Within GREMLIN
Why Better Sensors Still See False UAPs
Even government-grade sensors must sort ordinary targets and imaging artefacts before treating an event as truly unresolved.
On this page
- Birds bats and drones as routine false targets
- How infrared and video artefacts create strange blobs
- Why satellites and flares remain a hard filter
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Introduction
GREMLIN was designed to improve UAP investigations by collecting synchronised radar, optical, infrared and radio-frequency data instead of relying on a single video clip or eyewitness account. Yet even a sophisticated government sensor suite cannot escape a fundamental problem: the sky is full of ordinary objects that often look extraordinary when viewed through imperfect sensors. Birds, bats, drones and satellites remain among the most important sources of false targets because they can generate signatures that appear unusual until additional context is applied. AARO, the Pentagon office developing GREMLIN, has repeatedly emphasised that many resolved UAP cases ultimately turn out to involve commonplace objects rather than genuinely unexplained phenomena. [U.S. Department of War+2DefenseScoop]war.govdod examining unidentified anomalous phenomenaDepartment of WarDOD Examining Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena14 Nov 2024 — "AARO has successfully resolved hundreds of cases in its hol…
The significance of GREMLIN is therefore not that it eliminates false positives, but that it provides more tools to identify them. Better sensors increase the amount of information available; they do not automatically remove ambiguity. In practice, one of GREMLIN’s most important jobs is filtering out misleading targets before investigators decide a case is truly anomalous. [U.S. Department of War+2DefenseScoop]media.defense.govFY24 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL REPORT ON UAP 508Department of WarFiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Annual Report on…14 Nov 2024 — AARO S&T has published a number of educational reports i…
Birds, Bats and Drones as Routine False Targets
A common misunderstanding is that advanced military sensors should instantly distinguish a bird from something unknown. Real-world detection is much messier.
Radar systems often detect objects based on the amount of energy reflected back to the antenna. Small birds, large birds, flocks, bats and compact drones can all produce intermittent or confusing returns depending on range, altitude, orientation and weather conditions. A radar track that appears unusual in isolation may become much less remarkable when correlated with optical imagery or local biological activity. This is one reason AARO’s planned pattern-of-life monitoring is important: it establishes what normally flies through a monitored area before investigators treat an event as exceptional. [U.S. Department of War]media.defense.govFY24 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL REPORT ON UAP 508Department of WarFiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Annual Report on…14 Nov 2024 — AARO S&T has published a number of educational reports i…
Drones present an even harder challenge because they are designed to operate in the same airspace that many UAP reports originate from. Small unmanned aerial systems can hover, accelerate rapidly over short distances, fly at night and sometimes carry lights or emit radio-frequency signals. Depending on viewing angle and sensor settings, a drone may appear as a bright point, a featureless blob or a rapidly manoeuvring object. AARO has repeatedly stated that many resolved reports have been attributed to unmanned aerial systems alongside birds, balloons and aircraft. [U.S. Department of War+2DefenseScoop]war.govdod examining unidentified anomalous phenomenaDepartment of WarDOD Examining Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena14 Nov 2024 — "AARO has successfully resolved hundreds of cases in its hol…
Bats create a different category of problem. They are small, fast and most active during low-light periods when optical identification is difficult. Infrared systems may detect warm-bodied animals without providing enough detail for immediate classification. A target that briefly enters a sensor’s field of view can therefore appear anomalous until its motion is reconstructed using additional data sources.
For GREMLIN, the challenge is rarely detecting an object. The challenge is determining whether the detected object is unusual at all.
How Infrared and Video Artefacts Create Strange Blobs
Many famous UAP images look mysterious because of the way sensors represent information rather than because the underlying object is exotic.
Infrared cameras do not record visible shapes in the same way as ordinary video cameras. Heat sources, atmospheric effects, optical glare, sensor saturation, focus errors and image-processing algorithms can transform ordinary objects into amorphous bright shapes. AARO’s FY2024 report specifically notes that the office has published educational material explaining sensor artefacts such as parallax effects and other mechanisms that can make objects appear to exhibit extraordinary performance. [U.S. Department of War]media.defense.govFY24 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL REPORT ON UAP 508Department of WarFiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Annual Report on…14 Nov 2024 — AARO S&T has published a number of educational reports i…
Parallax is particularly important. When a camera platform is moving, a distant object can appear to race across the background even when its actual speed is modest. Likewise, a stationary or slowly moving target may appear to accelerate because the observer’s position is changing. These geometric effects have been central to numerous UAP debates and illustrate why single-sensor footage often proves insufficient. [U.S. Department of War]media.defense.govFY24 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL REPORT ON UAP 508Department of WarFiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Annual Report on…14 Nov 2024 — AARO S&T has published a number of educational reports i…
GREMLIN’s multi-sensor architecture exists largely to counter this problem. If radar, electro-optical sensors, infrared imagery and positional data disagree, investigators gain clues about whether the apparent anomaly is a property of the object or a property of the measurement system. However, disagreement between sensors does not automatically reveal the answer. It often begins a longer process of elimination.
