Within GREMLIN

Who Checks GREMLIN's UAP Evidence?

GREMLIN sits inside a wider review system involving laboratories, aerospace specialists, radar data, materials analysis, and open-source research.

On this page

  • Georgia Tech's role in GREMLIN operations
  • Why labs and aerospace partners matter
  • How cross agency review can strengthen or slow disclosure
Preview for Who Checks GREMLIN's UAP Evidence?

Introduction

GREMLIN is often described as a sensor system, but its value depends just as much on the network of organisations that review what those sensors collect. The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) was created because many UAP cases could not be resolved from a single video, radar return, or witness account. As GREMLIN expands government collection of instrumented data, AARO increasingly relies on research laboratories, aerospace specialists, intelligence organisations, military operators, civil aviation authorities, and scientific partners to determine whether an event is unusual or merely misunderstood. The result is a review process that is broader and more technically rigorous than traditional UFO investigations, but also more complex and sometimes slower. [U.S. Department of War+2AARO]media.defense.govFY24 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL REPORT ON UAP 508U.S. Department of WarFiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Annual Report on…Nov 14, 2024 — The GREMLIN sensor suite contains several sensing…

Partner Network illustration 1 For automated instrumented UFO detectors such as GREMLIN, the key governance question is therefore not only what the sensors see, but who examines the resulting evidence and how those reviewers reach a conclusion.

Who Checks GREMLIN’s UAP Evidence?

GREMLIN was developed with support from the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), a major defence research organisation with extensive experience in radar, sensing systems, signal processing, and multi-sensor data fusion. Public reporting and AARO documentation identify GTRI as a principal contributor to the sensor architecture behind GREMLIN. [Breaking Defense]breakingdefense.comBreaking DefenseGREMLIN, but no aliens: Pentagon UAP office plans first…Nov 14, 2024 — GREMLIN is a network of 2D and 3D radar, and lo…

This matters because a modern UAP case rarely involves a single piece of evidence. A GREMLIN deployment may generate radar tracks, infrared imagery, optical observations, radio-frequency measurements, aircraft transponder data, timing information, and environmental records. Determining whether those streams describe the same object requires specialised expertise in sensor physics and data integration. Organisations such as GTRI provide capabilities that go beyond simple observation, helping investigators determine whether an apparent anomaly originates from an object in the environment, a sensor artefact, a software issue, or an ordinary aircraft seen under unusual conditions. U.S. Department of War+2Georgia Tech Research Institute [media.defense.gov]media.defense.govFY24 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL REPORT ON UAP 508U.S. Department of WarFiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Annual Report on…Nov 14, 2024 — The GREMLIN sensor suite contains several sensing…

The practical effect is that GREMLIN evidence enters a technical review pipeline rather than being judged solely by eyewitness testimony or isolated imagery. Sensor engineers can examine calibration issues, radar specialists can evaluate track quality, and analysts can compare multiple sensor outputs against known aviation and aerospace activity. This increases the chances of identifying conventional explanations before a case is classified as unresolved. [U.S. Department of War]media.defense.govFY24 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL REPORT ON UAP 508U.S. Department of WarFiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Annual Report on…Nov 14, 2024 — The GREMLIN sensor suite contains several sensing…

Why Labs and Aerospace Partners Matter

One of the recurring findings in official UAP reports is that many incidents lack sufficient information for confident attribution. AARO’s response has been to widen the number of institutions that can contribute expertise. Official reports describe a “whole-of-government” approach involving defence, intelligence, scientific, and aviation partners. [Director of National Intelligence]dni.govUnclassified 2022 Annual Report UAPDirector of National Intelligence2022 Annual Report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena25 Jun 2021 — ODNI and AARO are committed to the resp…

Laboratories and aerospace specialists contribute in several distinct ways:

  • Sensor validation: determining whether unusual behaviour reflects an external object or a limitation of the observing system.
  • Trajectory analysis: reconstructing motion from radar and optical data.
  • Signature analysis: comparing observed characteristics against known aircraft, drones, balloons, satellites, and atmospheric phenomena.
  • Materials and technical assessment: evaluating any physical evidence or technical indicators that may accompany a report.
  • Data fusion: combining information from multiple sources into a single analytical picture. U.S. Department of War+2Georgia Tech Research Institute [media.defense.gov]media.defense.govFY24 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL REPORT ON UAP 508U.S. Department of WarFiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Annual Report on…Nov 14, 2024 — The GREMLIN sensor suite contains several sensing…

