Transcript: Briefing to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities - Open Hearing: April 19, 2023

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1 we are unable to reach defendable conclusions that meet the
2 high scientific standards we set for resolution and I will
3 not close a case that I cannot defend the conclusions of.
4 I recognize that this answer is unsatisfying to those
5 who in good faith assume that what they see with their eyes,
6 with their cameras, and with their radars is
7 incontrovertible evidence of extraordinary characteristics
8 and performance.
9 Yet, time and again with sufficient scientific quality
10 data it is fact that UAP often but not always resolve into
11 readily explainable sources. Humans are subject to
12 deception and illusions, sensors to unexpected responses and
13 malfunctions and, in some cases, intentional interference.
14 Getting to the handful of cases that pass this level of
15 scrutiny is the mission of AARO.
16 That is not to say that UAP once resolved are no longer
17 of national security interest, however. On the contrary,
18 learning that a UAP is not of exotic origin but is instead
19 just a quadcopter or a balloon leads to the question of who
20 is operating that quadcopter and to what purpose. The
21 answers to those questions will inform potential national
22 security or law enforcement responses.
23 AARO is a member of the department's support to the
24 administration's Tiger Team effort to deal with
25 stratospheric objects such as the PRC high-altitude balloon.