The Defense Department has launched a new website that aims to provide the public with declassified information about unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs), previously known as UFOs. The website, created by the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), will serve as a "one-stop shop" for information related to UAPs, according to Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary.

The website will feature photos and videos of resolved UAP cases as they are declassified and made available to the public. It will also allow service members, federal employees, or contractors with direct knowledge of UAP-related programs or activities to submit reports for review by the AARO. The Pentagon is committed to transparency with the American people regarding its work on UAPs, Ryder emphasized.

The website currently includes a message from Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, the director of the AARO, as well as brief descriptions of the office's mission and vision. Several videos on the site feature unresolved military encounters with UAPs. Additionally, the site provides a report on UAP reporting trends, including the typical characteristics, altitudes, and hotspots associated with these objects. However, it's important to note that the information posted on the site represents what has been declassified to date, Ryder clarified.

UAPs are objects detected in the air, sea, and space that cannot be identified. According to a January report from the intelligence community, there have been over 500 UAP sightings in the last 17 years, with many reported by U.S. Navy and Air Force aviators and operators. Despite the numerous sightings, the AARO has not found credible evidence of extraterrestrial activity, off-world technology, or objects that defy the known laws of physics, as stated by Kirkpatrick during a NASA study group in May.

The AARO was established through the annual defense policy bill approved by Congress in 2021 and is considered the leading federal agency for UAP efforts. This year, lawmakers from both parties are seeking to use the National Defense Authorization Act to push for the release of more information about UAPs. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Mike Rounds have introduced an amendment that would mandate the creation of a "UAP Records Collection" to house information from federal agencies related to the issue. The collection would prioritize the disclosure of records, requiring a review board to provide reasoning for any documents that remain classified.

Interest in UAPs has grown in recent years, culminating in a House Oversight Committee hearing in July that featured testimony from former military intelligence officers and fighter pilots who had first-hand experience with these mysterious objects. In response to the hearing, a bipartisan group of House members called on Speaker Kevin McCarthy to establish a select committee to investigate the federal response to UAPs.

The Pentagon's new website is expected to be fully operational in the fall, providing the public with access to declassified information and fostering transparency regarding UAPs. With the growing interest and government efforts to address these phenomena, the website will play a crucial role in disseminating information and engaging with individuals who have knowledge of UAP-related activities.