The aerospace dimension is particularly important because many UAP reports originate near military operations, restricted airspace, or sensitive facilities. An object that initially appears unexplained may ultimately match the performance profile of a known drone, aircraft, balloon, or orbital object once aerospace experts compare the data against flight records and technical databases. AARO’s publicly released case assessments frequently show this pattern, where detailed analysis leads to identifications that were not obvious from the original imagery alone. [AARO]aaro.milUAP ImageryAARO assesses, with high confidence, that the footage depicts the presence of a physical object. The object's morphologica…

In governance terms, partner organisations act as independent technical checkpoints. Instead of relying on a single investigative office, the evidence can be reviewed by specialists whose expertise lies in the specific technologies involved.

Partner Network illustration 2

How Interagency Review Changes the Outcome

GREMLIN’s sensor network is intended to collect better data, but the partner network determines how that data is interpreted. AARO works with organisations across the defence and intelligence communities as well as civil aviation authorities. Official briefings note cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), intelligence agencies, military commands, and scientific partners. NASA’s UAP study also recommended formal liaison structures between NASA and AARO to improve information exchange and scientific review. [AARO+2Director of National Intelligence]aaro.milThe US Defense Department & The UAP MissionThe US Defense Department & The UAP MissionJune 20, 2025 — AARO received more than 100 reports from the FAA, contributing to analyses…Published: June 20, 2025

Interagency review changes evidence assessment in several ways.

It reduces military-only bias. Civil aviation data introduces observations from commercial pilots and civilian airspace, expanding the range of comparisons available to investigators. AARO reports that FAA reporting has already contributed significantly to UAP trend analysis. [AARO]aaro.milThe US Defense Department & The UAP MissionThe US Defense Department & The UAP MissionJune 20, 2025 — AARO received more than 100 reports from the FAA, contributing to analyses…Published: June 20, 2025

It increases access to reference data. Intelligence and defence organisations possess information about classified systems, known foreign platforms, and operational activities that may explain an event. A case that appears anomalous from one perspective may become understandable when additional datasets are available. [Director of National Intelligence]dni.govUnclassified 2022 Annual Report UAPDirector of National Intelligence2022 Annual Report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena25 Jun 2021 — ODNI and AARO are committed to the resp…

It creates standardised review procedures. AARO reports describe efforts to establish common reporting and analytical practices across agencies. Consistent procedures make it easier to compare cases collected by different organisations and sensor systems. [Director of National Intelligence]dni.govUnclassified 2022 Annual Report UAPDirector of National Intelligence2022 Annual Report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena25 Jun 2021 — ODNI and AARO are committed to the resp…

The result is that GREMLIN-generated evidence is less likely to remain isolated. Instead, it can be tested against broader government knowledge and operational records.

How Cross-Agency Review Can Strengthen Disclosure

Supporters of the partner-network model argue that it improves credibility. When multiple organisations independently examine the same evidence, conclusions become more defensible than those based on a single office’s judgement.

This is especially important for cases that remain unresolved. AARO has repeatedly stated that unresolved does not automatically imply extraordinary technology. In many instances, a case remains unresolved because the available data are incomplete, contradictory, or insufficient for confident attribution. Having multiple technical reviewers helps distinguish between genuinely unexplained observations and cases that simply lack enough evidence. [AARO+2TWZ]aaro.milUAP ImageryAARO assesses, with high confidence, that the footage depicts the presence of a physical object. The object's morphologica…

Cross-agency review also creates a clearer audit trail. Analysts can document which organisations examined the data, what methods were used, and why alternative explanations were accepted or rejected. For a subject that has long been criticised for poor documentation and inconsistent standards, that institutional structure represents a significant change. [Director of National Intelligence]dni.govUnclassified 2022 Annual Report UAPDirector of National Intelligence2022 Annual Report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena25 Jun 2021 — ODNI and AARO are committed to the resp…

Why the Same Network Can Slow Public Disclosure

The same review system that strengthens technical confidence can also slow the release of information.

