USS Stout: FOIA release reveals 2020 UAS encounter
The Black Vault published classified documentation regarding a 2020 naval drone encounter through Freedom of Information Act requests. Pentagon review processes had significantly delayed the release of encounter slides and photographic materials.
Background
On March 2, 2022, The Black Vault disclosed previously classified records detailing a January 2020 encounter between the USS Stout and an unidentified unmanned system. The release materialized through persistent Freedom of Information Act requests submitted over multiple years, combined with administrative appeals. Defense Department protocols required comprehensive Pentagon review of all UAP-related materials prior to public dissemination, contributing to substantial processing delays. The disclosed cache included operational slides analyzing the encounter alongside photographic evidence captured by naval personnel. This transparency initiative exposed documentation practices regarding unidentified aerial phenomena within naval operations. The publication highlighted ongoing bureaucratic challenges surrounding military UAP disclosure procedures.