AATIP & The 2017 New York Times Disclosure
On December 16, 2017, the New York Times published 'Glowing Auras and Black Money: The Pentagon's Mysterious UFO Program,' revealing the existence of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), a $22 million Pentagon program that ran from 2007-2012 investigating UAP. The story was coordinated by Luis Elizondo (who had resigned from AATIP in protest), Chris Mellon (former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence), and To The Stars Academy, releasing the FLIR1, Gimbal, and GoFast videos simultaneously. This was the moment UAP went from fringe to mainstream. The NYT — the paper of record — confirmed the Pentagon had been secretly studying UAP. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had secured the funding, routed through the DIA. Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies (BAASS) was the sole contractor. The article triggered a chain reaction: congressional interest, AARO formation, whistleblowers coming forward, and the disclosure movement that led to the 2023 hearings. Every major development since traces back to this single article.
Key Figures
Evidence
FLIR1 / Tic Tac Video
FLIR footage from an F/A-18 Super Hornet during the USS Nimitz encounter. Shows a white, oblong object (the 'Tic Tac') tracked by infrared targeting pod. Object accelerates off screen. Pentagon officially confirmed authenticity in 2020.
Gimbal Video
ATFLIR footage from a Navy F/A-18 showing a rotating, disc-shaped object with no visible exhaust or propulsion. Pilot audio captures excitement: 'There's a whole fleet of them — look on the ASA!' Pentagon confirmed authenticity.
GoFast Video
ATFLIR footage showing a small object moving at high speed low over the ocean surface. No thermal exhaust detected. Pentagon confirmed authenticity. Part of the USS Roosevelt encounter series.
AARO Historical Record Report Volume 1
Official DoD historical review of U.S. government UAP investigations from 1945 to present. Concludes no evidence of extraterrestrial technology or crash retrieval programs — a conclusion widely disputed by whistleblowers, Congressional members, and the Intelligence Community Inspector General. Notable for what it omits: no mention of the Wilson-Davis memo, Grusch's specific allegations, or the ICIG's finding of 'credible and urgent' concern.
COMETA Report — French Military/Intelligence UAP Assessment
90-page report by former French military officers and intelligence officials concluding that UAP are real physical phenomena and that the extraterrestrial hypothesis is the most likely explanation. Written by 13 retired generals, admirals, and senior officials. Published openly in France — never classified. Recommended the French government take UAP seriously and share data internationally. France's approach stands in stark contrast to US secrecy.
Lue Elizondo on 60 Minutes — AATIP Disclosure
Former AATIP director Lue Elizondo appears on 60 Minutes alongside former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Chris Mellon. Discusses the Pentagon's UAP investigation program, confirms the Navy videos are authentic, and states the objects demonstrate technology beyond known human capability. This 60 Minutes segment brought UAP into mainstream national conversation.