Unidentified Flying Object

"Unidentified flying object" (UFO) is the older, common-language label the U.S. government used for decades to describe objects in the sky that observers could not identify. Congress has since folded UFOs into a broader official category called "unidentified anomalous phenomena" (UAP), which also covers objects underwater and other unexplained events. The records show the term UFO appearing in military and intelligence documents going back to at least the late 1940s.

How did the government use this term in its records?

U.S. military and intelligence agencies used "unidentified flying object" in official memos, project files, and reports from at least 1948 onward. Documents in the SOURCE include a 1949 military message, a 1948 Air Force project report, and a 1952 CIA memo, all using the term in a straightforward, descriptive way. It was a working label, not a claim about what the objects were.

Did Congress ever define UFO in law?

Congress did not write a standalone legal definition for "unidentified flying object." Instead, a more recent law lists UFOs as one of several older terms that are now included under the official term "unidentified anomalous phenomena" (UAP). The law names flying discs, flying saucers, unidentified aerial phenomena, UFOs, and unidentified submerged objects (USOs) as all falling under that newer umbrella.

What is the Condon Report and how does it connect?

The SOURCE references the Condon Report, a 1,485-page scientific study of UFOs completed by the University of Colorado. The Air Force released it publicly in January 1969. The report examined hundreds of UFO files from the Air Force's Project Blue Book and from civilian research groups. It concluded that studying UFOs was unlikely to produce major scientific discoveries.

How does Congress handle UFO sightings today?

Congress created the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) in the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act to investigate UAP sightings. A report covering 366 sightings found that 171 remained uncharacterized, with some appearing to show unusual flight characteristics or performance capabilities. Separate legislation has also required the Department of Defense to brief congressional committees on objects that entered U.S. airspace.