What Did the Go Fast Video Really Show?

What the “Go Fast” Video Shows and How It Was Captured

In early 2015, while operating off the eastern seaboard of the United States near Florida, an F/A‑18 Super Hornet assigned to the carrier strike group of the USS Theodore Roosevelt captured a brief infrared video showing a small object moving rapidly near what appears to be the ocean surface. [Internet UFO Database]iufodb.comInternet UFO DatabaseGoFast UFO Video 2015June 30, 2024…Published: June 30, 2024

• The video was recorded using the aircraft’s AN/ASQ‑228 Advanced Targeting Forward‑Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) pod, a sensor system that displays infrared imagery along with telemetry such as range and angle to the target. [ufodisclosure.us]ufodisclosure.usNavy Go Fast VideoNavy Go Fast Video
• Though it lasts only a few dozen seconds, it clearly shows a small, bright point of infrared contrast moving horizontally across the screen while aircraft telemetry and instrument data update in real time. [Internet UFO Database]iufodb.comInternet UFO DatabaseGoFast UFO Video 2015June 30, 2024…Published: June 30, 2024
• The name “Go Fast” comes from early media usage, reflecting the initial impression that the object was racing just above the water’s surface. [The UFO Database]theufodatabase.comThe UFO Database"GOFAST" UFO Video | The UFO DatabaseThe UFO Database"GOFAST" UFO Video | The UFO Database

This clip is one of three widely publicised U.S. Navy UAP videos released to the public following Department of Defense review, alongside the Gimbal and FLIR1 (“Tic Tac”) videos. [Wikipedia]WikipediaPentagon UFO videosPentagon UFO videos

Official Release and Government Context

Although the encounter occurred in 2015, the Pentagon did not publicly release the video until 2020, as part of a broader transparency initiative involving military UAP footage. [Wikipedia]WikipediaMick WestMick West

• The recordings were originally shared with the press by private and media intermediaries, including To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science, before formal DoD acknowledgment. [Wikipedia]WikipediaPentagon UFO videosPentagon UFO videos
• In April 2020, the Department of Defense confirmed that these types of infrared clips were authentic recordings from Navy aircraft but did not ascribe them to any known phenomena. [Wikipedia]WikipediaMick WestMick West

In the government’s own terminology, these clips document unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) — a neutral term used by the U.S. military to describe airborne objects that cannot be immediately explained by conventional aircraft, atmospheric phenomena, sensor errors, or other ordinary causes. [Wikipedia]WikipediaMick WestMick West

Skeptical and Analytic Interpretations

Despite early sensationalisation in popular media and UFO‑related communities, official analysis and independent experts have offered more prosaic interpretations:

• In a 2025 report by the Pentagon’s All‑domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), analysts concluded that the object in the Go Fast footage did not exhibit anomalous flight characteristics when properly interpreted. The office attributed its apparent high speed and low altitude to motion parallax, an optical effect in which relative motion between a camera and an object creates an illusion of extreme velocity and proximity. [Reddit]reddit.com“The object's apparent high speed isRedditPentagon Releases AARO Report on 'Go Fast' Video…February 13, 2025 — “AARO assesses with high confidence that the object did not…Published: February 13, 2025
• According to the AARO assessment, the object was likely much higher — perhaps around 13,000 feet above the ocean surface — and had a speed (once adjusted for winds and viewing geometry) consistent with ordinary airborne objects such as weather balloons or other slow‑moving aerial devices. [Reddit]reddit.com“The object's apparent high speed isRedditPentagon Releases AARO Report on 'Go Fast' Video…February 13, 2025 — “AARO assesses with high confidence that the object did not…Published: February 13, 2025
• Veteran sceptical investigator Mick West and other analysts have used trigonometry and camera geometry modelling tools to support the parallax explanation, showing how fast‑moving jets with locked tracking cameras can create the visual impression of rapid, low‑altitude motion even when the target is distant and slow. [Wikipedia]WikipediaMick WestMick West

These analytic interpretations do not claim to resolve every aspect of the underlying UAP issue, but in Go Fast’s case they emphasise how sensor perspective, aircraft motion, and limited raw data can affect judgments about an object’s behaviour.

Competing Perceptions: Witness Accounts and Public Debate

When the Go Fast video first circulated in public channels such as news outlets in 2017–2018, many readers perceived it as evidence of anomalous, fast‑moving craft defying conventional explanation. Some military personnel and ex‑pilots cited a series of unexplained sightings off the USS Theodore Roosevelt during 2014–2015, describing UAP contacts they could neither identify nor correlate with known technology. [The UFO Database]theufodatabase.comThe UFO Database"GOFAST" UFO Video | The UFO DatabaseThe UFO Database"GOFAST" UFO Video | The UFO Database

However, no official military declaration has endorsed an extraterrestrial or unconventional technology interpretation, and DoD leaders emphasise a lack of definitive evidence for anything beyond unidentified sensor targets. In congressional testimony, Pentagon UAP officials clarified that while some historical cases remain unresolved, no verified evidence exists linking any UAP to extraterrestrial activity or non‑terrestrial technology. [Space]space.comWe do have some very anomalous objects," he saidSpacePentagon UFO chief tells Senate 'very anomalous objects'…November 19, 2024 — 19 Nov 2024 — Kosloski noted that his office does no…Published: November 19, 2024

Critics also point out that limited metadata, compressed public releases, and the lack of full telemetry — which would allow precise three‑dimensional reconstructions — constrain both sceptical and pro‑anomaly claims. Indeed, while Go Fast remains an intriguing example of how modern military sensors capture ambiguous data, the interpretation of what it depicts varies significantly by analytical framework.