AARO’s reassessment of several well-known cases has highlighted how full-motion video analysis, pixel analysis and additional contextual data can transform apparently extraordinary imagery into conventional explanations. The lesson for GREMLIN is that improved instrumentation often exposes hidden artefacts rather than uncovering exotic technology. [Reddit]reddit.comAARO used full-motion video and pixel analyses to inform its assessmentAARO's analysis determined the "Jellyfish UAP" is a cluster of…May 3, 2025 — AARO assesses this was a cluster of partially and f…
Why Satellites and Flares Remain a Hard Filter
Satellites represent one of the fastest-growing sources of UAP confusion.
Modern low-Earth-orbit constellations, especially Starlink, have dramatically increased the number of bright moving objects visible in the night sky. Reflections from solar panels and other satellite surfaces can create sudden flashes, bright stationary-looking lights and unusual apparent motion. These effects can surprise trained observers, including pilots. [AARO]aaro.milThese photographs are shown in Figure 7 and FigureCorrelations of Starlink Satellite Flaring with UAP…by A An · 2024 — AARO personnel photographed Starlink flaring on March 11, 202…
AARO has devoted specific technical studies to satellite flaring because the phenomenon increasingly appears in UAP reporting. The office’s analysis explains how sunlight reflecting from satellite surfaces can produce optical events that observers interpret as anomalous objects. AARO has also documented cases in which reported flashing lights correlated with Starlink launches and satellite activity. [FLYING Magazine+3AARO+3AARO]aaro.milThese photographs are shown in Figure 7 and FigureCorrelations of Starlink Satellite Flaring with UAP…by A An · 2024 — AARO personnel photographed Starlink flaring on March 11, 202…
The problem is not simply brightness. Satellite flares can appear and disappear abruptly, seem motionless for periods, or exhibit changing intensity that observers interpret as manoeuvring behaviour. Under some viewing geometries, an observer may see a bright object without obvious evidence that it is travelling along an orbital path. [AARO+2DVIDS]aaro.milThese photographs are shown in Figure 7 and FigureCorrelations of Starlink Satellite Flaring with UAP…by A An · 2024 — AARO personnel photographed Starlink flaring on March 11, 202…
Even GREMLIN’s sensor fusion approach faces difficulties here. Optical sensors may see a bright flare while radar receives little useful information. Infrared sensors may record a weak signature. Radio-frequency monitors may detect nothing relevant. Without accurate orbital correlation software and precise timing, a satellite flare can initially resemble an unexplained event.
This is one reason AARO has invested effort in educational material on satellite flaring and sensor artefacts. The more sensitive surveillance systems become, the more frequently they encounter ordinary space objects capable of generating apparently anomalous signatures. [AARO+2AARO]aaro.milUAP RecordsUAP Records/Information Papers13 Feb 2026 — This paper discusses specular and diffuse reflection of sunlight from man-made satellites…
The Paradox of Better Sensors
GREMLIN illustrates a recurring reality in automated instrumented UFO detection: improving sensors often increases the number of apparent anomalies before it reduces them.
