The Pentagon on Friday began releasing 162 newly declassified files related to unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), fulfilling a directive from former President Donald Trump to increase government transparency on unexplained sightings. The release includes documents, photos, and videos from multiple agencies, including the FBI, Department of Defense, NASA, and State Department, spanning incidents from 1947 to 2026.
Scope of the release
The posted materials feature 120 PDF documents, 28 videos, and 14 image files available on a new Pentagon website dedicated to UFO information. The photos and videos primarily consist of still images and infrared footage captured by military aircraft tracking anomalous objects. Eyewitness reports accompany much of the media, describing sightings in diverse locations such as the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific region, and Europe.
Among the most noteworthy images are six archival NASA photographs from the Apollo 12 and Apollo 17 missions, showing unexplained phenomena on and above the lunar surface. One Apollo 17 photo depicts a triangular formation of three dots in the lunar sky; while previously released, it has undergone renewed government review but remains unexplained. Another document notes astronaut Jack Schmitt witnessing a flash near the Grimaldi crater on the Moon.
Historical and recent sightings
The files include an extensive FBI case file from 1947 to 1968, covering “flying disc” reports with photographic evidence and technical documents, some newly declassified or less redacted. The famous 1947 Roswell incident is mentioned in FBI memos, describing a hexagonal-shaped object recovered near the crash site suspended from a large balloon.
Reports from military personnel document encounters with UAPs in Iraq, Syria, the Persian Gulf, the Mediterranean, and elsewhere. In one account, a pilot described spotting a triangular metallic object flying at 25,000 feet over the Mediterranean. A recent 2023 report describes federal law enforcement agents observing orange orbs and unusual aerial phenomena in the western United States over multiple days.
State Department cables from diplomats in countries including Papua New Guinea, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan describe UAP sightings from the mid-1980s through 2025. One cable relays a commercial flight crew’s observation of a bright light performing rapid maneuvers at 41,000 feet, which crew members believed to be extraterrestrial in origin but remained unexplained.
Government position and ongoing analysis
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized that these files have been hidden under classification, fueling speculation, and it is time for the public to review them directly. The Pentagon stated the materials include unresolved cases with no definitive identification of the phenomena involved and invited private sector analysis.
Of the 162 files, 108 contain redactions to protect eyewitness identities and sensitive military details. The Pentagon confirmed no redactions obscure information regarding the nature or existence of UAP encounters.
The Pentagon plans to release further documents on a rolling basis as more information is located and declassified. The UFO files website was established in 2023 by the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, tasked with investigating such phenomena.
Why it matters
This unprecedented government disclosure offers a significant expansion of publicly available information on UFOs and UAPs, covering both historic and recent incidents. It enhances transparency about government investigations into these phenomena and provides researchers and the public material for independent analysis. Though no evidence of extraterrestrial life has been confirmed, the files underscore ongoing national security and aviation safety interests in unexplained aerial activity.
Background
Following years of speculation and partial releases, the U.S. government’s formal UAP investigations increased in visibility with the establishment of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office and previous reports to Congress. Former President Trump’s 2026 directive accelerated full public disclosure of classified files across agencies. Prior military disclosures include verified UFO videos captured by Navy pilots dating to the late 2010s, raising public and official interest in UAP phenomena.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following source:
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