AARO Hearing With Sean Kirkpatrick, Apr 19 2023

The All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) is tasked with investigating Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP). This congressional hearing took place on April 19, 2023, and examined AARO’s progress, challenges, and future direction. Testimony revealed ARROW’s current workload of over 650 UAP cases, with approximately half prioritized for further analysis due to anomalous characteristics. While ARROW has made strides in data collection, standardization, and analysis, including the development of a five-step analytic process, significant hurdles remain, including insufficient funding, interagency coordination challenges, and the need for expanded data collection authorities.

The office has found no credible evidence of extraterrestrial activity but acknowledges the need for robust collaboration with the scientific community, intelligence agencies, and international partners to address potential threats from advanced foreign technologies. Concerns were raised regarding sensor limitations, the need for a public-facing website for witness reporting, and the office’s role in responding to recent North American UAP incidents. AARO’s ultimate goal is to integrate UAP investigation into existing structures, eliminating the need for the office itself by normalizing UAP processes.

AARO’s Formation and Mandate:

Congress created ARROW to address the growing concern surrounding UAPs. While the office faces significant hurdles – including stigma, public engagement challenges, scientific limitations, and insufficient funding – it has made notable strides in its first nine months. The hearing highlighted the critical role of interagency collaboration and congressional oversight in ARROW’s success. A direct reporting chain to the Deputy Secretary of Defense ensures accountability and efficient decision-making.

AARO’s Structure and Methodology:

ARROW boasts a team of over three dozen experts across four key areas: Operations, scientific research, integrated analysis, and strategic communications. Their work focuses on improving UAP data collection, standardizing reporting procedures, and establishing a robust framework for scientific analysis. The office prioritizes reports from Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) personnel near national security areas, reviewing both current and historical UAP records.

Addressing the Data Challenge:

A significant portion of the hearing focused on the challenges of analyzing UAP data. While visual observations are often the initial source of information, they are not sufficient for conclusive analysis. The office emphasizes the need for comprehensive data, including radar, electro-optical (EO), thermal, and overhead imagery, to accurately assess UAP characteristics. AARO employs a rigorous five-step analytic process: case creation, preliminary scrub, prioritization, analysis by two independent teams (intelligence and science & technology), and adjudication. This process ensures objectivity and minimizes bias.

Key Findings and UAP Characteristics:

AARO has analyzed over 650 UAP cases, with approximately half prioritized for further investigation due to anomalous characteristics. Analysis reveals that most reported UAPs are round orbs (52%), typically white, silver, translucent, or metallic in appearance, and observed at altitudes between 10,000 and 30,000 feet. Velocities range from stationary to Mach 2, and radar, radio, and thermal signatures are often intermittent. The hearing presented two declassified cases, illustrating the meticulous analysis process employed by ARROW. Importantly, ARROW has found no credible evidence of extraterrestrial activity, off-world technology, or physics-defying objects.

National Security Implications and Foreign Nexus:

The potential for foreign adversaries to utilize advanced technologies for surveillance or attack was a recurring theme. AARO is actively investigating cases exhibiting advanced technical capabilities to determine if a foreign nexus exists. While no direct evidence of adversary involvement has been confirmed in specific cases, the possibility remains a significant concern. The office is collaborating closely with the intelligence community to integrate scientific data with adversary intelligence.

Aviation Safety and Future Plans:

The hearing also addressed the impact of UAPs on aviation safety. AARO is working with the Joint Staff to develop new reporting requirements, standardize procedures, and implement mitigation strategies. The office is seeking expanded data collection authority beyond the DoD and IC, and is developing response tactics, techniques, and procedures for operators. Cost-effective responses, such as electronic warfare and lasers, are being explored as alternatives to expensive kinetic options.

Collaboration and Transparency:

AARO emphasizes collaboration with interagency partners (NASA, FBI, OSI, etc.), industry, academia, and the scientific community. The office is committed to transparency and accountability, while protecting sensitive intelligence and capabilities. A public-facing website for UAP witness reporting is under development, and the office is actively seeking congressional referrals of witnesses.

Conclusion:

AARO’s work is still in its early stages, but the hearing demonstrated a clear commitment to a rigorous, scientific approach to understanding UAPs. While much remains to be done, the establishment of AARO represents a significant step forward in addressing this complex and multifaceted challenge. The office’s commitment to transparency, collaboration, and scientific rigor offers hope for a more comprehensive understanding of UAPs and their potential implications for national security.