In the U.S. Congress, an unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) in which the MQ-9 (Reaper), a U.S. unmanned reconnaissance and attack drone, kept flying even after being hit by a Hellfire missile was made public. This is footage that had not been released before.
Eric Burlison, a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives (Missouri), on the 9th (local time) released a 50-second video at the House Subcommittee on Government Operations. This aerial phenomenon, once called an unidentified flying object (UFO) or unidentified aerial phenomena, is now called an unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP).
The footage was filmed near the coast of Yemen on Oct. 30, 2024, and shows an MQ-9 drone tracking a bright white spherical unidentified object before firing an AGM-114 Hellfire missile (an anti-tank and multi-purpose air-to-surface missile). The unidentified aerial object hit by the missile continues its flight without deviating from its trajectory, with some fragments falling off.
The video display also shows the phrase "LRD LASE DES." This indicates that one MQ-9 illuminated the target with a laser and another Reaper drone attacked with a laser-guided Hellfire missile. This is called "buddy lasing."
Burlison said, "It was provided by a whistleblower and is currently under review," adding, "The question is why we do not have access to this kind of information." George Knapp, a journalist specializing in UAP investigations who appeared as a witness, also said, "Even after a direct hit from a Hellfire missile, the object appeared to ricochet," and emphasized, "The public has a right to see this kind of footage."
The U.S. Department of Defense avoided official confirmation, saying, "We have nothing to share." Experts said it is difficult to determine whether the object is spherical or cylindrical due to limitations such as drone sensor video resolution. However, this is the first time it has been confirmed with official footage that a U.S. military drone engaged an unidentified flying object during an actual operation.
In 2022, the U.S. Department of Defense launched the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), which integrated existing UAP investigative units, and has been collecting and analyzing anomalous phenomena occurring across all domains—air, maritime, and space—over the past several decades.
However, ARRO has issued an annual report stating that "as of now, there is no circumstantial or technical evidence of extraterrestrial life." The latest footage is fueling calls for transparency on UAP alongside allegations of government cover-ups.