Higher sensitivity means more detections. More detections mean more birds at extreme range, more bats crossing infrared fields, more drones operating near restricted sites and more satellites producing unexpected reflections. Each additional sensor channel creates opportunities both for confirmation and for confusion. [TWZ+2DefenseScoop]twz.comdod to deploy gremlin sensors to collect intel on unidentified flying objectsDoD To Deploy 'Gremlin' Sensors To Collect Intel On…8 Mar 2024 — New deployable hyperspectral sensors will be able to collect data…
AARO’s public reporting reflects this reality. Hundreds of cases have been resolved as birds, drones, satellites, balloons and aircraft, while many others remain unresolved primarily because the available data are incomplete rather than because the objects demonstrate impossible behaviour. The central filtering task is therefore not proving that an object is extraordinary; it is ruling out increasingly sophisticated ordinary explanations. [U.S. Department of War+2DefenseScoop]war.govdod examining unidentified anomalous phenomenaDepartment of WarDOD Examining Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena14 Nov 2024 — "AARO has successfully resolved hundreds of cases in its hol…
For GREMLIN, birds, bats, drones and satellites are not minor nuisances. They are the benchmark against which the entire system must be tested. A truly useful UAP detector is not the one that finds the most anomalies. It is the one that most reliably recognises when an anomaly is only an ordinary object viewed through an extraordinary-looking sensor signature. U.S. Department of War+2U.S. Department of War [media.defense.gov]media.defense.govFY24 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL REPORT ON UAP 508Department of WarFiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Annual Report on…14 Nov 2024 — AARO S&T has published a number of educational reports i…
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Endnotes
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Source: war.gov
Title: dod examining unidentified anomalous phenomena
Link: https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3965403/dod-examining-unidentified-anomalous-phenomena/Source snippet
Department of WarDOD Examining Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena14 Nov 2024 — "AARO has successfully resolved hundreds of cases in its hol...
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Source: defensescoop.com
Title: uap aaro chief unveils pentagon annual caseload analysis new efforts
Link: https://defensescoop.com/2024/11/14/uap-aaro-chief-unveils-pentagon-annual-caseload-analysis-new-efforts/Source snippet
“AARO has successfully resolved hundreds of cases in its holdings to commonplace objects such...
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Source: media.defense.gov
Title: FY24 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL REPORT ON UAP 508
Link: https://media.defense.gov/2024/Nov/14/2003583603/-1/-1/0/FY24-CONSOLIDATED-ANNUAL-REPORT-ON-UAP-508.PDFSource snippet
Department of WarFiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Annual Report on...14 Nov 2024 — AARO S&T has published a number of educational reports i...
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Source: defensescoop.com
Link: https://defensescoop.com/2024/03/08/embargo-10a-friday-dod-developing-gremlin-capability-to-help-personnel-collect-real-time-uap-data/Source snippet
AARO's acting director Tim Phillips gave his first off-camera...
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Source: twz.com
Title: dod to deploy [gremlin sensors]({{ ‘gremlin/’ | relative_url }}) to collect intel on unidentified flying objects
Link: https://www.twz.com/air/dod-to-deploy-gremlin-sensors-to-collect-intel-on-unidentified-flying-objectsSource snippet
DoD To Deploy 'Gremlin' Sensors To Collect Intel On...8 Mar 2024 — New deployable hyperspectral sensors will be able to collect data...
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Source: reddit.com
Title: AARO used full-motion video and pixel analyses to inform its assessment
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/1ke1n8m/aaros_analysis_determined_the_jellyfish_uap_is_a/Source snippet
AARO's analysis determined the "Jellyfish UAP" is a cluster of...May 3, 2025 — AARO assesses this was a cluster of partially and f...
Published: May 3, 2025
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Source: aaro.mil
Title: These photographs are shown in Figure 7 and Figure
Link: https://www.aaro.mil/Portals/136/PDFs/Information%20Papers/AARO_Satellite_Flaring_Paper.pdfSource snippet
Correlations of Starlink Satellite Flaring with UAP...by A An · 2024 — AARO personnel photographed Starlink flaring on March 11, 202...
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Source: aaro.mil
Title: UAP Records
Link: https://www.aaro.mil/UAP-Records/Source snippet
UAP Records/Information Papers13 Feb 2026 — This paper discusses specular and diffuse reflection of sunlight from man-made satellites...
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Source: aaro.mil
Link: https://www.aaro.mil/UAP-Cases/Official-UAP-Imagery/Source snippet
UAP ImageryThe United States European Command submitted a report of an unidentified anomalous phenomenon to the All-domain Anomaly Resolu...
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Source: space.com
Title: pentagon ufo uap office aaro sensors anomalies orbit
Link: https://www.space.com/pentagon-ufo-uap-office-aaro-sensors-anomalies-orbitSource snippet
Pentagon UFO office developing 'Gremlin' sensors to help...9 Mar 2024 — The Pentagon's UFO office is developing sensor kits to help it c...
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Source: war.gov
Title: department of defense releases the annual report on unidentified anomalous phen
Link: https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3964824/department-of-defense-releases-the-annual-report-on-unidentified-anomalous-phen/Source snippet
Department of Defense Releases the Annual Report on...14 Nov 2024 — This year's UAP report covers UAP reports from May 1, 2023, to June...
