About AARO
The All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) was established by the U.S. Department of Defense in July 2022 to replace the UAP Task Force (UAPTF). It represents the most comprehensive U.S. government effort to date to investigate unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs) across all domains - air, sea, space, and transmedium.
AARO operates under the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security and is tasked with synchronizing efforts across the Department of Defense and other federal agencies to detect, identify, and attribute objects of interest in all domains.
Mission
AARO's mission is to minimize technical and intelligence surprise by characterizing, understanding, and resolving unidentified anomalous phenomena. This includes assessing potential threats to national security and flight safety.
History
AARO evolved from previous UAP investigation programs including the UAP Task Force (2020-2022) and the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (2007-2012). It represents a significant expansion in scope and authority.
Key Aspects
- Investigates phenomena in all domains (air, sea, space, transmedium)
- Coordinates with intelligence community and scientific organizations
- Develops standardized reporting and analysis protocols
- Provides regular reports to Congress
AARO vs UAPTF
While the UAP Task Force focused primarily on aerial phenomena reported by military personnel, AARO represents a significant expansion in scope and authority:
- Investigates phenomena in all domains (not just aerial)
- Has broader access to classified and unclassified data
- Coordinates with more agencies and scientific organizations
- Has a more robust scientific and technical analysis capability
- Includes historical case review authority