Organisations

Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP)

A classified US Department of Defense programme, managed by the Defense Intelligence Agency, that investigated advanced aerospace technologies and unidentified anomalous phenomena between 2009 and 2012.

government military intelligence agency

2012 · 2009 · Defense Intelligence Agency, USA · Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)

The Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP) was a classified US Department of Defense programme established in 2009 by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in coordination with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence.¹ Its creation was enabled by funding appropriated under the Defence Appropriations Acts of Fiscal Years 2008 and 2010, which directed a total of $22 million to the DIA to assess long-term and over-the-horizon foreign advanced aerospace threats, at the direction of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.² The primary contract was awarded to Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies, a private sector organisation with ties to aerospace research.³ According to the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO)’s 2024 historical record report, there had been approximately a 40-year gap in US government Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena investigation programmes between the termination of Project Blue Book in 1969 and the establishment of AAWSAP.¹⁷

The stated primary purpose of AAWSAP was to investigate potential next-generation aerospace technologies across 12 specific areas, including advanced lift, propulsion, the use of unconventional materials and controls, and signature reduction.⁴ According to accounts attributed to James Lacatski, a key DIA programme manager, the programme was described as small but highly sensitive, reporting directly to the director of the DIA and to Congress.⁵ It employed outside contractors alongside a small cadre of handpicked intelligence officers tasked with managing and overseeing contractor work.⁶ The programme enjoyed the support of DIA Director Lieutenant General Michael D. Maples and was funded through the efforts of Senators Harry Reid, Ted Stevens, and Daniel K. Inouye.⁷

Although investigating UFO/UAP was not specifically outlined in the AAWSAP contract’s statement of work, the selected private sector organisation conducted UFO research with the support of the DIA programme manager.⁸ AAWSAP and its associated contractors also investigated an alleged hotspot of UAP and paranormal activity at a property in Utah — identified in related accounts as Skinwalker Ranch — owned by the head of the private sector organisation, including reported phenomena described as “shadow figures,” “creatures,” “remote viewing,” and “human consciousness anomalies."⁹ The DIA itself did not seek nor specifically authorise this paranormal and UFO work by the contractor, though a DIA employee set up and managed the contract.¹⁰ Numerous researchers and advisers worked with and supported both AAWSAP and the subsequent Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), including Harold E. Puthoff, Eric Davis, Garry Nolan, Colm Kelleher, and Robert Bigelow.

On 2009-06-24, Senator Harry Reid wrote to then Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn III requesting that AAWSAP and AATIP be designated as a DoD Special Access Programme (SAP).¹¹ This request was declined by William Lynn III on the recommendation of then-Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence James R. Clapper Jr., who judged that such a designation was not justified.¹² The programme ran until 2012, when the DIA cancelled it citing lack of merit and concerns about the utility of its deliverables.¹³ According to AARO’s assessment, unlike AAWSAP, AATIP was never an official DoD programme; following AAWSAP’s cancellation, the AATIP name was used informally by certain individuals within the DoD who continued researching UAP sightings from military observers as an ancillary duty, with no dedicated personnel or budget.¹⁴

Following cancellation, AAWSAP’s supporters proposed to the Department of Homeland Security that a new version of the effort be created and funded under a Special Access Programme codenamed KONA BLUE, which would have restarted UAP investigations, paranormal research, and the anticipated reverse-engineering of recovered off-world spacecraft.¹⁵ This proposal was ultimately unsuccessful. AARO’s 2024 report further assessed that modern allegations that the US government is concealing off-world technology and beings largely originate from the same group of individuals who had ties to the cancelled AAWSAP/AATIP programme.¹⁶ The public profile of AAWSAP was complicated by the 2017 NYT Pentagon UAP Article and subsequent reporting, with Luis Elizondo later stating that those articles did not adequately explain the distinction between AAWSAP and AATIP, which he believed caused confusion for years afterwards.¹⁸ Questions also arose regarding the precise roles played by individuals such as Luis Elizondo within the programme: AAWSAP contracted work began in 2008 at the DIA, while Elizondo’s alleged leadership of the effort has been dated to 2010 at the Office of Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (OUSD(I)), after the programme was transferred.²⁰ Harold E. Puthoff has stated that, as an AAWSAP/AATIP contractor and senior adviser, he continued to attend meetings, provide briefings, and gain access to videos under Elizondo’s leadership during this later period.¹⁹

References (20)

