Navy UAP Videos: Complete Breakdown of FLIR, GIMBAL, and GOFAST Footage

May 8, 2026|10 min read|UAP News Now Staff

The Pentagon has confirmed three Navy videos as authentic recordings of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena encounters. These videos — FLIR, GIMBAL, and GOFAST — represent the most thoroughly documented military UAP encounters in history. Here's a complete technical breakdown of what each video shows.

FLIR (2004): The Tic Tac Encounter

Recorded November 14, 2004, off the coast of San Diego by F/A-18 pilots from the USS Nimitz carrier strike group.

What the Video Shows

  • White oblong object resembling a Tic Tac candy
  • No visible wings, propulsion, or control surfaces
  • Object tracked by infrared camera for 1 minute 16 seconds
  • No heat signature from engines or exhaust

Pilot Testimony

Commander David Fravor, one of the pilots who encountered the object, described it as:

"It was a white object, oblong, pointing north-south, and it was moving erratically. As we got closer, it accelerated and disappeared in about a half-second."

Technical Analysis

  • Speed: Estimated at 3,600-4,000 mph based on radar data
  • Acceleration: From hover to supersonic in seconds
  • Radar: Tracked from 80,000 feet to sea level in seconds
  • Size: Approximately 40-50 feet long

GIMBAL (2015): The Rotating Object

Recorded January 21, 2015, off the East Coast by F/A-18 pilots from the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group.

What the Video Shows

  • Object with glowing aura rotating on its axis
  • Appears to defy aerodynamic principles
  • Pilots comment on "fleet" of similar objects
  • Recorded by ATFLIR targeting pod

Pilot Commentary (from video)

"There's a whole fleet of them. Look on the SA."

"My gosh. They're all going against the wind. The wind's 120 knots to the west."

"Look at that thing, dude."

Technical Analysis

  • Rotation: Object rotates without changing trajectory
  • Wind: Objects move against 120-knot winds
  • Formation: Multiple objects operating together
  • Sensor: Advanced Targeting Forward-Looking Infrared (ATFLIR)

GOFAST (2015): The Speed Demon

Recorded the same day as GIMBAL, January 21, 2015, by the same carrier group.

What the Video Shows

  • Small white object moving at extreme velocity
  • Appears to skim just above ocean surface
  • Pilots express surprise at speed
  • Recorded by same ATFLIR system

Pilot Commentary (from video)

"What the f--- is that?"

"Look at it fly."

Technical Analysis

  • Speed: Estimated at 2-3 times speed of fighter jet
  • Altitude: Operating just above wave height
  • Size: Appears small, possibly 6-10 feet
  • Tracking: Difficult to maintain lock due to speed

Common Characteristics

All three videos share several characteristics that defy conventional explanation:

  • No Visible Propulsion: No engines, exhaust, or rotors visible
  • Extreme Speed: All objects exceed capabilities of known aircraft
  • Impossible Maneuvers: Acceleration and direction changes violate physics
  • Multiple Sensors: Detected by radar, infrared, and visual observation
  • Multiple Witnesses: Pilots and weapons systems officers confirm

Official Confirmation

The Pentagon has confirmed these videos as authentic:

  • April 2020: Pentagon officially releases videos, confirming authenticity
  • 2021: ODNI includes videos in Preliminary Assessment
  • 2022-2024: AARO analyzes footage, cannot identify objects
  • May 2026: Included in PURSUE database release

What Experts Say

  • Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick (Former AARO): "These remain unidentified. We have no explanation for the capabilities demonstrated."
  • Luis Elizondo (Former AATIP): "These are the tip of the iceberg. There are hundreds more encounters."
  • Avi Loeb (Harvard): "The data warrants scientific investigation, not dismissal."