UAP vs UFO: What’s the Difference?

cvancaraj
3 days ago
3 min read

Updated: 15 hours ago

Introduction

If you’ve been reading about mysterious objects in the sky, you’ve probably noticed that the term UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) has been getting replaced in recent years with the newer term UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena).

But what’s the difference? Are they the same thing, or do they mean something different?

Let’s break it down — and look at one real-world example of each.

What is a UFO?

UFO stands for Unidentified Flying Object — a term that dates back to the 1950's during the early days of modern saucer sightings and Air Force investigations.

Definition:

👉 Any object seen in the sky that cannot be immediately identified as an aircraft, balloon, or natural phenomenon.

In other words:

If you see something flying — and can’t figure out what it is — it’s a UFO.

Key point: UFO implies something flying — it’s tied to the idea of physical objects in the air.

What is a UAP?

UAP stands for Unidentified Aerial Phenomena — a newer term adopted in the 2000's and officially by the U.S. military in the 2010's.

Definition:

👉 Any unexplained occurrence in the airspace — which could include objects, lights, atmospheric anomalies, or phenomena that do not fit known categories.

Why the change?

✅ UAP is broader — it can include lights, energy signatures, or anomalies that might not be a solid “object.”

✅ It also avoids the pop-culture baggage of “UFO” — which many associate automatically with aliens or flying saucers.

Key point: UAP is more scientific and less biased — it includes more than just flying craft.

Real-World Example of a UFO

Phoenix Lights — 1997

👉 Thousands of Arizona residents reported seeing a massive, V-shaped formation of lights slowly moving over the Phoenix metro area.

Why it’s a UFO:

It was seen as a structured flying object (blocking out stars)
Appeared to be solid and flying
No conventional aircraft explanation was confirmed

To this day, the Phoenix Lights remain one of the most famous UFO sightings in the world.

Real-World Example of a UAP

2021 Navy UAP Videos (FLIR1, GIMBAL, GOFAST)

👉 Released by the U.S. Department of Defense, these videos show unidentified phenomena captured on military sensors — some were not visually seen by pilots but tracked on infrared or radar.

Why it’s UAP:

In some cases, the object was not clearly flying in a traditional aerodynamic way
Some signatures showed energy effects or odd propulsion characteristics
The military used the term UAP because the exact nature of the phenomena was unknown — not necessarily a solid “flying object”

These UAP cases are still under official investigation.

Conclusion

UFO and UAP both deal with unexplained things in the sky — but UAP is now the preferred term when investigating things with an open mind:

👉 Not all anomalies are objects, and not all objects are crafts.

At The 918 Files, we use both terms — depending on the case.

✅ If it’s a solid flying object → UFO

✅ If it’s an unexplained phenomenon → UAP

Both are fascinating. Both deserve investigation.

And Arizona’s skies still hold plenty of both.

Have you witnessed a UFO or UAP?

👉 Share your story on the 918 BOARD — we’re always listening.

Join The 918 Files Network