Background
On 14 April 2022 I wrote a weblog submit concerning the institution of Australia’s new Defence Area Command, and that the preliminary Commander was Air Vice-Marshal Catherine Roberts. This prompted Melbourne researcher Grant Lavac to submit the next Freedom of Data Act (FOIA) request to the Australian Division of Defence (DOD.)
 |
| Air Vice-Marshal Catherine Roberts |
“I kindly request a duplicate of all emails, despatched to/from | bcc/cc’d Defence Area Commander Air Vice-Marshal Catherine Roberts for the interval 25 June 2021 to fifteen April 2022 (inclusive), that include any of the next key phrases: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena; UAP; Unidentified Flying Object; UFO; Unidentified Flying Objects; UFOs;, Unauthorised Plane Motion; UAM; Unauthorised Plane Actions; UAMs; Uncommon Aerial Sighting, Unidentified Phenomena.”
DOD response
The DOD assigned the request as FOIA 459/21/22, after which responded on 7 June 2022, releasing 14 pages of paperwork. These had been:
1. An e-mail from [redacted] to Roberts, Catherine, AVM, cc’d [redacted]; dated Friday 11 February 2022, Topic Senate Estimates Briefs. Textual content “As mentioned please discover official Senate Estimates Briefs.” It mentions there are two briefs.
Feedback: On the 27 October 2021, Senate Estimates Committee hearings, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson addressed quite a lot of questions relating to UAP to then Chief of Air Mel Hupfield. My weblog article dated 28 October 2021 offered a transcript of those discussions. Grant Lavac positioned two written DOD responses to follow-up questions from Senator Whish-Wilson. Copies could also be learn right here and right here. They had been dated 1 February 2022 and 6 December 2021, respectively. Thus this e-mail to Air Vice-Marshal Roberts attaching Senate Estimate Briefs ought to be seen as prepping Roberts for any additional questions on UAP.
2. A web page headed “Area Area and Coverage. CAF Transient. Questions on Discover. Estimates QoNs.” There are two broad subjects referenced, particularly UAP on the 27 October 2021 Estimates Listening to; and Area Coverage at a 1 June 2021 listening to.
3. A doc headed “Unidentified Aerial Phenomena. CAF Transient.” There isn’t a indication as to who ready the briefing doc.
The contents listed are – Notes; Key Messages; Strategic Narrative; Speaking Factors; How are UAP reported to Defence?; As an ally, have the US supplied to or requested to collaborate on UAP investigations? With the US calling UAP a possible risk to nationwide safety, ought to Australia be involved too; Timeline of Vital Occasions/Choices; Related Media Protection; Related Media Enquires; Related Ministerial Feedback; Questions on Discover; Estimates QoNs; Different QoNs; Freedom of Data; Contact and Clearance officers.
Notes
Space is clean (not redacted).
Key Messages
“* Defence doesn’t have a coverage governing the reporting or recording of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) by both members of the general public or Defence members
* The Royal Australian Air Power (RAAF) ceased the dealing with of experiences of UAP in 1996 after figuring out there was no scientific or different compelling motive to proceed to commit assets to the recording and investigation of UAP
* Defence security of flight incidents, together with these doubtlessly posed by UAP are dealt with by the Defence Aviation Security Authority (DASA), with civilian security of flight incidents the purview of the Civil Aviation Security Authority (CASA).”
Feedback: Level 1 has been the constant response from the DOD to all my enquiries, and people by the media, eg. the ABC. Level 2 is certainly the explanation given by the RAAF for cessation of UAP investigations. All their Base UAP recordsdata had been bundled up, and despatched to the Nationwide Archives of Australia, the place, in the present day, they’re obtainable for public viewing.
On level 3, I do not assume I’ve ever seen an announcement earlier than, that potential UAP flight security incidents might flip up in DASA data. As far again as 2017, Melbourne researcher Paul Dean referenced DASA’s predecessor, in an article about UAP. In March 2022 Grant Lavac submitted an FOIA request, assigned quantity 443/21/22 by the DOD. He requested for all DASA experiences, between 2017 and 31 March 2022, which referenced UAP or numerous different related key phrases. There was a “Nil responsive paperwork” reply, from the DOD, dated 2 Could 2022.
