The U.S. Department of Defense has released a trove of 161 previously classified files that chronicle encounters with unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) and unidentified flying objects (UFO) spanning more than six decades. The documents, which cover sightings from the 1960s to the present, include a mix of civilian testimonies, military logs, and technical transcripts from historic space missions.

Among the standout entries are eyewitness accounts from the Apollo program. During the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, astronaut Buzz Aldrin noted a bright, moving light source in the lunar sky, while Apollo 12’s Alan Bean reported strange particles and drifting flashes near the lunar surface. Similar observations were logged on Apollo 17 and on the 1965 Gemini 7 flight, where crew members documented unfamiliar objects and anomalous light clusters. Although some crew members suggested mundane explanations such as reflections or ice, the formal inclusion of these reports underscores the persistence of such sightings.

The archive also contains contemporary military footage from the Middle East, including clips captured as recently as 2022 that show oval-shaped objects moving at high speeds over Iraq, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates. A handful of these sightings remain classified as unresolved by defense officials. In addition, the release features civilian reports from 2023, in which witnesses described metallic, hovering craft emerging from intense light sources.

The disclosure has sparked a divided reaction in Washington. Advocates of transparency, including Representative Tim Burchett and Representative Anna Paulina Luna, welcomed the move as a crucial step toward accountability on UAP investigations. Critics, however, argue that the focus on unidentified phenomena distracts from pressing economic and geopolitical priorities. The Pentagon has signaled that this is merely the first wave of releases and that additional documents will follow.

The move marks a significant expansion of publicly available information on UAPs, providing researchers and the public a rare window into the Department’s long‑standing inquiries into unexplained aerial activity.