The 2022 Annual Report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, A Review

This document is a critical review of the U.S. Government's 2022 Annual Report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), authored by V.J. Ballester Olmos and Julio Plaza del Olmo. The authors analyze the report's claims regarding the increase in UAP reporting, which the ODNI attributes to better awareness and reduced stigma. The authors reject this, arguing instead that the rise in reports is a direct result of increased media coverage and the institutional promotion of the UAP subject by the Department of Defense, NASA, and the AIAA. They contend that the atmosphere and airspace have been studied for decades and that the current focus on UAP is largely a justification for the existence of the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). The authors highlight that as of August 30, 2022, there were 510 total UAP reports, yet they criticize the lack of technical detail provided in the unclassified report, contrasting this with the transparency of other national UAP study centers in France, Argentina, and Chile. They further argue that the majority of reports are likely misidentifications of common objects such as balloons and drones, and that the 'unusual flight characteristics' mentioned in the report are likely the result of sensor irregularities or operator error. The authors conclude that while the establishment of AARO and its network of interagency cooperation is a positive step for data collection, the lack of transparency and the absence of clear, ultimate goals for the office remain significant issues. They express doubt that the government will find evidence of alien life or advanced technology, suggesting that the project is essentially 'reinventing the wheel' and will ultimately reach the conclusion that UAP are not proof of anomalous phenomena.