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What are the unresolved cases in the annual reports?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·4 answers·0·0 following
Most likely: the residue is ordinary objects that cannot be resolved because the reports lack the data to identify themAhead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

Where it stands

Four answers have been proposed. The residue is ordinary objects that cannot be resolved because the reports lack the data to identify them. leads, with evidence 1 for, 1 against: supported by its tests. Three are still possible.

Why it matters

Each report leaves a residue: 171 uncharacterised in 2022, more than 900 archived by 2024, 191 archived and nine referred in FY2025⁠[1]⁠[2]⁠[3]. Whether the residue is noise, foreign systems or something else is the practical question the office exists to answer.

Answers 4

Evidence: 1 for, 1 against
Most likely
Evidence: 1 for, 1 against
Disputed
None of these.
Not tested enough to call either way
Evidence: none yet
Still possible
Evidence: 1 for, 1 against
Still possible

History

  1. Office of the Director of National Intelligence puts forward: part of the residue is foreign surveillance systems operating near US forces.
  2. Office of the Director of National Intelligence puts forward: a small number of cases involve objects with performance beyond current technology.
  3. Office of the Director of National Intelligence: oDNI lists foreign adversary systems among the five candidate categories.For: Part of the residue is foreign surveillance systems operating near US forces.
  4. Office of the Director of National Intelligence: the 2021 assessment flagged 18 incidents with apparently unusual flight characteristics.For: A small number of cases involve objects with performance beyond current technology.
  5. Harper: aARO's director said in 2024 the office was analysing several cases its analysts did not understand.Against: The residue is ordinary objects that cannot be resolved because the reports lack the data to identify them.
  6. All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office: the three cases AARO has published in full (GOFAST, Puerto Rico, Mount Etna) all resolved to ordinary objects.Against: A small number of cases involve objects with performance beyond current technology.
  7. All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office puts forward: the residue is ordinary objects that cannot be resolved because the reports lack the data to identify them.
  8. All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office: every case resolved in FY2025 had an ordinary explanation, and satellite flaring alone accounted for a large…For: The residue is ordinary objects that cannot be resolved because the reports lack the data to identify them.
  9. All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office: the FY2025 report says none of the resolved cases indicates advanced foreign capability.Against: Part of the residue is foreign surveillance systems operating near US forces.
  10. Asked on this site
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