Pentagon says it has 'uncovered some things' as it unveils UFO reporting tool

02 November 2023 , 16:57

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Campaigners hope this new tool will lift the lid on this secretive world (Image: Getty Images)

A Pentagon insider revealed the secretive US government body has "uncovered some things", as it unveiled a new UFO reporting tool for those who have spotted anything extraterrestrial.

This followed a commitment earlier this year to be more transparent on UFO investigations. For now, the new tool can only be used by former or current federal employees but it soon will be available to the public. In an attempt to open up years of suspected government secrecy over the topic, others who will be able to use it are those "with direct knowledge of US government programs or activities related to unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAP) dating back to 1945".

The tool is currently available on the Department of Defense’s All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) website. It comes after ex-Pentagon official Mark McInerney was appointed the first director of UAP research at NASA in October. One official also teased they have previously classified material they are ready to release.

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The Pentagon in Washington DC has launched a new UFO reporting tool (AP)

Sean Kirkpatrick, the director of AARO, said: "We’ve got a package of a lot of new material that we’ve got ready for release. We’ve uncovered some things that we are having declassified. Not just operational videos, but historical documents."

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NASA has also committed to upping its research into UAPs and aims to create a network of citizen skywatchers around the world to keep their eyes on anything coming from space. According to the AARO, the new tool is "intended as an initial point of contact… it is not intended for conveying potentially sensitive or classified information".

In an attempt to stop an avalanche of dodgy second-hand alien anecdotes, Mr Kirkpatrick said only certain types of reports are wanted. He said: "This reporting mechanism that is on the website is for people who think they have first-hand knowledge of clandestine programs that the government has been hiding.

"[If a] pilot’s flying around, and he sees something in his airspace and he needs to report it, that goes through operational channels." Claims have long swirled that the US Government covered up UFO encounters including around the mysterious Area 51. Kirkpatrick added that those believing the rumours would be disappointed.

He said: "I currently have no evidence of any program having ever existed to do any sort of reverse engineering, of any sort of extraterrestrial UAP program. We do have a requirement by law to bring whistleblowers or other interviewees in who think that it does exist, and they may have information that pertains to that."

Charlie Jones