National Security Archives

Sheriff’s Office Issues Update on Missing USAF Official: Here’s Everything We Know About the Disappearance of Neil McCasland

Micah Hanks·March 13, 2026

The search continues for a missing U.S. Air Force official in New Mexico, as authorities prepare to enter their third week investigating the baffling disappearance with few leads.

Operation Epic Fury: U.S. Forces Under Strain as Iran’s Missile Barrage Tests Regional Defenses

Micah Hanks·March 3, 2026

U.S.-Israeli war with Iran represents one of the most complex and sustained challenges the U.S. has seen in the Middle East in decades.

All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office Hosts Private Workshop with Civilian Researchers, Universities, and Government Agencies

Chrissy Newton·February 26, 2026

A recent AARO report outlines new standards for data collection, AI use, privacy, and civilian collaboration in advancing UAP research.

The Laser That Shut Down El Paso’s Skies: What We Know About the Army’s ‘LOCUST’ Counter-Drone Weapon

Tim McMillan·February 12, 2026

LOCUST counter-drone laser linked to El Paso airspace shutdown highlights how directed-energy weapons are entering real-world use.

Whistleblower Complaint Shakes Intelligence Community Amid Allegations of Wrongdoing

Micah Hanks·February 3, 2026

The United States intelligence community is reportedly on edge amid a recent whistleblower complaint, which reportedly alleges wrongdoing by Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard.

U.S. Officials Claim They Have Been Testing a Mysterious Device Linked to ‘Havana Syndrome’

Micah Hanks·January 13, 2026

Pentagon officials have reportedly spent the last year testing a device linked to unusual health issues commonly known as “Havana Syndrome.”

New Year’s Eve Conspiracy Theories? Government Agency Issues Statement On Low-Flying Helicopters Spotted Over Las Vegas

Christopher Plain·December 30, 2025

The U.S. government is anticipating conspiracy theories regarding mysterious DOE helicopters seen flying low above the Las Vegas Strip

New DARPA-Funded AI Tool Can Defeat Modern Facial Recognition Systems With Photorealistic Images

Tim McMillan·December 11, 2025

DARPA-funded generative AI tool, "DiffProtect" creates realistic images that fool facial recognition systems and enhance user privacy.

How Reliable Is Forensic Gait Analysis? Science Weighs In on Controversial Jan 6 Pipe Bomber Claims

Tim McMillan·November 12, 2025

A new study finds Gait Analysis can aid investigations but isn’t reliable enough to identify suspects with certainty.

Officials Say Aircraft Material of “Unknown Origin” Was Found at Recent Site of Mysterious Crash Near Area 51

Micah Hanks·October 10, 2025

Officials have revealed an odd turn of events involving a mysterious crash that occurred in the Nevada desert last month near Area 51.

New Executive Order Reclassifies NASA as an Intelligence and Security Agency

Chrissy Newton·September 27, 2025

An executive order issued by the Trump Administration last month declares that NASA will now operate as an intelligence and security agency.

How Russia’s Cognitive Warfare Strategy Seeks to Reshape Reality and Undermine the West

Tim McMillan·July 3, 2025

How Russia’s cognitive warfare reshapes reality to undermine the West, using perception, propaganda, and psychological manipulation.

Beneath the Trillion-Dollar Price Tag: What the FY2026 Defense Budget Really Says About America’s Military Priorities

Tim McMillan·June 27, 2025

Inside the $1T FY2026 defense budget: missile shields, black programs, workforce cuts, and a reshaped U.S. military strategy.

DARPA Shatters Optical Power Beaming Record with Latest High-Energy Laser Demonstrations

Christopher Plain·May 21, 2025

New DARPA optical power beaming demonstrations using a high-energy laser and a new receiver shatter previous records for distance and power.

Can the U.S. Outpace China in AI and Stop a Chip War Over Taiwan? Experts Clash Over the High-Stakes Semiconductor Race

Chrissy Newton·May 19, 2025

The U.S.-China chip war intensifies as nations grapple with export controls and strategic dominance in the global race for AI.

The Website of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence Has Been Missing in Action for Days

Micah Hanks·May 12, 2025

The official website of the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) appears to have been taken down over the weekend.

Infrasound Technology Proves Critical for Planetary Defense Against Threats from Outer Space

Christopher Plain·May 3, 2025

A Sandia National Laboratories scientist has demonstrated how infrasound technology can improve planetary defense against threats from space.

Foreign Spies May Be Targeting DoD Personnel with Fake Jobs, U.S. Counterintelligence Officials Warn

Micah Hanks·April 22, 2025

U.S. officials warned this week that foreign spies are increasingly targeting current and former DoD personnel with fake job offers online.

Leonidas H20 high-powered microwave weapon

New High-Energy Microwave Weapon Neutralizes ‘Attacking’ Vessels in a Military First

Christopher Plain·April 17, 2025

The first-ever high-powered microwave weapon designed to stop marine attacks just passed several critical tests against aquatic vessels.

Inside the F-47: America’s Most Advanced Warplane Yet Signals the Future of U.S. Air Dominance

Christopher Plain·March 22, 2025

The newly announced F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance fighter intended to replace the F-22 Raptor boasts several technological advancements.

The FBI Confirms It Has a Secretive “UAP Working Group,” but Agents Now Worry Their Jobs Could Be in Jeopardy

Micah Hanks·February 3, 2025

A small group of agents within the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) following up on reports of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) are now facing a more immediate concern: job uncertainty.

Deploying Advanced Helicopters and Cutting-Edge Tracking Software, Here’s How D.C. Officials Worked to Protect Inauguration Day Crowds

Micah Hanks·January 20, 2025

Officials and first responders employed a new helicopter and cutting-edge software to help ensure public safety during today's Inauguration Day ceremony.

Pentagon Says ‘Mystery Drones’ Are Common Unmanned Aerial Systems and Misidentifications, Pose No Security Threat

Micah Hanks·December 17, 2024

Sightings of drones over the northeastern U.S. are mostly conventional UAS being operated lawfully and misidentifications, the Pentagon says.

France Unveils Multi-Layered Air Defense Strategy Amid Concerns Over Drones and Aerial Threats

Baptiste Friscourt·December 16, 2024

In an era of evolving aerial threats, France's air defense forces have refined their operational strategies to safeguard national security.

Pentagon Says No Evidence of Foreign Adversaries as Federal Investigators Remain Baffled by Mystery Drone Sightings

Micah Hanks·December 12, 2024

Federal officials in the U.S. are ramping up efforts to get to the bottom of ongoing sightings of mystery drones over New Jersey.

Why the ‘Mystery Drone’ Craze is a Legitimate Concern: A Look into Counter-UAS Gaps

Tim McMillan·December 11, 2024

The current "mystery drone" flap has hints of "moral panic." However, these events highlight a legitimate national security threat.

Mystery Drones Invading New Jersey Airspace Are Keeping Officials on Edge as Feds Probe for Answers

Micah Hanks·December 10, 2024

Ongoing sightings of mysterious drones in the skies over New Jersey have sparked alarm among residents as officials continue to investigate the odd nightly incursions.

Could New Evidence Solve the D.B. Cooper Hijacking Mystery? Some Longtime Researchers Aren’t Convinced.

Ryan Whalen·November 28, 2024

New evidence could finally solve the decades-old D.B. Cooper mystery, but some longtime researchers into the famous hijacking aren't so sure.

AI Propaganda is Dangerously Persuasive and Could be Used in Covert Operations, New Study Warns

Micah Hanks·February 21, 2024

AI propaganda generated by popular large language models is remarkably persuasive, according to new findings that compared AI-generated content to real propaganda produced by countries like Russia and Iran.

U.S. Department of Energy UAP Documents Reveal Puzzling Aerial Incursions Near American Nuclear Sites

Micah Hanks·September 29, 2023

Documents released by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reveal new details involving unauthorized drones incidents and UAP sightings.

New Bill Directs FAA to Track Airborne Objects That May Pose Collision Threat to Aviators

Micah Hanks·June 14, 2023

A new bill introduced by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee includes language that will task the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with tracking objects deemed to be a risk resulting from airborne debris.

Experimental Military Spacecraft LDPE-3A Launches to Defend U.S. National Security in Space

Micah Hanks·January 18, 2023

The experimental military spacecraft LDPE-3A was successfully launched into orbit earlier this week as part of the U.S. Space Force as part of its Long Duration Propulsive ESPA (LDPE) program.

Lockheed Martin Delivers DOD the Most Powerful Combat Laser Ever Built

Christopher Plain·September 22, 2022

Lockheed Martin has provided the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) with what they say is the most powerful combat laser ever built.

This Ghost Ship Could Cause Earth’s Next Greatest Environmental Catastrophe

The UN crowdfunded the money to drain the FSO Safer, but the ship still sits off the coast of Yemen, and the winds are coming.....

MJ Banias·September 20, 2022

Loaded with 1.14 million barrels of oil, the FSO Safer is quickly falling apart, and could soon play host to an environmental disaster.

How to Survive a Nuclear War: Study Reveals the Safest Places to Wait Out the Conflict

Christopher Plain·August 18, 2022

New research indicates that Australia and New Zealand are the two best places on Earth to survive a nuclear war.

The “Moscow Signal”: How Russian Directed Microwave Rays Once Caused an International Incident

Decades ago, the Soviet Union admitted it spent decades blasting the U.S. Embassy in Moscow with "mysterious" beams.