Published: May 1, 2023
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/166dk0u/according_to_aaros_new_website_the_flir_gimbal/Source snippet
According to AARO's new website, the FLIR, Gimbal and...According to AARO, the FLIR (Tic Tac UAP), Gimbal, and GoFast videos are “unreso...
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Source: startalkmedia.com
Link: https://startalkmedia.com/show/the-truth-about-uaps-with-jon-kosloski/Source snippet
The Truth About UAPs with Jon Kosloski - StarTalk Radio5 Aug 2025 — AARO collects, verifies, and investigates reports, including the role...
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Source: flyingmag.com
Title: dod nearly 800 uap reports received in past year
Link: https://www.flyingmag.com/dod-nearly-800-uap-reports-received-in-past-year/Source snippet
FLYING MagazineDOD: Nearly 800 UAP Reports Received in Past Year14 Nov 2024 — “AARO assessed that this sighting of flashing lights correl...
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Source: dvidshub.net
Link: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/950338/satellite-flaring-phenomenonSource snippet
DVIDS - Video - The Satellite Flaring PhenomenonThis brief animation shows how the effects of satellite flaring can be misinterpreted as...
Additional References
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Source: aui.edu
Link: https://aui.edu/aaro-releases-report-on-unidentified-anomalous-phenomena-uap/Source snippet
AARO Releases Report on Unidentified Anomalous...AARO Releases Report on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) The report details key f...
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Source: facebook.com
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1300859364721492/posts/1520994726041287/Source snippet
Verifying drone information through researchI'd like to advise people, especially people who are new to Facebook groups, Do your own rese...
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Source: avi-loeb.medium.com
Link: https://avi-loeb.medium.com/nasa-aaro-and-the-[galileoSource snippet
medium.comNASA, AARO and the Galileo Project Agree on the Need for a...“right now there is very limited data on UAP... the lack of high...
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Source: breakingdefense.com
Link: https://breakingdefense.com/2024/11/gremlin-but-no-aliens-pentagon-uap-office-plans-first-deployment-of-new-sensor-suite/Source snippet
GREMLIN, but no aliens: Pentagon UAP office plans first...14 Nov 2024 — Aliens or not, the report further provides details about AARO's...
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Source: theforestawakening.com
Title: effect of forced perspective and parallax view on uap observations 35a2093a
Link: https://theforestawakening.com/incidents/effect-of-forced-perspective-and-parallax-view-on-uap-observations-35a2093aSource snippet
Effect of Forced Perspective and Parallax View on UAP...1 Jan 2024 — AARO discusses specular and diffuse reflection from man-made satell...
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Source: meritalk.com
Title: uap reports soar dod office receives 757 new sightings
Link: https://www.meritalk.com/articles/uap-reports-soar-dod-office-receives-757-new-sightings/Source snippet
UAP Reports Soar: DoD Office Receives 757 New Sightings15 Nov 2024 — “As of the publishing date of this report, all 174 cases have been f...
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Source: skyandtelescope.org
Title: starlink flares can fool anyone even airline pilots
Link: https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/starlink-flares-can-fool-anyone-even-airline-pilots/Source snippet
Starlink Flares Can Fool Anyone — Even Airline Pilots10 Jun 2024 — The flare from numerous Starlink satellites, launched by SpaceX to pro...
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Source: newspaceeconomy.ca
Title: Are We Chasing Aliens or Just Starlink?
Link: https://newspaceeconomy.ca/2025/02/06/are-we-chasing-aliens-or-just-starlink-the-role-of-satellite-flares-in-uap-reports/Source snippet
The Role of Satellite...6 Feb 2025 — The AARO report provides a detailed analysis of how Starlink flares occur, when they are most visib...
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Source: Wikipedia
Title: All domain Anomaly Resolution Office
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-domain_Anomaly_Resolution_OfficeSource snippet
All-domain Anomaly Resolution OfficeThe All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) is an office within the United States Office of th...
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Source: metabunk.org
Title: aaro 2024 annual report on uap.13762
Link: https://www.metabunk.org/threads/aaro-2024-annual-report-on-uap.13762/Source snippet
AARO 2024 Annual Report on UAP14 Nov 2024 — AARO S&T has published a number of educational reports identifying key artifacts that arise f...
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