AAWSAP was established by the DIA in 2009 in coordination with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence.
“In coordination with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, DIA established AAWSAP in 2009, which was also known AATIP.”
AARO Historical Record Report Volume I: U.S. Government Involvement with UAP (2024-02) page 23, AAWSAP/AATIP section
The Defence Appropriations Acts of Fiscal Years 2008 and 2010 appropriated $22 million for the DIA to assess long-term foreign advanced aerospace threats, at the direction of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
“At the direction of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), the Defense Appropriations Acts of Fiscal Years 2008 and 2010 appropriated $22 million for the DIA to assess long-term and over-the-horizon foreign advanced aerospace threats to the United States.”
AARO Historical Record Report Volume I: U.S. Government Involvement with UAP (2024-02) page 23, AAWSAP/AATIP section
Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies was identified as the company that initially won the AAWSAP contract.
“Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies, LLC. who initially won the contract”
Pentagon Reinforces Elizondo Had No AATIP Responsibilities; Reid 2009 Memo Changes Nothing (2019-06-14) paragraph 14
The primary purpose of AAWSAP was to investigate potential next-generation aerospace technologies in 12 specific areas, including advanced lift, propulsion, unconventional materials and controls, and signature reduction.
“The primary purpose of AAWSAP/AATIP was to investigate potential next generation aerospace technologies in 12 specific areas - such as advanced lift, propulsion, the use of unconventional materials and controls, and signature reduction.”
AARO Historical Record Report Volume I: U.S. Government Involvement with UAP (2024-02) page 23-24, AAWSAP/AATIP section
AAWSAP was described as a small but highly sensitive programme that reported directly to the director of the DIA and to Congress.
“They described it as a small but highly sensitive program focused on 'unconventional technologies,' and said they reported directly to the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and to Congress.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs — Chapter 2 (image only) (2024) Chapter 1, paragraph 16
AAWSAP worked on sensitive aviation technology and employed outside contractors, with a small cadre of handpicked intelligence officers to manage and oversee contractor work.
“he told me AAWSAP worked on sensitive aviation technology and needed a senior counterintelligence agent to lock down all intel about the program from the usual antagonists, foreign adversaries. They employed many outside contractors, but Jim deliberately handpicked a small cadre of intelligence officers to manage and oversee the work performed by contractors.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs — Chapter 2 (image only) (2024) Chapter 1, paragraph 21
The programme enjoyed the support of DIA Director Lieutenant General Michael D. Maples and was funded through the efforts of Senators Harry Reid, Ted Stevens, and Daniel Inouye.
“Jim shared that the program enjoyed the support of the DIA's then director, Lieutenant General Michael D. Maples, and was funded through the efforts of a bipartisan group of senators: Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), and Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI).”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs — Chapter 2 (image only) (2024) Chapter 1, paragraph 35
Although investigating UFO/UAP was not specifically outlined in the AAWSAP contract's statement of work, the selected private sector organisation conducted UFO research with the support of the DIA programme manager.
“Although investigating UFO/UAP was not specifically outlined in the contract's statement of work, the selected private sector organization conducted UFO research with the support of the DIA program manager.”
AARO Historical Record Report Volume I: U.S. Government Involvement with UAP (2024-02) page 24, AAWSAP/AATIP section
AAWSAP/AATIP also investigated an alleged hotspot of UAP and paranormal activity at a property in Utah owned by the head of the private sector organisation.
“AAWSAP/AATIP also investigated an alleged hotspot of UAP and paranormal activity at a property in Utah - which at that time was owned by the head of the private sector organization - including examining reports of "shadow figures" and "creatures," and exploring "remote viewing" and "human consciousness anomalies."”
AARO Historical Record Report Volume I: U.S. Government Involvement with UAP (2024-02) page 24, AAWSAP/AATIP section
The DIA did not seek nor specifically authorise the paranormal and UFO work by the private sector AAWSAP contractor, though a DIA employee set up and managed the contract.
“DIA did not seek, nor specifically authorize, this work though a DIA employee set up and managed the contract with the private sector organization.”
AARO Historical Record Report Volume I: U.S. Government Involvement with UAP (2024-02) page 24, AAWSAP/AATIP section
On 2009-06-24, Senator Harry Reid sent a letter to Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn III requesting that AAWSAP/AATIP be made a DoD Special Access Programme.
