A US congressional panel will next week hear testimony on “unidentified aerial phenomena” from two Pentagon officials in the first such hearing in more than 50 years.
The Pentagon in 2020 created the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF) to investigate a series of reports from pilots and other personnel of flying objects of unknown origin.
The US military says it is more concerned about aerial phenomena connected with its terrestrial adversaries rather than any alien visitors.
On May 17, the House Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence, and Counterproliferation will hold a hearing, a portion of which will be open to the public.
Committee chairman Andre Carson said it would be the first such hearing in 50 years.
“Americans need to know more about these unexplained occurrences,” the Democratic congressman said on Twitter.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby confirmed reports that two US defence officials would speak at the hearing.
“We're looking forward to the upcoming opportunity here to engage members of Congress on this very important matter,” Mr Kirby told Pentagon reporters on Tuesday.
“We are absolutely committed to being as transparent as we can with the American people and with members of Congress about our perspectives on this.”
The UAPTF was created after a spate of observations by military pilots of unknown aerial objects exhibiting speeds and manoeuvrability that seemingly defied the limits of known technology and the laws of physics.
