After a February 19 directive by the President ordering the release of “government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects,” the Department of War launched the PURSUE archive at war.gov/UFO on May 8 with an initial tranche of 162 files. On May 22, the government published a second major release, adding 222 newly declassified files to the archive.

The new tranche includes military videos, infrared footage, radar analysis, intelligence reports, witness interviews, and historical records spanning from the late 1940s through modern military operations. The release is part of the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE), a joint effort involving the White House, Pentagon, ODNI, NASA, FBI, and Department of Energy.

What makes the second drop notable is its focus on operational encounters and Cold War-era investigations. According to the Department of War, the files include more than 50 newly released military videos showing unexplained aerial objects over Iraq, Syria, Iran, the Arabian Gulf, the Pacific, and North America. One of the most discussed additions is a 116-page Sandia report documenting 209 sightings of green fireballs and disc-shaped objects near sensitive nuclear facilities in New Mexico between 1948 and 1950.

The release also includes infrared footage tied to the 2023 Lake Huron shootdown, pilot and intelligence officer testimony describing orange orbs and triangular craft, and expanded Apollo-era NASA audio discussing unexplained “bogeys” and streaks of light observed in space. Additional historical files contain diplomatic cables, military analyses, and intelligence summaries documenting unexplained sightings across Europe, Central Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific.

The Department of War says more tranches will be released on a rolling basis through the PURSUE archive, while reiterating that none of the released material constitutes verified evidence of extraterrestrial life.