NORAD: 7,000 Unknown Tracks since 1971
NORAD's database in 1990 recorded 7,000 unidentified track incidents since 1971, averaging 350 yearly. These high-strangeness cases persist after jet intercepts, akin to Blue Book unknowns.
Background
Background
In 1990, NORAD's database of unknown track reports contained around 7,000 incidents dating from 1971, an annual average of about 350. These entries concern objects that remained unexplained despite the use of fighters to identify them.
Analysis Process
After the initial interceptions, air traffic control analysis and intelligence review by NORAD and FTC reduced the cases to about 10 per cent. The remaining NORAD unknowns are regarded as equivalent to the highly anomalous sightings from Project Blue Book, which can only be assessed on full disclosure.
Significance
The scale illustrates the continuity of military UAP encounters over decades. The resemblance to the historical unknowns points to persistent difficulties of classification, with potentially sensitive data still unreleased.