Overview
In 2015, U.S. Navy aviators operating from the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt recorded two infrared videos, later known as GIMBAL and GOFAST, during training operations off the eastern coast of the United States. Along with the earlier FLIR1 (Tic Tac) video from 2004, these recordings became some of the most widely analysed military UAP footage ever released.
Although the videos remained classified for several years, they entered the public domain in 2017 and were officially authenticated and released by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in 2020. The Department confirmed that the footage had been recorded by U.S. Navy aircraft and that the objects depicted remained unidentified.
The recordings became central to renewed public, scientific and governmental interest in UAPs.
Background
The videos were recorded during the period of repeated East Coast Naval Encounters (2014-2016), when Navy pilots reported frequent observations of unidentified objects within military training areas.
The aircraft involved were equipped with the AN/ASQ-228 Advanced Targeting Forward-Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) pod, an advanced electro-optical targeting system capable of detecting and tracking airborne objects using infrared imaging.
The videos captured sensor data rather than conventional visual imagery and include cockpit displays showing aircraft heading, targeting information and pilot communications.
The GIMBAL Video
The GIMBAL video was recorded on 21 January 2015.
It shows an infrared image of an unidentified object appearing to travel above cloud level while being tracked by the targeting system of an F/A-18 Super Hornet.
During the recording, Navy aircrew can be heard expressing surprise at the object's apparent behaviour. One pilot remarks on what appears to be a group of objects operating together.
The video is particularly well known because the object appears to rotate while maintaining forward movement.
Several explanations have been proposed for this apparent rotation, including the possibility that it resulted from the optics and mechanics of the ATFLIR targeting pod rather than the motion of the object itself. This interpretation remains the subject of ongoing technical discussion.
The GOFAST Video
The GOFAST video was recorded shortly afterwards during another training mission.
It depicts an infrared target moving at low altitude above the ocean while being tracked by an F/A-18.
Cockpit audio records pilots discussing the object's speed and attempting to estimate its movement relative to the sea surface.
Subsequent analyses have suggested that, when factors such as viewing angle and aircraft motion are considered, the object may have been travelling more slowly than initially perceived.
Nevertheless, the Department of Defense has continued to classify the object as unidentified, as the available data do not conclusively establish its identity.
Official Release
In 2017, the videos were published by To The Stars Academy of Arts and Science and featured in reporting by The New York Times, which also revealed the existence of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP).
After several years of public discussion, the Department of Defense officially released the videos on 27 April 2020, stating that:
- The recordings were authentic U.S. Navy footage.
- The objects shown had not been formally identified.
- The release was intended to dispel misconceptions regarding the authenticity of the videos.
The Department did not conclude that the objects represented extraterrestrial technology or any specific type of aircraft.
Historical Significance
The GIMBAL and GOFAST videos became defining pieces of evidence in the modern era of UAP investigation.
Their significance includes:
- Official authentication by the U.S. Department of Defense.
- Recording using advanced military sensor systems.
- Association with repeated military pilot reports.
- Renewed public and congressional interest in UAPs.
- Influence on the establishment of later investigative bodies, including the UAP Task Force (UAPTF) and All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO).
The videos also prompted extensive scientific and technical analysis regarding infrared imaging, aircraft targeting systems and the interpretation of military sensor data.
Today, GIMBAL and GOFAST remain among the most studied UAP recordings in the public domain and continue to feature prominently in discussions of military aviation safety and national security.