About AATIP
The Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) was a secret investigatory effort funded by the United States Government to study unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and other potential aerospace threats. The program operated from 2007 to 2012 with an annual budget of $22 million.
AATIP was initially run by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and later managed by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence. The program's existence was publicly revealed in December 2017 by The New York Times and Politico.
Mission
AATIP's primary mission was to assess foreign advanced aerospace threats and investigate unidentified aerial phenomena that could pose national security risks. The program focused on understanding the physics and capabilities of these phenomena.
Timeline
2007-2012: Active operation
2012: Official funding ended
2017: Publicly revealed
Led to creation of UAPTF and later AARO
Key Research Areas
- Advanced propulsion systems
- Materials science and metamaterials
- Warp drive and wormhole physics
- Invisibility cloaking technology
- High-energy laser weapons
Notable Cases and Findings
Nimitz Encounter (2004)
The USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group encountered multiple unidentified objects off the coast of California. Pilots reported objects demonstrating advanced capabilities beyond known technology.
Gimbal Video (2015)
Navy pilots captured video of an object rotating against the wind with no visible means of propulsion. This became one of the three officially released UAP videos.
GoFast Video (2015)
Another officially released video showing a small object moving at high speed just above the water surface, demonstrating unusual flight characteristics.
Legacy and Impact
AATIP laid the groundwork for subsequent official U.S. government investigations into UAPs. The program's research and findings directly influenced:
- Creation of the UAP Task Force in 2020
- Establishment of AARO in 2022
- Increased congressional oversight of UAP investigations
- Greater public and scientific interest in the phenomenon
- Standardized military reporting procedures for UAP encounters