For decades, UFOs—or UAPs, as they're now termed—have fascinated enthusiasts and skeptics alike. Veteran aviation journalist Tyler Rogoway offers a grounded theory: these military sightings may be nothing more than commercial drones deployed by rival nations.
UFOs aren't just for Roswell believers. From 2007 to 2012, the U.S. government invested $22 million investigating unexplained aerial phenomena. In April 2020, the Pentagon declassified three videos showing unidentified flying objects.
Countless witnesses, including trained pilots, have reported UFOs. What if the explanation is straightforward? Tyler Rogoway, editor-in-chief of The War Zone at The Drive, explored this in his April 5, 2021, article. Focusing on declassified U.S. military footage, he argues these are commercial drones from rival countries—small enough to evade radar detection.
Rogoway acknowledges adversaries using off-the-shelf drones to probe U.S. training zones seems improbable at first. Yet the U.S. has warned for years about threats from inexpensive commercial drones. As for the objects' unusual shapes and maneuvers? Consumer drones come in diverse designs—beyond typical quadcopters or fixed-wing models—mimicking the observed anomalies.
Cultural bias plays a role too: many Americans yearn for proof of extraterrestrials, overlooking mundane alternatives. Pilots often stay silent post-sighting, wary of career repercussions from misinterpreted reports. While verifying this remains challenging, Rogoway's analysis, grounded in defense expertise, merits serious consideration.
