The director of the office tasked with investigating unidentified anomalous phenomena, commonly referred to as UFOs, stated that the US government is currently receiving numerous reports each month. There is a potential for even more reports in the near future, possibly ranging in the hundreds or even thousands. As of April, the office has already received around 800 reports of unidentified objects to be investigated, a significant increase from the 650 reports recorded in August 2022, according to Sean Kirkpatrick, the head of the Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, in an interview with CNN.
According to Kirkpatrick, most of the objects are harmless, such as balloons or drones. However, there is a possibility that some of them could be the result of foreign entities attempting to gather intelligence on the United States. Kirkpatrick acknowledged these concerns and mentioned that they are thoroughly investigating such cases. This statement was made exclusively to CNN before the annual report on unidentified aerial phenomena was released.
A part of the rise in reports is attributed to the Federal Aviation Administration, which is now sharing information with the Pentagon regarding the airspace surrounding US airports.
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Approximately 50% of the reports have sufficient data to dismiss them as ordinary occurrences like stray balloons or debris floating in the air, according to Kirkpatrick. However, a small percentage of 2-4% are genuinely unusual and demand additional scrutiny. Kirkpatrick's department has forwarded a substantial number of cases to law enforcement for further investigation and, if required, counterintelligence measures. It is worth noting that certain sightings have the potential to involve foreign adversaries conducting espionage activities against the United States, as exemplified by the incident where a Chinese spy balloon was intercepted off the South Carolina coastline in February.
Kirkpatrick, when asked if the Pentagon could conclusively determine if an unidentified object sighting is linked to a foreign adversary, mentioned that his office is currently examining compelling indicators. However, he can only disclose limited information at this time. Despite having over 40 employees and projected growth, the office cannot provide a definite answer as of now. Kirkpatrick expressed concerns about the possibility of concealing amidst the excessive data picked up by US radars and sensors, emphasizing the national security implications.
Kirkpatrick provided limited information regarding the reasons behind concerns about foreign involvement in certain reports.
"There's a possibility that it could be a foreign entity, a hobbyist, or anyone else," he stated. "These are the aspects that require investigation."
Huge public interest in UFOs
Since the establishment of a dedicated office by the Biden administration to investigate reports of UAPs, this subject has attracted significant public attention due to its close connection to UFO sightings. A congressional hearing in July further heightened interest, as David Grusch, a former Air Force intelligence officer, made allegations that the government had concealed its research on these sightings. These claims were categorically denied by Kirkpatrick.
Grusch made bold assertions, despite admitting that he had no personal experience and only heard information from others. He went on to claim that the US government possesses unidentified alien objects along with pilots of non-human origin.
In contrast, Kirkpatrick dismissed these sensational claims, stating that he lacks any evidence supporting the existence of extraterrestrial phenomena.
"If anyone believes they have information regarding the whereabouts of those items, they are encouraged to reach out to us," Kirkpatrick stated. "That's precisely why we have established this comprehensive infrastructure, enabling individuals to engage with us securely."
New submissions from public
The Pentagon is getting ready to receive an influx of new reports by launching two new submission portals: one for historical sightings from current or former government employees and contractors, and another for public submissions of new reports.
According to Kirkpatrick speaking to CNN, the portal dedicated to historical sightings will be available within the next month. Its main goal is to verify or disprove previous accounts of unidentified objects by cross-referencing them with other reports and organizing them for potential further examination.
The opening of the public portal, still several months away, could potentially overwhelm the system with a large number of new reports to sort through, according to Kirkpatrick. However, he has devised a plan for his office that incorporates a system capable of automatically matching known objects to public reports, enabling the government to disregard sightings of identified bodies. Kirkpatrick acknowledges that the reports of unidentified objects could be valuable, stating, "If it's a foreign adversary and I have 100,000 people with cell phones who can document it, it becomes extremely difficult for the foreign adversary to take any actions."
Kirkpatrick declined to comment on whether the US government should have taken action earlier regarding unidentified objects. He expressed that the establishment of the new office was timely and justified. However, he acknowledged the intrigue and enigma surrounding the topic by suggesting that the government, including Congress, should have addressed these matters in a more focused manner years ago.
