--- title: "Pentagon Officially Releases Three UFO Videos" description: "The Pentagon has formally released three unclassified videos of \"unidentified aerial phenomena\" taken in 2004 and 2015 by Navy pilots." date: "2020-04-27" modified: "2020-04-27" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/pentagon-officially-releases-three-ufo-navy" categories: - "Off-World" - "Space" tags: - "aliens" - "Pentagon" - "the digest" - "UFO" --- # Pentagon Officially Releases Three UFO Videos ![The Pentagon has formally released three unclassified videos of "unidentified aerial phenomena" taken in 2004 and 2015 by Navy pilots.]() *\Image: DOD\* ## Unclassified The Pentagon has finally [formally released]() three unclassified videos of the "unidentified aerial phenomena" first reported in a [2017 investigation by *The New York Times*](). "After a thorough review, the department has determined that the authorized release of these unclassified videos does not reveal any sensitive capabilities or systems, and does not impinge on any subsequent investigations of military air space incursions by unidentified aerial phenomena," Sue Gough, a Defense Department spokeswoman, [told *CBS News*](). "DOD is releasing the videos in order to clear up any misconceptions by the public on whether or not the footage that has been circulating was real, or whether or not there is more to the videos," Gough added. "The aerial phenomena observed in the videos remain characterized as 'unidentified.'" ## Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Earlier this year, the Navy had revealed they had more footage, but was holding on to it as "the release of these materials would cause exceptionally grave damage to the National Security of the United States," according to a [*Motherboard* **story**]() published in January. Two of the three released videos were taken in January 2015, the third in 2004. They show what appear to be unidentified objects flying in unusual patterns. In the case of the 2004 incident 100 miles off the Pacific shore, a ["tic tac-shaped"]() object rapidly ascended as Navy pilots approached it. The 2015 videos showed objects speeding over the ocean. A number of [interviews]() with the Navy pilots who initially recorded he strange phenomena have appeared since the *Times* reports. **READ MORE:** [Pentagon formally releases 3 Navy videos showing "unidentified aerial phenomena"]() \[*CBS News*\] **More on UFOs:** *[THIS UTAH RANCH HAS A “COMMAND CENTER” FOR PARANORMAL RESEARCH]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()