AARO Historical Record Report Volume 1

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Polecat
Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Development Program organization, also known as
“Skunk Works” developed the P-175 Polecat UAV to better understand the flight dynamics
of tailless, bat-wing- shaped, 90-foot wingspan high-altitude UAV, including the next
generation of structural composite materials and configurations.194 The Polecat made its
first flight in 2005, and Lockheed Martin disclosed its existence in the Farnborough Airshow
in 2006.195
Sentinel
The RQ-170 Sentinel is a UAV developed by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works for
the USAF.196 It is a low observable platform with a variety of intelligence, surveillance, and
reconnaissance payloads. The Sentinel is operated out of Creech AFB and the Tonopah Test
Range in Nevada.197
Global Hawk
Built by Northrop Grumman, the RQ-4 Global Hawk is the largest UAS in operation
by the USAF.198 It can fly at 65,000 feet more than 34 hours and is also capable of loitering
at 60,000 feet while monitoring almost 58,000 square miles.199 The aircraft is currently
fielded in three different models.200
SECTION IX: Conclusion
To date, AARO has not discovered any empirical evidence that any sighting of a UAP
represented off-world technology or the existence a classified program that had not been
properly reported to Congress. Investigative efforts determined that most sightings were the
result of misidentification of ordinary objects and phenomena. Although many UAP reports
remain unsolved, AARO assesses that if additional, quality data were available, most of these
cases also could be identified and resolved as ordinary objects or phenomena.
This report represents Volume I of AARO’s HR2. Volume II will be published in
accordance with the date established in Section 6802 of the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) and will provide additional analysis on information not yet secured
and analyzed, interviews not yet conducted, and additional avenues of investigation not yet
completed by the date of the publication of Volume I.