Strategic Narrative
“UAP are prone to be certainly one of three issues:
* natual or different benign phenomena
* anomalies with sensors, or
* (human-made) applied sciences
UAP may very well be different nations techniques, both up to date or superior. Data relating to the gathering and investigation of those techniques is the remit of the Intelligence Group and is assessed.”
Remark: I do not perceive the assertion “pure or different benign phenomena.” Sure, “pure” however what does “benign phenomena” imply on this context?
Background
“On 25 June 2021, the US Workplace of the Director of Nationwide Intelligence (ODNI) launched a Preliminary Evaluation: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (the Report) to supply an intelligence evaluation of the risk posed by UAP and the progress the US Division of Protection Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Job Power (UAPTF) has made in understanding this risk.
* The Report doesn’t draw conclusions on what UAP are and most stay unexplained, primarily attributable to lack of knowledge
* The Report finds no proof that UAP are extra-terrestrial in origin
* The Report did attain the next conclusions:
** In a restricted variety of incidents, UAP reportedly appeared to exhibit uncommon flight traits. These observations may very well be the results of sensor errors, spoofing or observer misperception and require further rigorous analyses
** There are in all probability a number of kinds of UAP requiring completely different explanations based mostly on the vary of appearances and behaviours described within the obtainable reporting
** UAP clearly pose a security of flight subject and will pose a problem to U.S. nationwide safety. UAP would additionally symbolize a nationwide safety problem if they’re overseas adversary assortment platforms or present proof a possible adversary has developed both a breakthrough or disruptive expertise
** On 23 November 2021, the US Director of Nationwide Intelligence directed the institution of the Airborne Object Identification and Administration Synchronisation Group to coordinate reporting throughout US Division of Defence and different US businesses with the gaol to minimise flight security and nationwide safety considerations
* Defence has no plans to copy the same mechanism. DASA and CASA already serve this perform throughout flight questions of safety and equipment exist for considerations relating to nationwide safety
* Traditionally the RAAF was chargeable for dealing with UAP experiences, nonetheless that ceased in 1996. If civilians want to report UAP they need to contact their native police authorities, or get involved with civil UAP analysis organisations
* The Defence Instruction was cancelled in November 2000 and never changed
* UAP may be known as Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO) or Uncommon Aerial Sightings (UAS). UAP is the up to date time period for such phenomena.”
Feedback: Lastly, somebody within the DOD, has had to do a little analysis on the subject to supply this briefing paper to Air Vice-Marshal Roberts. It is a honest abstract of the ODNI report and RAAF involvement. Naturally, there isn’t a indepth evaluate of the fabric, which the RAAF collected between 1951 and 1996; by which, areas of the DOD itself stated there was sufficient proof to require an indepth research, by some authorities company, such because the then Division of Provide.
There in all probability is no-one within the DOD who has reviewed their very own UAP associated recordsdata, which at the moment are within the Nationwide Archives of Australia. This does elevate an attention-grabbing query as to how does somebody in DOD is aware of the RAAF curiosity ceased in 1996 and the Standing Instruction was cancelled in 2000, if all their recordsdata are within the NAA? It will seem that some new recording system, eg an digital file has been created to retailer this information. One other matter for an FOIA request?
Speaking factors
“How are UAP reported to Defence?
* Defence doesn’t have a coverage for reporting or recording UAP
* Traditionally, the RAAF was chargeable for dealing with UAP experiences on behalf of Defence, nonetheless that ceased in 1996 after figuring out there was no scientific or different compelling motive to proceed to commit useful resource to the recording and investigation of UAP
* Defence security of flight incidents, together with these potentailly posed by UAP are dealt with by the Defence Aviation Security Authority (DASA), with civilian security of flight incidents the purview of the Civil Aviation Security Authority (CASA).
