For years, the author dismissed ideas of extraterrestrial life and unidentified flying objects as mere fantasy, grouping them with myths like ghosts and fairies. That changed in 2017 when The New York Times revealed details of a secretive Pentagon initiative investigating UFOs. The report, based on statements from military intelligence official Luis Elizondo, described a program known as the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP). It allegedly uncovered evidence of unidentified objects near military sites that violated known physical principles. Accompanying videos, later declassified by the Pentagon, depicted a dark, luminous craft resembling a classic flying saucer, with astonished Navy pilots commenting on its maneuvers. One pilot noted a group of objects moving against strong winds, while others observed rotation and unusual speed. The intrigue grew in June 2021 with a Pentagon report admitting inability to account for over 140 aerial incidents reported by Navy personnel over two decades. Shortly before, former President Barack Obama acknowledged unexplained sky events during a television appearance, and later affirmed the reality of aliens in a podcast. In July 2023, ex-intelligence officer David Grusch testified before Congress about classified programs allegedly storing recovered spacecraft and non-human remains. Intrigued by these developments, the author traveled to the United States in fall 2023 to investigate. Expectations of groundbreaking revelations faded as key figures in the UFO disclosure community, including Elizondo and musician Tom DeLonge, who runs a firm focused on alien research, ignored contact attempts. Further scrutiny revealed discrepancies in the narratives. The Pentagon confirmed a UFO-related program existed, but it was named the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP), not AATIP, and denied Elizondo’s involvement. AAWSAP’s origins traced back to intelligence officer James Lacatski’s visit to Skinwalker Ranch in Utah, a site linked to paranormal reports. Inspired by a 2005 book on the ranch’s odd occurrences—funded by billionaire Robert Bigelow, whose institute explored space and the supernatural—Lacatski sought to assess potential threats. During his stay, he reportedly witnessed a bizarre, tube-like apparatus resembling an album cover design. This experience prompted AAWSAP’s establishment in 2007. By 2008, Bigelow’s firm secured the contract.
