Best Official Declassified UAP Videos (2004–2026)

Since 2017, the U.S. Department of Defense has gradually released several high-profile videos showing encounters between military aircraft and unidentified aerial phenomena. These videos, captured using advanced infrared and radar systems, represent some of the strongest officially acknowledged evidence of UAP activity. Below are five of the most significant releases, with detailed context and analysis.

For the complete archive of declassified documents and files, visit our Declassified Documents page.

1. 2004 Nimitz “Tic Tac” (FLIR Video)

The most famous and widely discussed declassified UAP video was recorded in November 2004 during training exercises off the coast of San Diego, California, involving the USS Nimitz carrier strike group.

Commander David Fravor and Lt. Cmdr. Jim Slaight were diverted to investigate an anomalous object detected by the USS Princeton’s advanced radar system. The object was dropping from 80,000 feet to sea level in less than a second. When they arrived on scene, they observed a smooth, white, oblong “Tic Tac” shaped object approximately 40 feet long with no wings, rotors, or visible propulsion system. The object hovered above a churning patch of ocean water, then mirrored Fravor’s movements before accelerating away at hypersonic speeds.

This encounter is considered exceptionally strong because it involved multiple naval vessels, advanced radar tracking over several days, visual confirmation by four pilots, and official Pentagon-released video. The performance characteristics far exceeded known aircraft capabilities in 2004. See also our page on Unidentified Submersible Objects (USOs) for related transmedium activity.

2. 2015 Gimbal Video (USS Theodore Roosevelt)

Recorded in January 2015 off the East Coast of the United States by pilots from the USS Theodore Roosevelt, the Gimbal video shows a rotating, oblong object with a distinct heat signature flying against strong headwinds.

Pilots can be heard on the audio expressing disbelief at the object’s behavior. This video, along with the GoFast video from the same deployment period, helped spark renewed congressional interest in UAP. See our 2016 UFO Sightings page for related events from that year.

3. 2015 GoFast Video

Also recorded during the USS Theodore Roosevelt deployment, the GoFast video shows a small, high-speed object skimming just above the ocean surface. The object appears to move extremely fast relative to the background water, though analysis suggests some of the apparent speed is due to the camera’s motion.

Together with the Gimbal video, GoFast demonstrated that multiple sensor systems were detecting anomalous objects in restricted airspace on a regular basis.

4. 2019 USS Omaha Spherical Object

In 2019, the USS Omaha recorded a spherical object that approached the ship before appearing to enter the ocean without slowing down or creating a splash. The object was tracked on multiple sensors before disappearing underwater.

This video is particularly notable for its clear transmedium behavior. See our dedicated page on Unidentified Submersible Objects (USOs) for more cases involving objects moving between air and water.

5. 2013 Middle East Eight-Pointed Star UAP

A U.S. military operator in the Middle East captured 1 minute and 46 seconds of infrared footage showing a geometric UAP with an unusual eight-pointed star shape and arms of alternating length. The object left a visible vapor trail as it moved through the sky.

Source of all videos: war.gov/ufo/

This case stands out due to the distinct geometric shape of the object. See our 2013 UFO Sightings page for more events from that year.

All videos above are official Department of Defense releases. For the full archive of declassified documents, visit our Declassified Documents page.