View the MUFON Analysis video on YouTube at:
https://youtu.be/PAKeje-LuKQ
On September 9, 2025, the most recent UAP congressional hearing on Capitol Hill featured four firsthand witnesses, investigative journalist George Knapp, and a newly declassified video. For purposes of discussion, this video has been informally titled “The Hellfire UAP Strike.” The
symbol appearing on the video itself—LRD LASE DES— this is a normal Hellfire target acronym. This was the sixth in a series of congressional hearings on UAPs. Previous hearings—supported by videos, testimonies from military personnel, and intelligence whistleblowers—were intended to foster transparency, accountability, and public education on the UAP topic. All videos shown publicly had to be declassified beforehand, a process managed by the former Department of War (DOW) formerly the (DOD). Within the DOW, the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) holds the authority to declassify analyzed UAP data. AARO declassified and released the Hellfire UAP Strike video for public viewing.
Context of UAP Video Releases
The public release of UAP footage has coincided with congressional hearings dating back to 2017. In December of that year, The New York Times played a pivotal role in publicizing the “Tic Tac,” “Gimbal,” and “Go-Fast” videos, with support from To the Stars Academy of Arts and
Science (TTSA). This raised enduring questions: Did the DOW strategically use media outlets and TTSA to promote disclosure—or were the videos leaked without the department’s full knowledge?
Key examples of UAP-related video evidence include: Tic Tac (2004) – Declassified in 2017; widely discussed during the 2022 House Intelligence Committee and 2023 House Oversight Committee hearings.
Gimbal (2015) and Go-Fast (2015) – Both declassified and released in 2017.
Pyramid-shaped UAP (2022) – Shown in closed sessions; not declassified.
Hellfire UAP Strike (2024) – Declassified and released in September 2025; reportedly filmed off the coast of Yemen on October 30, 2024.
Expert Reactions to the Hellfire UAP Strike Video
Members of the MUFON Photo Analysis Team, including Marc Dantonio, Dennis Freyermuth, and Greg Cisko, have offered preliminary assessments.
Marc Dantonio highlighted three major observations:
1. The object appeared to be struck by a missile without triggering an explosion—suggesting a “soft” target.
2. The object fragmented into several smaller pieces that began to fall.
3. The apparent speed of the object could not be determined without knowing the aircraft’s velocity.
Dantonio theorized that the target could have been a balloon rather than a UAP. According to him, the missile’s pass-through without detonation, the breakup pattern, and the background-motion illusion caused by the aircraft’s speed all support this interpretation.
Dennis Freyermuth expressed skepticism about the video’s authenticity, noting that it appears cropped and edited. He raised the possibility of a classified military test or a deliberate misdirection. Freyermuth also speculated that the missile might be the AGM-114 R9X “Ninja”
variant, which deploys blades instead of explosives for precision strikes.
Greg Cisko produced two YouTube analyses of the event. His frame-by-frame review concluded that the missile hit the object, which then released three secondary objects. Cisko also noted an apparent “energy surge” in the UAP as it rotated to face the incoming missile—behavior
reminiscent of Cmdr. David Fravor’s 2004 “Tic Tac” encounter, where the object reportedly mirrored his aircraft’s movements. Cisko referenced reports of distressed UAPs ejecting pods, including parallels drawn to Roswell.
Technical Background
The tracking drone was reportedly an MQ-9 Reaper, widely used for surveillance, reconnaissance, and precision strikes. With a wingspan of 66 feet, a top speed of 300 mph, and an operational ceiling of 50,000 feet, it can carry Hellfire missiles. Because of the Reaper’s speed limit, the object it was tracking was likely moving below 300 mph—far slower than what is typically considered a UAP “observable” (no abrupt maneuvers, trans-medium travel, or extreme acceleration other accepted observables were evident). Some have speculated the orb had impact-resistant coatings or continued its flight after the missile strike, but these claims remain unverified. The video released by AARO ends before any follow-up footage is shown, preventing full analysis.
Balloon Hypothesis
Research into high-altitude balloons reveals that many can reach speeds between 60–125 mph, depending on altitude and wind layers. Advanced balloons can exploit wind currents to adjust speed and direction. NASA’s experimental “rockoon” (rocket-balloon hybrid) systems also
exist. These balloons are used in military experiments. The orb in the Hellfire video resembles a balloon in shape and behavior. After impact, the primary object appears deflated. Wind drag, tethering, or structural tilts could explain its movements. This supports Marc Dantonio’s balloon theory.
Competing Theories
Balloon Hypothesis (D’Antonio): The orb was likely a balloon, making the missile strike a misallocation of resources.
Classified Military Test (Freyermuth): The event may have been a covert field test or military training exercise released under the guise of a UAP.
Hybrid Theory: Combining both arguments suggests the Hellfire video might depict a rockoon military training event rather than a genuine UAP encounter.
UAP Theory (Cisko): As with the well-documented 2004 Nimitz encounter, where Commander David Fravor witnessed a Tic Tac UAP align itself with his aircraft. This UAP theory then suggests a historical precedent for entity retrieval, referencing accounts
from the Roswell incident where three pods containing occupants were allegedly ejected from a UAP following a targeted attack.
Conclusion: A Call for Transparency
The released Hellfire UAP Strike video is cropped, edited, and unverifiable. Its narrative relies heavily on anecdotal interpretation, and without the complete, unaltered footage, analysts cannot confirm its authenticity. AARO’s release fails to meet the standards of genuine disclosure.
Until the original, unaltered video is released for independent analysis by groups like MUFON, the public is left with speculation rather than evidence. As it stands, the Hellfire UAP Strike video represents a “nothing burger”—a heavily mediated artifact presented as disclosure but
offering no verifiable proof of non-terrestrial technology.
Most importantly, this video analysis and assessment deals with a controversial subject. The conclusion presented here is not the only possible interpretation; however, it is based on available supporting facts and evidence revealed with this declassified release. The assessments
and conclusion reported are subject to an update should future evidence suggest such a change.”
Cisko stacked image of object and debris after hellfire impact. He suspects the objects may be cubes or cubes in orbs.
