The Department of War, in coordination with the White House, ODNI, DOE, AARO, NASA, FBI, and other agencies under the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE), released the first batch of declassified files today on the dedicated site WAR.GOV/UFO.
This initial tranche, labeled Release 01 and cleared on May 8, 2026, contains 161–162 files. These consist primarily of PDF documents, along with photos, infrared imagery, videos, transcripts, and eyewitness reports. The materials span historical records (dating back to the late 1940s) and more recent incidents (up to 2025). All files are explicitly designated as unresolved UAP cases, meaning the government has not reached a definitive determination on their nature due to insufficient data in many instances. The Department of War has stated that it welcomes private-sector review and will continue separate reporting on resolved cases as required by statute.
Composition of the Released Files
The bulk of the release consists of sections and serials from a single FBI case file: 65_HS1-834228961_62-HQ-83894. These documents cover investigative records of UFO and “flying disc” sightings from approximately June 1947 to July 1968. They include eyewitness testimonies, public reports, photographic evidence (such as from Oak Ridge, TN), media clippings, and technical notes. Some pages in this file appear to have fewer redactions or newly declassified sections compared to earlier public versions available in the FBI Vault.
Additional materials include:
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NASA Apollo mission records: Transcripts from Apollo 17 (1972) in which crew members described observing “jagged, angular fragments” or unknown phenomena from the spacecraft. One archival photograph from Apollo 17 shows three light points or dots in a triangular formation above the lunar surface. An accompanying Pentagon caption notes there is “no consensus about the nature of the anomaly,” though a preliminary analysis suggests it could be a physical object. Similar imagery and transcripts from Apollo 12 are also referenced in media coverage.
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Recent military and law-enforcement sightings:
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An FBI interview summary with a drone pilot (September 2023) describing a “linear object” with a bright light (visible bands within the light) that appeared in the sky, remained visible for 5–10 seconds, and then vanished.
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Infrared still images (black-hot mode) captured from a helicopter over the western United States in September and December 2025 showing unidentified objects.
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A composite image based on multiple eyewitness reports (September 2023) depicting an apparent ellipsoid, bronze-metallic object (estimated 130–195 feet in length) that materialized from a bright light and disappeared instantaneously.
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Other items such as older State Department cables, additional historical sighting reports (spanning roughly 80 years), and assorted photos/sketches of unexplained aerial or transmedium objects.
No videos from the 46 previously referenced congressional UAP videos are included in this batch, according to early reporting.
Key Findings (or Lack Thereof)
No files in Release 01 provide evidence of extraterrestrial life, recovered alien technology, crashed spacecraft, or non-human intelligence. The materials do not contain any government conclusions confirming UAP as anything other than unexplained phenomena.
The official position, repeated across the site and agency statements, is that these are unresolved cases. Many lack sufficient data for identification. Where preliminary notes exist (such as on the Apollo 17 image), they stop short of definitive classification and note the absence of consensus.
This aligns with prior AARO assessments (e.g., the 2024 report), which found no evidence of alien technology or extraterrestrial origins in reviewed UAP cases while acknowledging that some incidents remain unexplained due to limited sensor data or other factors.
Context and Limitations
The release is the first in a rolling series, with additional tranches expected every few weeks as more records are reviewed and declassified. Tens of millions of records across agencies (many originally on paper) are being examined.
Because the files were posted only hours ago, comprehensive independent scientific or technical analysis is not yet available. UFO research communities (e.g., on Reddit) and media outlets have begun reviewing the documents, with early reactions describing the contents as “more of the same” — intriguing but ambiguous historical and recent reports without smoking-gun revelations.
The Department of War and supporting agencies emphasize that the public and private sector can now examine the raw data directly and form their own conclusions. For historical context, additional resolved or previously released UAP materials remain available at AARO.mil.
In summary, today’s release advances government transparency on UAP by making previously classified or restricted records publicly accessible in one location. It does not resolve the underlying questions about the phenomena but provides the raw materials for further study. Future releases under PURSUE will determine whether additional clarity emerges on specific cases. The full set of 161+ files can be accessed directly at WAR.GOV/UFO.
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