Each participating organisation has its own security rules, classification requirements, and legal responsibilities. Sensor data collected near military facilities may contain information unrelated to the UAP itself, such as radar capabilities, surveillance methods, or operational activities. Before information can be released publicly, those sensitivities often require review by multiple offices. [Director of National Intelligence]dni.govUnclassified 2022 Annual Report UAPDirector of National Intelligence2022 Annual Report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena25 Jun 2021 — ODNI and AARO are committed to the resp…

AARO has repeatedly noted that its ability to resolve cases is constrained by the availability of timely sensor data and information sharing. Expanding the number of partners increases analytical capability, but it also creates more coordination requirements. Data must be transferred, verified, contextualised, and reviewed before conclusions can be published. [U.S. Department of War]war.govdr jon kosloski director aaro media roundtable on the fy24 consolidated annualDepartment of WarDr. Jon Kosloski, Director, AARO, Media Roundtable on the…14 Nov 2024 — AARO will prioritize building partnerships, A…

There is also a practical challenge: different organisations may prioritise different questions. Scientists may focus on measurement quality, intelligence agencies on national-security implications, aviation authorities on flight safety, and military operators on operational risk. Reconciling those perspectives can take time even when the underlying evidence is strong. [Director of National Intelligence]dni.govUnclassified 2022 Annual Report UAPDirector of National Intelligence2022 Annual Report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena25 Jun 2021 — ODNI and AARO are committed to the resp…

Partner Network illustration 3

The Governance Significance of the Partner Network

Within the GREMLIN programme, the most important development may not be the sensor hardware itself but the institutional framework built around it. Georgia Tech and other technical partners help ensure that data are scientifically interpretable. Aerospace and intelligence specialists provide context that individual sensors cannot supply. Civil aviation and scientific partners broaden the evidence base beyond military reporting. Together, these organisations create a review ecosystem designed to turn raw observations into defensible assessments. Director of National Intelligence+3Breaking Defense+3U.S. Department of War [breakingdefense.com]breakingdefense.comBreaking DefenseGREMLIN, but no aliens: Pentagon UAP office plans first…Nov 14, 2024 — GREMLIN is a network of 2D and 3D radar, and lo…

For automated instrumented UFO detectors, that network is what transforms a collection of radar returns and imagery into an official UAP investigation. GREMLIN may gather the data, but the partner network determines how confidently that data can be understood, attributed, or left unresolved. [U.S. Department of War+2AARO]media.defense.govFY24 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL REPORT ON UAP 508U.S. Department of WarFiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Annual Report on…Nov 14, 2024 — The GREMLIN sensor suite contains several sensing…

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Endnotes

  1. 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.PDF
    Source snippet

    U.S. Department of WarFiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Annual Report on...Nov 14, 2024 — The GREMLIN sensor suite contains several sensing...

  2. Source: aaro.mil
    Link: https://www.aaro.mil/
    Source snippet

    AARO HomeOur team of experts leads the U.S. government's efforts to address Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) using a rigorous scien...

  3. Source: twz.com
    Title: highly anticipated government report on ufos thin on new evidence
    Link: https://www.twz.com/highly-anticipated-government-report-on-ufos-thin-on-new-evidence
    Source snippet

    Highly Anticipated Government Report On UFOs Very Thin...12 Jan 2023 — ODNI and AARO acknowledge that a select number of UAP incidents m...

  4. Source: aaro.mil
    Link: https://www.aaro.mil/UAP-Cases/Official-UAP-Imagery/
    Source snippet

    UAP ImageryAARO assesses, with high confidence, that the footage depicts the presence of a physical object. The object's morphologica...

  5. Source: aaro.mil
    Title: The US Defense Department & The UAP Mission
    Link: https://www.aaro.mil/Portals/136/PDFs/AARO_Mission_Brief_2025.pdf
    Source snippet

    The US Defense Department & The UAP MissionJune 20, 2025 — AARO received more than 100 reports from the FAA, contributing to analyses...

    Published: June 20, 2025

  6. Source: science.nasa.gov
    Link: https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/uap-independent-study-team-final-report.pdf
    Source snippet

    NASA ScienceIndependent Study Team ReportIn the study of UAP, the establishment of a NASA/AARO liaison will be an important step towards...