Why the “Go Fast” Video Matters

The Go Fast incident occupies a notable place in the broader UAP discourse for several reasons:

• It is one of the few military‑recorded UAP videos declassified and confirmed by the U.S. government, lending it credibility compared with unauthorised civilian videos. [Wikipedia]WikipediaMick WestMick West
• It illustrates how modern airborne infrared sensors, perspective effects, and human perception interact to produce visually striking but potentially misleading footage. [Reddit]reddit.com“The object's apparent high speed isRedditPentagon Releases AARO Report on 'Go Fast' Video…February 13, 2025 — “AARO assesses with high confidence that the object did not…Published: February 13, 2025
• The debate over its interpretation reflects a key tension in UAP discussions: the balance between treating military sensor data seriously and applying rigorous analytical methods to avoid premature conclusions about exotic phenomena.

In this way, the Go Fast video remains a reference point in conversations about how military data should inform public understanding of unexplained aerial encounters — not because it proves a specific extraordinary claim, but because it exemplifies both the challenges and limits of interpreting complex sensor imagery without full context. [Reddit]reddit.com“The object's apparent high speed isRedditPentagon Releases AARO Report on 'Go Fast' Video…February 13, 2025 — “AARO assesses with high confidence that the object did not…Published: February 13, 2025

Endnotes

1. Source: Wikipedia
   Title: Pentagon UFO videos
   Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentagon_UFO_videos

2. Source: ufodisclosure.us
   Title: Navy Go Fast Video
   Link: https://ufodisclosure.us/gofast/

3. Source: reddit.com
   Title: “The object’s apparent high speed is
   Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/ufo/comments/1iooz44/pentagon_releases_aaro_report_on_go_fast_video/
   Source snippet

   RedditPentagon Releases AARO Report on 'Go Fast' Video...February 13, 2025 — “AARO assesses with high confidence that the object did not...

   Published: February 13, 2025

4. Source: Wikipedia
   Title: Mick West
   Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_West

5. Source: space.com
   Title: “We do have some very anomalous objects,” he said
   Link: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/search-for-life/pentagon-ufo-chief-tells-senate-very-anomalous-objects-need-careful-study-video
   Source snippet

   SpacePentagon UFO chief tells Senate 'very anomalous objects'...November 19, 2024 — 19 Nov 2024 — Kosloski noted that his office does no...

   Published: November 19, 2024

6. Source: uapdiscovery.discourse.group
   Title: Fighter pilots fro
   Link: https://uapdiscovery.discourse.group/t/navy-go-fast-video/59
   Source snippet

   Navy GO FAST Video - UAP Case Analysis - UAP Discovery ForumMarch 14, 2025 — NAVY GO FAST VIDEO UAP Case Analysis uap, ufo, aviation, nav...

   Published: March 14, 2025

7. Source: ufodisclosure.us
   Link: https://ufodisclosure.us/gimbal/
   Source snippet

   USS Roosevelt VideoGIMBAL – USS ROOSEVELT VIDEO USS Roosevelt “Gimbal” Navy Video During 2014–2015, fighter pilots associated with the US...

8. Source: aaro.mil
   Link: https://www.aaro.mil/UAP-Cases/Official-UAP-Imagery/
   Source snippet

   UAP ImageryThe United States European Command submitted a report of an unidentified anomalous phenomenon to the All-domain Anomaly Resolu...

9. Source: iufodb.com
   Link: https://www.iufodb.com/gofast/
   Source snippet

   Internet UFO DatabaseGoFast UFO Video 2015June 30, 2024...

   Published: June 30, 2024

10. Source: theufodatabase.com
    Title: The UFO Database”GOFAST” UFO Video | The UFO Database
    Link: [https://theufodatabase.com/timeline

11. Source: theufodatabase.com
    Title: The UFO Database USS Theodore Roosevelt UAPs | The UFO Database
    Link: https://theufodatabase.com/incidents/uss-theodore-roosevelt-uap-videos

12. Source: iufodb.com
    Link: https://www.iufodb.com/gimbal/
    Source snippet

    UFO Video 2015June 30, 2024 — GIMBAL UFO VIDEO 2015 Updated: 2026-04-29T02:17:21.000:00...

    Published: June 30, 2024

13. Source: theufodatabase.com
    Title: Navy off the coast of Florida, aboard a Navy fighter jet f
    Link: https://theufodatabase.com/videos/uss-roosevelt-gofast-incident-video
    Source snippet

    USS Roosevelt 'GoFast' UFO: Declassified Video | The UFO DatabaseUSS ROOSEVELT 'GOFAST' UFO: DECLASSIFIED VIDEO IMAGE: SHARE YouTube vide...

14. Source: theufodatabase.com
    Title: uss roosevelt gimbal incident video
    Link: https://theufodatabase.com/videos/uss-roosevelt-gimbal-incident-video
    Source snippet

    USS Roosevelt 'Gimbal' UFO: Declassified Video | The UFO DatabaseUSS ROOSEVELT 'GIMBAL' UFO: DECLASSIFIED VIDEO IMAGE: SHARE YouTube vide...

15. Source: theufodatabase.com
    Title: uss theodore roosevelt incident gofast video screenshot
    Link: https://theufodatabase.com/photos/uss-theodore-roosevelt-incident-gofast-video-screenshot
    Source snippet

    Screenshot of "GoFast" video | The UFO DatabaseSCREENSHOT OF "GOFAST" VIDEO IMAGE: SHARE Image: Screenshot of Screenshot of the "GoFast"...

Additional References

1. Source: ufotransparency.com
   Link: https://ufotransparency.com/files/decade-2020s-aaro-gofast-case-resolution-2025-aaro-gofast-case-resolution-card-methodology-final
   Source snippet

   Department of Defense · 2025 · UFO TransparencyFebruary 6, 2025 — [Button: ✕]← FilesDisclosure Index/01 US DISCLOSURE/FILES/2020S/AARO Re...

   Published: February 6, 2025

2. Source: facebook.com
   Title: the pentagon released what it says are never before seen files on ufos and vario
   Link: https://www.facebook.com/cnn/posts/the-pentagon-released-what-it-says-are-never-before-seen-files-on-ufos-and-vario/1353011790024802/
   Source snippet

   The Pentagon released what it says are "never-beforeIn 2014 and 2015, fighter pilots on the USS Theodore Roosevelt off the east coast rec...

3. Source: thebaynet.com
   Title: pentagons latest uap report sheds light on anomalies but questions remain
   Link: https://thebaynet.com/pentagons-latest-uap-report-sheds-light-on-anomalies-but-questions-remain/
   Source snippet

   Pentagon's Latest UAP Report Sheds Light On Anomalies...20 Nov 2024 — Another case, the 2016 “GOFAST” video recorded by a Navy fighter j...

4. Source: newspaceeconomy.ca
   Title: the go fast incident a detailed analysis of the 2015 navy uap encounter
   Link: https://newspaceeconomy.ca/2025/12/07/the-go-fast-incident-a-detailed-analysis-of-the-2015-navy-uap-encounter/
   Source snippet

   The Go Fast Incident: A Detailed Analysis of the 2015 Navy UAP Encounter - New Space EconomyMay 20, 2026 — THE GO FAST INCIDENT: A DETAIL...

   Published: May 20, 2026

5. Source: history.com
   Title: US S Roosevelt ‘Go Fast’ UFO: Declassified Video | HISTORYOfficial U.S
   Link: https://www.history.com/videos/uss-roosevelt-gofast-ufo-declassified-video
   Source snippet

   Navy video of a 2015 UFO encounter, taken aboard a Navy fighter jet from the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, off the eas...

6. Source: commons.wikimedia.org
   Title: File:Go Fast Official USG Footage of UAP for Public Release.webm
   Link: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AGo_Fast_Official_USG_Footage_of_UAP_for_Public_Release.webm?uselang=zh
   Source snippet

   wikimedia.orgFile:Go Fast Official USG Footage of UAP for Public Release.webm - Wikimedia CommonsJanuary 21, 2015 — FILE:GO FAST OFFICIAL...

   Published: January 21, 2015

7. Source: aviationpros.com
   Link: https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/defense/news/21225042/those-amazing-navy-ufo-videos-may-have-down-to-earth-explanations-skeptics-contend
   Source snippet

   Go Fast was shot from a Navy jet operating off the coast of Florida with the aircraft car...

8. Source: facebook.com
   Link: https://www.facebook.com/CBSMiami/posts/the-pentagon-office-investigating-ufos-or-what-the-government-calls-unidentified/1092596395568184/
   Source snippet

   t off the east coast of Florida in 2016 and became known as the "GOFAST" video when it...

9. Source: nypost.com
   Title: pentagon claims to debunk famous gofast ufo radar video
   Link: https://nypost.com/2024/11/20/us-news/pentagon-claims-to-debunk-famous-gofast-ufo-radar-video/
   Source snippet

   Pentagon claims to debunk famous 'GOFAST' UFO radar...20 Nov 2024 — The Pentagon announced they solved one of the most famous UFO videos...

10. Source: cbsnews.com
    Title: pentagon solves 1 ufo mystery still probing other cases
    Link: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pentagon-solves-1-ufo-mystery-still-probing-other-cases/
    Source snippet

    Pentagon solves 1 UFO mystery but still probing cases of "...20 Nov 2024 — Director of Pentagon office probing UFOs showed Congress thre...