The Pentagon on May 22, 2026, released a new set of 64 files related to unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), offering additional military videos, audio recordings, and reports including a notable 2025 account from a senior intelligence officer who described extended close encounters with multiple UAPs.
This latest tranche follows a previous batch released two weeks earlier, both posted on the Pentagon’s dedicated UFO website as mandated by an executive order issued earlier this year. The 64 new files comprise six PDFs, seven audio files, and 51 videos, most capturing infrared military footage of UAP encounters with detailed descriptions.
Details of the new release
Among the 51 videos, some show grainy infrared footage characteristic of military sensor recordings that have become familiar from earlier Pentagon and government disclosures. The files come from investigations led by the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), the defense agency charged with examining UAP reports.
The Pentagon cautions that many materials “lack a substantiated chain-of-custody” and provides context where possible about when and where the footage was likely recorded. Notably, one video appears to capture a 2023 incident when a U.S. fighter jet shot down an unidentified object over Lake Huron amid heightened U.S. concerns over aerial surveillance following the Chinese spy balloon episode. Later analysis suggested this object was a balloon possibly linked to hobbyists.
Additional videos document encounters primarily within the U.S. Central Command area between 2018 and 2023, including aerial phenomena over the Persian Gulf. One 2022 clip, location unspecified, shows multiple spherical objects moving in and out of the water near a submarine.
Senior intelligence officer’s 2025 encounter
The most striking document is a first-hand report from a current senior intelligence officer who in 2025 experienced a series of prolonged close UAP encounters during a helicopter mission. According to the officer, he and the crew observed numerous orange orbs maneuvering around a mountain backdrop for several minutes.
Of particular note were two large, oval-shaped orbs, orange with bright white or yellow centers, hovering just above the helicopter’s rotor. The officer described the light emission as all-directional and said that the experience left him and the pilots “virtually speechless.”
Additional audio and historical materials
The audio files include recordings from NASA astronauts during the Apollo and Mercury missions, describing phenomena termed “fireflies” and “snowflakes” observed in space. The Pentagon noted NASA’s explanation that the “fireflies” were frozen condensation particles reflecting sunlight, not unknown craft.
The documents also include historical UFO sighting reports, Soviet intelligence activity files, and Department of Energy records related to UAP reports, including one from the PANTEX nuclear weapons facility.
Why it matters
The Pentagon’s ongoing release of UFO files reflects both legislative pressure and public demand for transparency on UAP encounters, particularly those involving military personnel and national security implications. The detailed 2025 account from a senior intelligence officer adds an unprecedented firsthand perspective to previous government disclosures.
These releases continue to fuel scientific, military, and public debate regarding the nature and origin of UAPs, as well as how U.S. defense and intelligence agencies approach these phenomena. The documentation and video evidence aim to shed light on encounters that have previously been classified or unexplained, contributing to broader government efforts to investigate aerial anomalies systematically.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following source:
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