In the summer of 2020, leaked Navy footage showed a mysterious object flying across the sky off the coast of California. Military personnel described the object as performing maneuvers that defy the known laws of physics.
However, when asked, government officials quickly dismissed the incident, attributing the anomaly to drones or weather phenomena. For many, the explanation was disappointing and raised a more critical question: Why does the government seem so focused on labeling UFOs as drones?
Now unidentified balls of lithe have been spotted hovering over urban centers, oceans and other countries, moving in patterns inconsistent with known drone technology. Despite public outcry, officials quickly dismissed these sightings as drones, often without providing evidence to support the claim.
These lithe balls, seen traveling at incredible speeds and suddenly disappearing, bear a striking resemblance to historical UAP observations, yet the “drone” label persists, raising questions about the government's intentions to downplay or undiscovered the phenomenon.
The term UFO, or Unidentified Flying Object, has long been a cultural lightning rod. However, over the past decade, the US government has systematically changed the narrative, choosing the term UAP – unidentified aerial phenomena – and often explaining the sightings as basic misidentification or foreign drones.
A history of evasion
Government obfuscation about UFOs is nothing novel. In the behind schedule 1940s, sightings of unidentified objects increased, prompting the Air Force to launch Project Blue Book. The stated goal of the program was to determine whether UFOs posed a threat to national security.
By the time the facility closed in 1969, the official conclusion was that most sightings were either natural phenomena or hoaxes. Skeptics argued that the main purpose of the project was not investigation, but reassurance to the public.
Fast forward to 2017, when The New York Times revealed the existence of the Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program (AATIP), a Pentagon initiative quietly investigating UFOs. Videos released with the report showed inexplicable aerial maneuvers.
The government's recognition of AATIP marked a seismic shift, but officials are quick to downplay its significance, emphasizing mundane explanations for the sightings.
In 2021, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) released an initial report on UAPs, analyzing 144 incidents. Although officials acknowledged that most cases remain unsolved, they suggested foreign adversaries, not extraterrestrials, as the most likely culprits. The term “drones” began to dominate the discourse.
Evidence that contradicts the drone narrative
However, the government's explanations regarding drones raise more questions than answers. In many cases, the facilities in question demonstrate capabilities that far exceed current drone technology.
On July 1, 2023, a Pentagon official at NASA Headquarters calmly stated, “We see these metal balls all over the world, performing maneuvers we can't explain… moving at Mach 2 upwind, with no apparent propulsion.”
Navy pilots have described encounters with objects accelerating from a standstill to hypersonic speeds in a matter of seconds, making acute turns with no apparent propulsion systems. These objects often evade radar or display signatures inconsistent with known aircraft.
Commercial and military drones are constrained by battery life and fuel capacity. However, some UAPs have been observed to hover in the air or perform complicated maneuvers for extended periods of time.
The reports document the glossy transition of objects from air to water, a capability unmatched by any known drone technology.
Given these characteristics, it seems insufficient to suggest that they are merely drones. Experts argue that even the most advanced technologies developed by foreign powers such as China or Russia are likely to leave some trace – a supply chain, a research paper or a whistleblower.
Motivations behind disinformation
So why does the government insist on referring to these sightings as drones? Admitting ignorance about UAPs – or worse, declaring them inhumane – can undermine public trust and national security. Labeling them as drones allows authorities to put the problem in a known context.
Some UAP observations may actually involve secret military projects. By attributing sightings to foreign drones, the government diverts attention from its own experimental technologies.
UFOs carry cultural baggage, sparking conspiracy theories and public hysteria. Renaming them UAP and offering credible, down-to-earth explanations helps the government maintain control of the discourse.
Some experts suggest that even the military lacks full knowledge of UAP. In the absence of concrete answers, attributing the sightings to drones is a beneficial way to close the case.
Despite official denials, experts have provided conflicting accounts.
In July 2023, former intelligence officer David Grusch testified before Congress, maintaining that the United States has a recovered non-human spacecraft and has been engaged in reverse engineering this technology for several decades. Grusch's claims, while sensational, were made under oath and accompanied by calls for greater transparency.
Other whistleblowers corroborated aspects of Grusch's testimony, describing secret programs and unexplained recoveries.
Society's right to knowledge
At the heart of this issue is a fundamental question: does the public have the right to know the truth about UFOs? Withholding information undermines trust in institutions.
If UAPs represent advanced technologies – whether human or not – studying them could yield breakthroughs in energy, propulsion, and materials science. They argue that obfuscation delays potential progress.
Congressional hearings on UAP – once unthinkable – have become a regular occurrence. Lawmakers from both parties demanded clearer answers, citing concerns about aviation safety and national security.
But meaningful change requires more than just hearings.
Establishing non-governmental panels to investigate UAP incidents, ensuring objectivity and public access to the findings. Sharing historical and contemporary UAP files, redacting only what is necessary for national security. Allocating funds for UAP research through renowned scientific institutions. Strengthening protection for people who come forward with information about UAP programs.
The government's tendency to ignore UFO sightings related to drone activity reflects a broader pattern of shirking responsibility. While national security concerns are valid, they do not justify withholding information or making implausible explanations.
The public deserves to know what's going on there.
Tim Burchett: “Reverse engineering is either from an extraterrestrial or something we have in our Skunkworks.” pic.twitter.com/8Pz0n2D9uw
— Neil Thomas Goodman (@Neil__Goodman) January 12, 2025
Image Source: Pixabay.com
