The U.S. Department of Defense released a fourth batch of declassified files on unidentified anomalous phenomena on Friday [1].

This release continues a government effort to increase transparency regarding sightings of objects that military personnel cannot identify. While the Pentagon is sharing these records, officials said the material does not confirm the existence of extraterrestrial activity [1, 2].

The new disclosure consists of 40 files [3], which include 19 videos [3]. These records cover a wide chronological span from 1948 to 2026 [4]. According to the released data, about half of the files are dated from 2010 or later [5].

One of the most notable pieces of evidence in the batch is infrared video captured by a U.S. military camera [1]. The footage shows a star-shaped object moving over the Yellow Sea [1, 2]. The Pentagon said the release of such footage is intended to provide the public with a clearer understanding of the phenomena the military tracks.

The Department of Defense has faced increasing pressure from lawmakers and the public to be more open about UAPs. By releasing these documents, the military aims to standardize how such encounters are reported and analyzed, though many of the objects remain unexplained.

Officials said that the variety of shapes and flight patterns seen in the videos, including the star-shaped object, represents a range of anomalies that do not fit known aircraft profiles. Despite the unusual nature of the imagery, the Pentagon said that no evidence of non-human intelligence was found within this specific set of records [1, 2].

“The material does not confirm extraterrestrial activity”

The continued release of UAP data suggests the Pentagon is shifting toward a policy of gradual transparency to manage public expectation and curiosity. By framing these releases as transparency measures while simultaneously denying extraterrestrial origins, the Department of Defense attempts to satisfy congressional demands for disclosure without validating speculative theories about alien technology.