The Department of Defense and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence have delivered the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office's latest annual report on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena to Congress, revealing a significant increase in reported encounters.
The Numbers
Between May 1, 2023 and June 1, 2024, AARO received 757 new UAP reports, including 272 backdated incidents from 2021-2022. This brings the total number of reports received by the office to 1,652.
Of the cases, 708 occurred in the air, 49 were reported in space, and none were reported to have appeared in water.
What Was Identified
Of the cases resolved, 70 percent were found to be balloons, 16 percent unmanned aerial systems, 8 percent birds, 4 percent satellites, and 2 percent aircraft. AARO resolved 49 cases during the reporting period, and an additional 243 are recommended for closure pending peer review.
However, 444 cases did not have sufficient data for analysis and have been archived. Critically, 21 cases are designated as requiring further investigation.
No Evidence of Extraterrestrial Origin
AARO Director Jon Kosloski underscored multiple times during his briefing that the office has "discovered no evidence of extraterrestrial beings, activity or technology" and found no confirmations that any UAP activities are attributable to foreign adversaries.
Safety Concerns
One report included a possible safety issue when a commercial aircrew reported a near miss with a cylindrical object off the coast of New York. Regarding military-specific incursions, U.S. military aircrews provided two reports identifying flight safety concerns, and three reports described pilots being trailed or shadowed by UAP.
The "Gremlin" Sensor System
Kosloski confirmed that AARO's prototype sensor system for detecting, tracking, and characterizing UAP — known as "Gremlin" — is conducting a 90-day pattern-of-life collection at a national security site. This represents the first dedicated scientific instrument deployed specifically to study UAP in a controlled environment by the U.S. government.
New Records at National Archives
Alongside the report, new records were added to the National Archives as part of a new Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Records Collection, including declassified files from the Department of Defense and Office of the Director of National Intelligence.