  7. Source: war.gov
    Title: dr jon kosloski director aaro media roundtable on the fy24 consolidated annual
    Link: https://www.war.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3965734/dr-jon-kosloski-director-aaro-media-roundtable-on-the-fy24-consolidated-annual/
    Source snippet

    Department of WarDr. Jon Kosloski, Director, AARO, Media Roundtable on the...14 Nov 2024 — AARO will prioritize building partnerships, A...

  8. 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-objects
    Source snippet

    DoD To Deploy 'Gremlin' Sensors To Collect Intel On...Mar 8, 2024 — New deployable hyperspectral sensors will be able to collect data ac...

  9. Source: dni.gov
    Title: Unclassified 2022 Annual Report UAP
    Link: https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/Unclassified-2022-Annual-Report-UAP.pdf
    Source snippet

    Director of National Intelligence2022 Annual Report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena25 Jun 2021 — ODNI and AARO are committed to the resp...

  10. 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

    Breaking DefenseGREMLIN, but no aliens: Pentagon UAP office plans first...Nov 14, 2024 — GREMLIN is a network of 2D and 3D radar, and lo...

  11. Source: gtri.gatech.edu
    Link: https://www.gtri.gatech.edu/expertise/sensors
    Source snippet

    Georgia Tech Research InstituteSensorsGTRI has a deep-rooted history of developing and fielding integrated sensing technologies across a...

  12. Source: gtri.gatech.edu
    Link: https://www.gtri.gatech.edu/laboratories/sensors-and-electromagnetic-applications-laboratory
    Source snippet

    Georgia Tech Research InstituteSensors and Electromagnetic Applications LaboratorySEAL develops advanced signal and data processing metho...

Additional References

  1. Source: nypost.com
    Link: https://nypost.com/2024/11/14/us-news/pentagon-says-nearly-two-dozen-ufo-sightings-cant-be-explained-true-anomalies/
    Source snippet

    The "all-domain anomaly resolution office" (AARO) identified 21 reports as "true anomalies" needing further investigation. Most sightings...

  2. Source: tothestars.media
    Link: https://tothestars.media/en-gb/blogs/press-and-news/ornl-and-aaro-material-analysis?srsltid=AfmBOorVOYNE2p68WNAmlymX1FyJc2t_qFqjUC6KA8ySkkWb_9WvkHqc
    Source snippet

    ORNL and AARO Material Analysis UpdateBoth Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL) and The All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) have complet...

  3. 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

    DOD developing 'Gremlin' capability to help personnel...Mar 8, 2024 — Gremlin System — to enable personnel to capture real-time data and...

  4. Source: read-me.org
    Title: fiscal year 2024 consolidated annual report on unidentified anomalous phenomena
    Link: https://read-me.org/more-social-sciences/2024/12/21/fiscal-year-2024-consolidated-annual-report-on-unidentified-anomalous-phenomena
    Source snippet

    Fiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Annual Report on...21 Dec 2024 — This report covers unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) reports from Ma...

  5. Source: aui.edu
    Link: https://aui.edu/aaro-releases-report-on-unidentified-anomalous-phenomena-uap/
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    a, and analysis methods, including the responsible use of artificial...Read more...

  6. Source: space.com
    Title: pentagon ufo uap office aaro sensors anomalies orbit
    Link: https://www.space.com/pentagon-ufo-uap-office-aaro-sensors-anomalies-orbit
    Source snippet

    Pentagon UFO office developing 'Gremlin' sensors to help...Mar 9, 2024 — The Pentagon's UFO office is developing sensor kits to help it...

  7. Source: youtube.com
    Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvsU4p0Gsas
    Source snippet

    SASC Hearing on AARO & UAPs — Dr. Jon Kosloski Testimony (November 19, 2024) | Congressional Video...

    Published: November 19, 2024

  8. Source: facebook.com
    Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/552059654373970/posts/561477076765561/
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    esting phase of DOD's Gremlin system, developed in part by the...

  9. 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/
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    Included in those are the 757 new reports that were submitted between May 1, 2023 and June 1...

    Published: May 1, 2023

  10. Source: youtube.com
    Title: SASC Hearing on AARO & UAPs — Dr. Jon Kosloski Testimony (
    Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u64qdq251rE
    Source snippet

    SOMETHING IS HAPPENING — We Are Detecting Anomalous Objects | What They Don't Explain...

    Published: November 19, 2024

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