Brazil SIOANI: Air Force UFO Investigation System in São Paulo (1969–1972)
In 1969, the Brazilian Air Force established the Sistema de Investigação de Objetos Aéreos Não Identificados (SIOANI) at the 4th Regional Air Command (COMAR) in São Paulo. Its mandate was to catalog current sighting reports, establish contact with UFO research groups and experts, and investigate individual cases. SIOANI operated officially until 1972, after which the Air Force continued to periodically release declassified UFO files covering the period from 1952 to 2000.
In August 2010, the Brazilian Air Force introduced a transparent regulatory framework for recording and handling materials related to unidentified flying objects, publishing the procedures in the official government gazette Diário Oficial da União. In April 2013, a formal cooperation agreement with civilian UFO researchers was reached, further institutionalising Brazil's openness toward the phenomenon.
Background
In 1969, the Brazilian Air Force established SIOANI (Sistema de Investigação de Objetos Aéreos Não Identificados) in São Paulo, a dedicated system for investigating unidentified aerial objects. SIOANI operated from 1969 to 1972, marking the Brazilian military's serious engagement with the UFO phenomenon.
Establishment
SIOANI was created by the Brazilian Air Force in 1969 in São Paulo. It served as a specialized system to investigate UAP reports. This occurred during a period of frequent sightings across South America.
Operation
SIOANI ran from 1969 to 1972. It collected and analyzed UAP reports from military and civilian sources across Brazil. The program reflected serious military interest in the UFO phenomenon.
Significance
SIOANI's work laid the groundwork for later Brazilian military UAP investigations. These include the better-known Operação Prato (1977) in the Amazon region. Brazil has maintained one of the most open governmental approaches to UAP research in the world.
Connections
References
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