“On 24 June 2009, Senator Reid sent a letter to then Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn III requesting that AAWSAP/AATIP be made a DoD Special Access Program.”
AARO Historical Record Report Volume I: U.S. Government Involvement with UAP (2024-02) page 24, AAWSAP/AATIP section
Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn III declined to make AAWSAP/AATIP a Special Access Programme, based on the recommendation of James R. Clapper Jr. that such a designation was not justified.
“Deputy Secretary Lynn declined to do so based on the recommendation of then-Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, James R. Clapper, Jr., that such a designation was not justified.”
AARO Historical Record Report Volume I: U.S. Government Involvement with UAP (2024-02) page 24, AAWSAP/AATIP section
The DIA cancelled AAWSAP/AATIP in 2012 due to lack of merit and the utility of the deliverables.
“DIA cancelled the program in 2012 due to lack of merit and the utility of the deliverables.”
AARO Historical Record Report Volume I: U.S. Government Involvement with UAP (2024-02) Section VI, Findings: KONA BLUE
Unlike AAWSAP, AATIP was never an official DoD programme; after AAWSAP was cancelled, the AATIP moniker was used by some individuals within DoD researching UAP sightings as an ancillary duty with no dedicated personnel or budget.
“Unlike AAWSAP, AATIP was never an official DoD program. However, after AAWSAP was cancelled, the AATIP moniker was used by some individuals associated with an informal, unofficial UAP community of interest within DoD that researched UAP sightings from military observers as part of their ancillary job duties. This effort was not a recognized, official program, and had no dedicated personnel or budget.”
AARO Historical Record Report Volume I: U.S. Government Involvement with UAP (2024-02) page 23, AAWSAP/AATIP section
AAWSAP's supporters proposed to the Department of Homeland Security that they create and fund a new version under a Special Access Programme codenamed KONA BLUE.
“When DIA cancelled this program, its supporters proposed to DHS that they create and fund a new version of AAWSAP/AATIP under a SAP. This proposal, codenamed KONA BLUE, would restart UAP investigations, paranormal research (including alleged "human consciousness anomalies") and reverse-engineer any recovered off-world spacecraft that they hoped to acquire.”
AARO Historical Record Report Volume I: U.S. Government Involvement with UAP (2024-02) Section VI, Findings: KONA BLUE
AARO determined that modern allegations that the US government is hiding off-world technology largely originate from the same group of individuals who have ties to the cancelled AAWSAP/AATIP programme.
“AARO's work has resulted in disproving the majority of these claims using the verifiable information made within those claims. AARO researched and interviewed numerous people, programs, and leads. It has determined that modern allegations that the USG is hiding off-world technology and beings largely originate from the same group of individuals who have ties to the cancelled AAWSAP/AATIP program and a private sector organization's paranormal research efforts.”
AARO Historical Record Report Volume I: U.S. Government Involvement with UAP (2024-02) Section VI, Findings: Nexus of Proponents
There was approximately a 40-year gap in UAP investigation programmes between the termination of Project Blue Book in 1969 and the standup of AAWSAP and AATIP in 2009.
“Prior to AAWSAP/AATIP there was about a 40 year gap in UAP investigation programs since the termination of Project BLUE BOOK in 1969.”
AARO Historical Record Report Volume I: U.S. Government Involvement with UAP (2024-02) page 10, Section II Executive Summary
Luis Elizondo believed the New York Times AATIP articles did not adequately explain the distinction between AAWSAP and AATIP, which caused confusion for years afterward.
“The articles did not explain AAWSAP/AATIP, which would go on to cause confusion for years.”
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs — Chapter 2 (image only) (2024) Chapter 21, article criticism paragraph
Harold Puthoff, as an AAWSAP/AATIP contractor and senior advisor, continued to attend meetings, provide briefings, and gain access to videos under Luis Elizondo's leadership.
“I have no problem asserting that as an AAWSAP/AATIP Contractor & Senior Advisor I continued to attend meetings, provide briefings, gain access to videos, provide Proposed Program Plans, meet with staff, etc., all under the aegis of Elizondo's leadership and responsibility for maintaining continuity of the Program effort and goals until he resigned.”
Pentagon Reinforces Elizondo Had No AATIP Responsibilities; Reid 2009 Memo Changes Nothing (2019-06-14) paragraph 13
AAWSAP contracted work began in 2008 at the DIA, while Elizondo's alleged leadership began in 2010 at the OUSD(I) when the programme was transferred.
“It is unclear how Dr. Puthoff could have worked under Mr. Elizondo's leadership, since AAWSAP/AATIP contracted work began in 2008 at DIA and Mr. Elizondo's alleged leadership began in 2010 at OUSDI when the program was transferred.”
Pentagon Reinforces Elizondo Had No AATIP Responsibilities; Reid 2009 Memo Changes Nothing (2019-06-14) paragraph 14

Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP)

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