Mr L.
From UFO to UAP: What Changes, What Does Not
By Grufon Team
16/01/2026 - 7 minutes read
The confusion is not about the phenomenon itself, but about how it is named. ≠
In recent years, the term UAP (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) has begun to replace the historically established term UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) in official documents, military reports, and scientific discussions¹. This shift has generated intense debate, as it is often presented as a substantive scientific transformation rather than a change in framework and terminology. The confusion is further compounded by the fact that the two terms are frequently used interchangeably without clear definition, creating the impression that they refer to different phenomena².
Is this a scientific advancement or a communicative reframing? The answer is not straightforward.
UFO ⊙
The term UFO emerged in the 1950s and describes any flying object that cannot be identified at the moment of observation. As a definition, it remains entirely accurate and purely descriptive. It does not imply extraterrestrial origin, nor does it prescribe any specific interpretation³.
However, over the decades, the term UFO became heavily burdened by popular culture, science fiction narratives, and both social and academic stigma.
As a result, serious research was discouraged, and scientists increasingly avoided the public use of the term not because of its inaccuracy, but because of its perception.
UAP ◇
The term UAP was introduced to encompass a broader range of phenomena. It is not limited to flying objects, but includes aerial anomalies, undersea phenomena, space-based or atmospheric observations, as well as phenomena detected by sensors without visual confirmation⁴ (for example, within the framework of international observation programs or flight safety reports).
The use of the word phenomena shifts the discussion from “what it is” to “what is observed,” placing emphasis on data and measurements.
This makes the term compatible with scientific methodology and less vulnerable to ridicule.
The same unknown, different terminology ≡
In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has incorporated UAP reports into its flight safety procedures, treating them as potential aeronautical hazard issues, comparable to other unexpected phenomena within controlled airspace⁵. At the same time, the Department of Defense has established the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), which collects, analyzes, and publishes annual reports based on data from both military and civilian sensors⁶.
At the scientific level, NASA has convened an independent scientific study team on UAP, explicitly clarifying that the term refers to insufficiently explained observations rather than evidence of any specific origin⁷. This approach aligns with the fundamental principles of the scientific method: observation, data collection, evaluation, and reproducibility⁷.
Despite the different terminology, UFO and UAP describe the same fundamental problem—that is, observations that cannot be explained with the currently available knowledge and existing data⁸.
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UFO is a term of historical observation.
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UAP is a term of contemporary management.
The replacement of one term with the other does not negate the phenomenon; rather, it reveals how institutions attempt to incorporate it into an acceptable research framework.
Official Position of ERENZO on the Terms UAP & UFO ≠↩︎
ERENZO acknowledges that the term UAP has been adopted in recent years at both institutional and research levels, not because the historical term UFO was scientifically incorrect, but because it came to be regarded as communicatively and socially burdened.
Both terms are descriptively accurate and scientifically legitimate, provided they are used with clarity and proper documentation. The term UFO retains its historical and conceptual value, while the term UAP expands the field of reference to phenomena recorded across multiple environments and through contemporary technological means.
ERENZO maintains that the core of the issue does not lie in nomenclature, but in the need for scientific research free from stigma, prejudice, and fear. The study of unknown or insufficiently understood phenomena constitutes a fundamental element of scientific progress and cannot be constrained by social or communicative conventions.
The real challenge for the scientific community and for institutions is whether they will choose to address the phenomenon with an open mind, methodological rigor, and institutional seriousness, allowing the free investigation of all data that have not yet been adequately interpreted.
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NASA, NASA Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena - https://science.nasa.gov/uap
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UAP Coalition Nederland - https://uapcoalitienederland.nl/en/the-difference-between-ufos-and-uap/
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Wikipedia: Unidentified flying object – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unidentified_flying_object
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NASA Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena FAQ – https://science.nasa.gov/uap/faqs/
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Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Reporting & handling of Unidentified / Anomalous Phenomena -
https://www.faa.gov -
U.S. Department of Defense – All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) Annual Reports on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena - https://www.aaro.mil
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NASA – Independent Study Team (2024) - https://www.nasa.gov/general/nasa-announces-unidentified-aerial-phenomena-study-team-members/
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Kevin H. Knuth et al. (2025), The New Science of Unidentified Aerospace Undersea Phenomena (UAP) - https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.06794
https://www.aaro.mil/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://arxiv.org/abs/2208.11215?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.00125?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COMETA_report?utm_source=chatgpt.com
