Release Comparator

Pick any two PURSUE tranches and compare them side by side: how many records, which agencies contributed, what file formats dominate, and where the reported events cluster.

This tool exists because cumulative totals and per-release counts keep getting mixed up in public discussion. Each column below counts only the records in that specific release.

vs

Release 03

72
Event years
1949 – 2026
By agency
FBI
23
DOW
21
CIA
18
NASA
8
ICA
1
OTHER
1
By file type
pdf
53
image
10
video
9
Top locations
  • Western United States17
  • AARO video release9
  • Low Earth Orbit7
  • Northeastern United States5
  • Colorado Springs3

Release 04

40
Event years
1948 – 2026
By agency
DOW
32
NASA
3
DOE
2
CIA
2
FBI
1
By file type
video
23
pdf
14
image
3
Top locations
  • DOD UAP video release23
  • Low Earth orbit (STS-80)3
  • Eastern United States2
  • Atlantic Ocean1
  • Pantex Plant, Texas1
// Counts are per indexed record in this archive, not per page or per file. A record can contain multiple files. Totals here reflect what this site has indexed from War.gov and may lag the official portal by a short time after a new release.

Reading the differences

  • // Release 01 (May 8, 2026) skews archival: historical photos and scanned records.
  • // Release 02 (May 22, 2026) is video-heavy: 51 of 64 records carry video files, mostly CENTCOM-area encounters.
  • // Release 03 (June 12, 2026) is document-heavy: CIA historical files enter the archive for the first time, plus modern FBI orb cases.
  • // Release 04 continues the pattern of official DOD video packages plus facility-related records.

Deep dives: Release 02 analysis · Release 03 analysis · complete War.gov/UFO guide