IFEX / Prof. Hakan Kayal (Universität Würzburg)

Interdisciplinary Research Center for Extraterrestrial Studies at JMU Würzburg. The world's first university-based UAP research center. SONATE-2 nanosatellite, AllSkyCAM on the Zugspitze, cooperation with Germany's Federal Aviation Office for UAP reporting.

Hakan Kayal is a German remote sensing expert who serves as Professor of Space Technology at the University of Würzburg and as Head of the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Extraterrestrial Studies (IFEX), which he has directed since at least 2008. Specializing in the scientific investigation of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), Kayal focuses particularly on developing advanced sensor systems. He has developed sensor systems that achieve a 95 percent reduction in false positive detections and has led multiple UAP research projects, including RTSP-Observation, SONATE-2, and SkyCAM-5. Additionally, he has contributed to peer-reviewed research on UAP detection via nano-satellites.

Kayal has also established significant institutional and collaborative frameworks for UAP research. In 2024, he collaborated with the German Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA) to establish a UAP reporting form for pilots, subsequently expanding the reporting system to include database integration and multimedia uploads. He has participated in international workshops on UAP investigation methodology and promoted interdisciplinary cooperation with institutions including the Max Planck Society and German Aerospace Centre (DLR).