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Real UFO & UAP Images from U.S. Government Archives

Every image on this page is a genuine U.S. government record released into the public domain — no recreations or placeholders. They come from two sources: the Department of War's 2026 declassification release and the U.S. Air Force UFO photograph collection held by the National Archives.

Declassified UAP Imagery — Department of War (2026)

In May 2026 the U.S. Department of War published a batch of declassified Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) records as part of the PURSUE transparency initiative, releasing the material into the public domain. The sensor captures below are drawn from that release. Redactions and crosshairs are part of the original government imagery.

Declassified sensor image of four UAP in formation with trails and a targeting crosshair, recorded over Iran on 26 August 2022
Formation over Iran (2022)Four objects in formation with trails, captured on a targeting sensor; portions redacted.Credit: U.S. Department of War (PURSUE release)
Declassified targeting-sensor view from a USAF Air National Guard F-16C with a crosshair locked on a UAP
F-16C Sensor LockA USAF Air National Guard F-16C targeting sensor centered on an unidentified object; portions redacted.Credit: U.S. Department of War (PURSUE release)
Declassified sensor image of a UAP over water off the U.S. East Coast in December 2019, marked with a crosshair
East Coast Encounter (2019)An object tracked over open water off the U.S. East Coast; portions redacted.Credit: U.S. Department of War (PURSUE release)
Declassified infrared sensor frame showing a high-contrast object near the center of the field of view
Infrared Capture IA screenshot from infrared sensor footage, with a prominent contrast signature near center frame.Credit: U.S. Department of War (PURSUE release)
Declassified infrared sensor frame showing several areas of contrast near the lower-left of the frame
Infrared Capture IIInfrared sensor footage showing several contrast signatures toward the lower-left of the frame.Credit: U.S. Department of War (PURSUE release)
Declassified enhanced imagery of an unidentified object reported from a PANTEX facility radar tower
PANTEX Facility ImageryEnhanced imagery accompanying an unidentified-object report from a PANTEX facility radar tower.Credit: U.S. Department of Energy (PURSUE release)

Historical USAF Photographs — National Archives

These photographs come from the U.S. Air Force collection "Black-and-White Photographs of U.S. Air Force Activities" (Record Group 342-B) held by the National Archives, filed under "AIRCRAFT — UFO." They date to the Project Blue Book / Condon Committee era of official UFO investigation and are catalogued as unrestricted public records.

Black-and-white U.S. Air Force photograph catalogued as an Unidentified Flying Object
Unidentified Flying ObjectUSAF photograph 342-B-01-103-1-681, filed under UFO.Credit: U.S. National Archives (RG 342-B)
Black-and-white U.S. Air Force photograph catalogued as an Unidentified Flying Object
Unidentified Flying ObjectUSAF photograph 342-B-01-103-1-716, filed under UFO.Credit: U.S. National Archives (RG 342-B)
Black-and-white photograph from the scientific study of UFOs, Fort Belvoir
Fort Belvoir StudyFrom the "Scientific Study of UFOs," Fort Belvoir.Credit: U.S. National Archives (RG 342-B)
Black-and-white photograph from the scientific study of unidentified flying objects
Scientific Study of UFOsFrom the USAF "Scientific Study of UFOs" series.Credit: U.S. National Archives (RG 342-B)
Black-and-white photograph from the scientific study of unidentified flying objects
Scientific Study of UFOsFrom the USAF "Scientific Study of UFOs" series.Credit: U.S. National Archives (RG 342-B)

Sources & licensing

All images are U.S. federal government works and are in the public domain (17 U.S.C. § 105). Modern UAP imagery: U.S. Department of War — PURSUE release. Historical photographs: U.S. National Archives — Record Group 342-B. Only records marked unrestricted were used.

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