On July 26, 2023, the Oversight Commission of the House of Representatives conducted public hearings with retired F/A-18 pilots. During the exercises, they allegedly happened to observe Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs). Are we safe?

As reported by Tomasz Nowak for the Space24.pl portal: The radar systems of the Ticonderoga-class missile cruiser, USS Princeton, recorded several instances of tracking unrelated targets. These objects appeared at an altitude of 20,000 meters and rapidly descended to 6,000 meters. Later, during the same month, reports of radar and visual observations emerged, including the most famous one made by the experienced and highly decorated F/A-18F Super Hornet pilot from the US Navy, then-Lieutenant Commander David Fravor. According to Fravor’s account, after locking onto the target at altitude, he observed an oval, white object resembling a Tic-Tac. The object was tracked on radar, executed extraordinary maneuvers (rapid accelerations, altitude changes, mimicking Commander Fravor’s maneuvers), and moved at an exceptional speed [1].

During the hearings, David Grusch, a former US Air Force intelligence officer, accused the Pentagon of concealing evidence of the existence of UAPs from both Congress and the public. The object was recorded in infrared by another F/A-18 pilot. The recording has sparked ongoing interest in the American media, leading to bipartisan political initiatives [1].

“I can tell you, I think it was not from this world,” Fravor told ABC News.  “I’m not crazy, haven’t been drinking. It was — after 18 years of flying, I’ve seen pretty much about everything that I can see in that realm, and this was nothing close.”[2]

Similar events occurred in 2014 and 2015 over the Atlantic Ocean, where pilots from the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier also claim to have observed UAPs during exercises. According to reports, the unidentified objects remained stationary or moved at speeds matching Mach 1 [1].

“These things would be out there all day,” said Lt. Ryan Graves, an F/A-18 Super Hornet pilot who has been inwith the Navy for 10 years, and who reported his sightings to the Pentagon and Congress. “Keeping an aircraft in the air requires a significant amount of energy. With the speeds we observed, 12 hours in the air is 11 hours longer than we’d expect.” [3].

In 2017, recordings such as “FLIR 1” (Tic-Tac), “GIMBAL,” and “GOFAST” were declassified. In May 2022, Pentagon representatives were questioned by a subcommittee of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, but they provided vague and evasive answers [1].

In May 2023, Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick presented a report by AARO mentioning 800 cases of UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) observations that have been subjected to investigation. These cases were mainly reported by military personnel. During his Senate testimony, Kirkpatrick stated that there is still no evidence of extraterrestrial technology, although all possible scenarios continue to be considered [1].

The recent hearings of retired F/A-18 pilots regarding UAP have undoubtedly captured the attention not only of the global public opinion but also of the Polish aviation and defense market. Reports and analyses in this field may provide crucial insights for institutions and companies operating in the aviation sector in Poland. These findings could serve as essential information for understanding the impact of such phenomena on the country’s aviation and defense industry, potentially influencing decisions and strategies within these sectors.

The process of introducing this device to the market, both domestically in Poland and internationally, will undoubtedly require a significant amount of time and effort. Can we feel safe? Find out more in the latest Coopernicus.pl report.

• Bibliography:

1. Article published on the space24.pl website: “The American Congress investigates reports of UFOs [ANALYSIS]”; Author: Tomasz Nowak; Date: July 29, 2023; URL: https://space24.pl/bezpieczenstwo/technologie-wojskowe/amerykanski-kongres-bada-doniesienia-o-ufo-analiza
2. Article published by ABC News: “Navy pilot recalls encounter with UFO: ‘I think it was not from this world'”; Date: December 18, 2018; URL: https://abcnews.go.com/US/navy-pilot-recalls-encounter-ufo-unlike/story?id=51856514
3. Article published by The New York Times: “‘Wow, What Is That?’ Navy Pilots Report Unexplained Flying Objects”; Date: May 27, 2019; URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/26/us/politics/ufo-sightings-navy-pilots.html

Magdalena Marynowska

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A student of law and international relations at the University of Warsaw, a multiple laureate of literary competitions, including poetry contests. I gained editorial experience as a leader of the social project “Nie Dotykaj Mnie,” where my main task was creating educational content for the project’s social media. I also had the opportunity to co-write the script for an educational film within the project. After the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, I worked as an Operations Specialist at the non-profit organization Student Initiative for Education, where my responsibilities included developing partnerships with cultural and entertainment centers throughout Poland and co-organizing events for Ukrainian children and youth. Privately, I am a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver.