NORAD disclosed that radar systems averaged 1,800 Tracks of Interest annually from 2011 onward, while withholding detailed information citing national defense concerns.
Background
Official Disclosure
NORAD released statistical data on July 1, 2016 revealing that radar systems had consistently detected approximately 1,800 Tracks of Interest annually throughout the period from 2011 to 2016. This represented a significant acknowledgment of unidentified aerial phenomena detection capabilities.
Information Restrictions
The military organization stated it routinely withholds comprehensive data regarding unknown tracks and Tracks of Interest. Officials justified this classification policy by asserting that releasing specific details could compromise national defense interests and operational security.
Significance
This disclosure provided quantifiable evidence of systematic radar detection of unidentified objects, though the lack of detailed information limited public understanding of the phenomena's nature and characteristics.