As an ally, have the US supplied to or requested to collaborate on UAP investigations?
* No, the US nor another nation or ally have requested or supplied to collaborate on UAP reporting or investigation
* Defence has no need to hunt collaboration on this subject.”
Remark: This final part solutions a query I had, as as to whether or not, the US had approached Australia to hunt data or provide collaboration on UAP investigations.
With the US calling UAP a possible risk to nationwide safety, ought to Australia be involved too?
* UAP are prone to be certainly one of three issues, pure or different benign phenomena, anomalies with sensors or (human-made) applied sciences. Data on the human-made applied sciences is assessed and the remit of the Intelligence Group
* Countering capabilities spanning the maritime, land, air, cyber and house domains that would threaten our nationwide safety is a core enterprise of the Australian Defence Power (ADF), any risk to nationwide safety is a priority but in addition a precedence for Defence.”
Remark: Wanting on the businesses which make up the Australian Nationwide Intelligence Group, the one more than likely to be concerned in any assortment and evaluation of “human-made applied sciences ” per UAP; is The Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO.) Its function is because the Division of Defence’s all-source intelligence evaluation company on international locations and overseas organisations, army capabilities, weapon techniques, and defence-related applied sciences. So, if, for instance, some UAP are overseas adversary drones, then the DIO would have an interest. It will due to this fact seem cheap to counsel, that if any portion of the whole Division of Defence had been to take an curiosity in UAP, the DIO could be it. I’ve talked about earlier than that I believe that some analyst within the DIO has a watching transient on the UAP matter.
“Are UAP a threat to flight security?
* Flight security is a excessive precedence for ADF aviation. Any dangers to flight security are thought-about critical, however Defence shouldn’t be conscious of UAP being the reason for an aviation security incident or featured prominently in a security investigation.”
Remark: On the final level re flight security, I doubt that ADF aviation has learn any of the obtainable NARCAP knowledge, or regarded into incidents such because the near-miss between a passenger plane and an “unknown” object close to Perth on 19 March 2014 as reported to the Australian Transport Security Bureau?
“Are these prone to be extra-terrestrial in origin?
* There isn’t a proof to counsel that UAP could be extra-terrestrial in origin.”
Timeline of great occasions/selections
This lists three occasions:
* 25 June 2021 – Launch of ODNI report
*13 November 2000 – DI(G) ADMIN 55-1 outlining ADF coverage cancelled
* 27 August 1996 – DI(G) 55-1 amended.
Related Media Protection:
This lists the next media experiences. 10 Nov 2021 The Solar; 9 Nov 2021 GQ UK; 29 Oct 2021 The Australian; 28 Oct 2021 ABC Information; 25 Oct 2021 Remo Information.
Related media inquiries:
Nil.
Related Ministerial feedback:
Nil.
Questions on discover:
Whish-Wilson 27 October 2021 Senate Estimates.
Different QoN:
Nil.
Freedom of Data:
Nil.
Contact and Clearance Workplaces:
Clearing Officer AVM Catherine Roberts.
Session:
Mr Colin McKenna, Assistant Secretary Strategic Capabilities Coverage Improvement.
Brig. Warren Gould, Director Basic Methods and Integration – Military.
Mr Rod Smith, STaR Shot Chief – Resiliant Multi Mission Area , Defence Science and Expertise Group.
Remark: A search of the each day summaries of the Australian Senate Funds Estimates 2022-2023, for the Senate International Affairs, Defence and Commerce Laws Committee, for hearings held on 1, 6 and seven April 2022, did not find any point out of UAP. A search of the Hansard transcripts for these three days additionally did not find any point out of, or questions on, UAP. It will due to this fact seem, that the DOD transient was not used, as apparently no parliamentary questions had been requested about UAP.
Remainder of paperwork
4. The remainder of the paperwork launched, take care of the Area Coverage transient.
In abstract
The Australian DOD has little interest in UAP. There are present processes for any considerations re air security or adversarial expertise.
Acknowledgement:
