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