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Why has the term UAP been used instead of UFO?

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Declassified U.S. military video of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) — unidentified flying object Learn about an unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) sighting from this video (known as the Gimbal video) captured by fighter pilots associated with the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group. The video shows instrument detections of unknown aerial objects, which the pilots were unable to identify, off the East Coast of the United States, 2014–15.

The term UAP (unidentified aerial or anomalous phenomena) is increasingly used by government officials and scientists as a replacement for the term UFO (unidentified flying object) to move away from the cultural stigma and assumptions associated with the latter.1

While "UFO" is technically a neutral description, it has become what language observers call "skunked," meaning it has lost its clarity of meaning due to strong, persistent associations with extraterrestrial life, alien spacecraft, and "little green men". By adopting "UAP," researchers aim to foster a more objective, flexible framework for scientific inquiry that is not constrained by these preconceived notions.12

Furthermore, the shift to "unidentified anomalous phenomena" reflects a broader, more inclusive categorization that encompasses a wider range of occurrences beyond just flying objects. This change in terminology is intended to facilitate more serious, transparent, and rigorous investigation into mysterious phenomena observed in the sky.12