US takes 'vital' next step in UFO investigation

The Pentagon has announced a new overarching department to coordinate the search for answers on UFOs.

It's an expansion of the original office that was announced late last year.

The new All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) will function as the nerve centre for various different departmental investigations into UFOS - or UAPs (unidentified aerial phenomena) to give them their preferred official designation.

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AARO will collect and analyse reports from the US Army, Navy and Air Force in its role.

"The mission of the AARO will be to synchronise efforts across the Department of Defence, and with other US federal departments and agencies, to detect, identify and attribute objects of interest in, on or near military installations, operating areas, training areas, special use airspace and other areas of interest, and, as necessary, to mitigate any associated threats to safety of operations and national security," the Pentagon said in a statement.

"This includes anomalous, unidentified space, airborne, submerged and transmedium objects."

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A transmedium object is one that can travel on land, through the air, or on or underwater with equal ease.

US Under-Secretary of Defence for Intelligence and Security Ronald Moultrie said in a published memo that the establishment of AARO would be an important step forward for the US.

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"It is vital to our national security and the safety of our military personnel that we maintain awareness of anomalous objects in all domains," he said.

"We must also keep pace with the development and employment of novel technology by our adversaries.

"In doing so, we are committed to providing maximum transparency while safeguarding classified information and controlled unclassified information."