Micah Hanks·March 4, 2022

Decades ago, the Soviet Union admitted it spent decades blasting the U.S. Embassy in Moscow with mysterious rays later dubbed the "Moscow Signal".

Havana Syndrome Incidents Strike Europe, With Up to 200 Americans Affected

Micah Hanks·July 21, 2021

New incidents involving “Havana Syndrome” have been ongoing, according to officials who say additional cases have occurred on a nearly weekly basis.

Update: U.S. Special Operations Command Central’s Twitter Account Was NOT Hacked

Tim McMillan·April 27, 2021

This weekend, The Debrief reported U.S. Special Operations Command Central (SOCCOENT) had claimed their official Twitter account had been hacked. Claims of the hack came after SOCCOENT published a bizarre tweet with the words: “Afghanistan” “Islamic State.” Hours later, the tweet was...

Chinese Lab-Leak Origin For COVID-19 Possible, Say Top Intelligence Officials

Tim McMillan·April 15, 2021

During Wednesday’s open-hearing on Current Worldwide Threats, America’s top intelligence officials said they have not ruled out the possibility that COVID-19 originated from a lab-leak in Wuhan, China. “It is absolutely accurate that the intelligence community does not know exactly where,...

Mysterious Insignias and Symbols from the Classified World

From Aliens, Wizards, to Dragons. The Classified World is Teeming With Hidden Messages

Tim McMillan·March 12, 2021

The Debrief takes a look at 9 of the most mysterious emblems we've come across from within the classified world.

Russian Hackers Currently Targeted In Mysterious Cyberwar

Four Major Dark Web Russian Cybercrime Forums Have Been Hacked Recently

Tim McMillan·March 9, 2021

A mysterious person or group is currently waging cyberwar on online forums used by Russian hackers and cybercriminals on the dark web. According to security analysts, at least four major Russian-language cybercrime forums, serving thousands of experienced cybercriminals, have been...

U.S. Unprepared For Coming AI Threat, National Security Commission Finds

Tim McMillan·March 3, 2021

The National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI) says the U.S. is unprepared to compete with China in the coming AI era.

Mysterious Malware ‘Silver Sparrow’ Infects Tens-of-Thousands of Macs

Tim McMillan·February 22, 2021

The cybersecurity firm Red Canary reports finding a mysterious and previously undetected macOS malware, dubbed "Silver Sparrow," lurking on nearly 30,000 Macs worldwide.

Trump Signs Order on Threats Posed By Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Tim McMillan·January 19, 2021

In one of his final acts as president, Trump signs an executive order aimed at addressing threats posed by unmanned aircraft systems.

A Stanford University researcher claims facial recognition software can reasonably predict a person's political affiliation based solely on facial features.

Disturbing Study Says Facial Recognition Can Determine Political Affiliation

Tim McMillan·January 18, 2021

New research claims facial recognition software can reasonably predict a person's political affiliation based solely on facial features.

Senior NASA Scientist Pleads Guilty To Lying About Ties To China’s ‘Thousand Talents Program’

Tim McMillan·January 14, 2021

On January 13, 2021, a former senior NASA scientist pled guilty in Manhattan federal court for making false statements about their involvement with China’s Thousand Talents Program. A program U.S. authorities say amounts to a spy ring, seeking to steal...

A Secretive Technology Could Be Bad News For Capitol Rioters

Tim McMillan·January 12, 2021

Unbeknownst to them, a secretive technology that might have been in use could spell bad news for pro-Trump extremists who stormed the U.S. Capitol Building. On Wednesday, January 6th, hordes of pro-Trump extremists stormed the U.S. Capitol, sending elected representatives,...

The Nevernight Connection – A ‘Candy Store’ for Espionage

Tim McMillan·January 5, 2021

Dramatically shaking his head, “Five years working side-by-side. You think you know a guy,” mutters the fictional Rob Carson with palpable disgust. In the next scene, a static video characteristic of a police car-mounted camera captures a sheriff’s deputy, gun...

Cozy Bear — Russia’s Cyberspies Suspected In Latest Government Hacks

Tim McMillan·December 18, 2020

Earlier this week, The Debrief reported U.S. government networks were targeted by a Russian hacking group called Cozy Bear, in what could end up being one of the most significant hacking incidents to date. Currently, the true scope and implications...

Russian Leaked Laser weapon, combat laser, Ukraine

Leaked Photo of Russia’s Secret Laser Weapon Appears Online

The photos offer a first glimpse at what is believed to be the new “tactical laser,” first reported by Russian press in January.

Tim McMillan·December 14, 2020

The photos offer a first glimpse at what is believed to be the new “tactical laser,” first reported by Russian press in January.