscal-year-2024-consolidated-annual-report-on-unidentified-anomalous-phenomenaSource snippet
Fiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Annual Report on...21 Dec 2024 — AARO resolved 118 cases during the reporting period, all of which resolve...
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Source: aliensarerunningoperations.com
Link: https://www.aliensarerunningoperations.com/Source snippet
AARO Files | Aliens Are Running Operations Documentation...Access declassified documents, witness testimonies, and official reports from...
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Source: brobible.com
Title: pentagon ufo office report air force encounter gulf mexico
Link: https://brobible.com/sports/article/pentagon-ufo-office-report-air-force-encounter-gulf-mexico/Source snippet
Pentagon's UFO Office Releases Report On Air Force...29 Apr 2024 — The UFO encounter occurred on January 26th, 2023 and was reported by...
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Source: san.com
Title: annual ufo report finds 21 cases that cant be explained
Link: https://san.com/cc/annual-ufo-report-finds-21-cases-that-cant-be-explained/Source snippet
Annual UFO report finds 21 cases that can't be explainedNov 15, 2024 — Pentagon investigates 700+ UFO sightings, unable to explain 21; no...
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Source: dni.gov
Title: Unclassified 2022 Annual Report UAP
Link: https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/Unclassified-2022-Annual-Report-UAP.pdfSource snippet
2022 Annual Report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena25 Jun 2021 — Per the NDAA, AARO delivers quarterly reports on UAP to policymakers tha...
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Source: theblackvault.com
Title: aaro releases final report on eglin uap incident
Link: https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/aaro-releases-final-report-on-eglin-uap-incident/Source snippet
AARO Releases Final Report on “Eglin UAP” Incident24 Apr 2024 — AARO's analysis concluded that the UAP was “very likely a lighter-than-ai...
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Source: dvidshub.net
Title: pr 005 uap report resolved balloon europe 2022
Link: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/977834/pr-005-uap-report-resolved-balloon-europe-2022Source snippet
PR-005, UAP Report Resolved as a Balloon, Europe 2022AARO bases its assessment on the object's strong morphological consistency with othe...
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Link: https://zenodo.org/records/20137882Source snippet
The establishment of PURSUE officially supersedes AARO...Read more...
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Link: https://www.flyingmag.com/unpacking-pentagon-latest-uap-release/Source snippet
(UAP) answers a few questions but raises many more.Read more...
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