Unidentified aerospace-undersea phenomena (UAP) status and outlook
Max F. Platzer
Progress in Aerospace Sciences, Vol. 156
Summary
An overview and situational assessment of UAP research by Max F. Platzer, emeritus professor of aeronautics at the Naval Postgraduate School. Surveys the current state of government disclosure, scientific engagement, and outstanding technical questions, situating UAP investigation within the mainstream aerospace science tradition. Published in the landmark June 2025 Progress in Aerospace Sciences special issue alongside `knuth-2025-new-science-uap` and `vallee-dini-2025-radiative-energy`. Part of a paired contribution with `platzer-2025-rigorous-research` — this paper provides the status overview while the companion makes the methodological argument for why the field must engage.
Abstract
This paper provides an overview of the current status of research on unidentified aerospace-undersea phenomena (UAP) and an outlook for future scientific work. We survey the trajectory of government UAP disclosure efforts from the 2017 release of Navy sensor footage through the 2024 congressional hearings, situate ongoing UAP reports within the history of aerospace science, and identify the key open technical questions that remain unresolved. We argue that mainstream aerospace science can no longer defer engagement with the UAP question and outline the categories of measurement, analysis, and institutional response that would constitute a rigorous scientific program. Published as part of the Progress in Aerospace Sciences special issue on UAP.
Citation
Max F. Platzer. (2025). Progress in Aerospace Sciences. Vol. 156. DOI: 10.1016/j.paerosci.2025.101095
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