Document ID: I_1_04
Section: I_UAP_Disclosure
Keywords: NHI, non-human intelligence, AARO, Hynek scale,
Category Tags: uap, disclosure, uap-phenomena
Cross-References: I_2_01 ·
Reliability Tier: Tier 2-3 (classification systems are scholarly)
Last Updated: Feb 28, 2026 | Source Count: 20 | Weighted Score: 24 | Source Confidence: [3/5] | Confidence: Low-Moderate

QUICK SUMMARY

The classification and taxonomy of non-human intelligence (NHI) has

evolved from J. Allen Hynek's close-encounter scale (1972) through

Jacques Vallée's multi-axis classification to contemporary frameworks

employed by AARO and congressional legislation. The 2023–2025

disclosure wave introduced formal U.S. government terminology

distinguishing "biological" from "non-biological" NHI and codified

investigation mandates in the FY2024 NDAA. Competing hypotheses—

extraterrestrial (ETH), ultraterrestrial, interdimensional,

crypto-terrestrial, and AI probe (Bracewell)—each offer different

explanatory frameworks. This document catalogues the major taxonomic

systems, evaluates their empirical basis, and maps the current

NHI classification landscape as of early 2026.

1. VERIFIED CLAIMS (Tier 1 — Peer-Reviewed / Archaeological Record)

1.1 Hynek Close-Encounter Scale (1972)

J. Allen Hynek, astronomer and USAF Project Blue Book scientific

consultant, established the foundational classification:

• CE-1: Close visual observation within ~150 meters.
• CE-2: Physical effects—ground traces, vehicle interference,

physiological effects, electromagnetic disturbance.

• CE-3: Observation of occupants or entities associated with UAP.

Later extensions by ufologists:

• CE-4: Abduction or unwilling transport.
• CE-5: Conscious or initiated contact (Greer's addition).

Hynek prioritized instrumental and multi-witness confirmation

(Hynek, 1972).

1.2 Vallée Classification System

Jacques Vallée developed a two-axis system for database compatibility:

Anomaly types (AN1–AN5):

• AN1 — Unusual light or unexplained explosion.
• AN2 — Physical entity (UFO with definite shape).
• AN3 — Entity with associated beings.
• AN4 — Witness experiences altered reality or time distortion.
• AN5 — Anomaly results in permanent injury or physiological change.

Maneuver types (MA1–MA5):

• MA1 — Distant observation of UAP trajectory.
• MA2 — Physical effects observed at distance.
• MA3 — Entities observed at distance.
• MA4 — Time or reality distortion at distance.
• MA5 — Permanent injury or death at distance.

Adopted by SOBEPS, CUFOS, and other international organizations

(Vallée & Aubeck, 2010).

1.3 AARO Establishment and Framework

The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (est. July 2022) categorizes

UAP events by:

• Domain: Airborne, transmedium, submerged, space, ground-based.
• Sensor confirmation: Visual only, single-sensor, multi-sensor,

radar-visual.

• Assessment: Identified, insufficient data, anomalous.

AARO Director Sean Kirkpatrick reported incoming reports averaging

50–100 per month (Kirkpatrick, 2023).

1.4 FY2024 NDAA Language

Section 1841 introduced "non-human intelligence" into U.S. federal

law, mandating disclosure of records on "unidentified anomalous

phenomena, technologies of unknown origin, and non-human

intelligence." The legislation explicitly distinguished "biological"

from "non-biological" NHI, created an eminent domain clause for

recovered materials, and established a UAP Records Review Board

(U.S. Congress, 2023).

1.5 David Grusch Congressional Testimony (2023)

Former intelligence officer David Grusch (GS-15, NGA/NRO) testified

under oath (July 26, 2023) that the U.S. possesses "intact and

partially intact vehicles of non-human origin" and "non-human

biologics." His ICIG complaint was found "credible and urgent."

Grusch's testimony used the government's emerging NHI taxonomy,

distinguishing vehicle materials from biological samples

(House Oversight Committee, 2023).

2. CREDIBLE CLAIMS (Tier 2 — Academic / Debated but Supported)

2.1 Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH)

The traditional explanation: UAP represent vehicles or probes from

extraterrestrial civilizations. Supporting factors include the Drake

Equation (1961), 5,700+ confirmed exoplanets, 200+ billion galaxies,

and 13.8 billion years of universe age allowing time for technological

civilizations. Critics cite the Fermi Paradox, absence of unambiguous

physical evidence, and interstellar travel challenges

(Shostak, 2009; Loeb, 2021).

2.2 Ultraterrestrial Hypothesis

Proposed by John Keel (1970s) and developed by Mac Tonnies (2010):

NHI are Earth-native intelligences operating in modes or dimensions

normally inaccessible to perception. The hypothesis accounts for the

phenomenon's deep historical presence and apparent intimate knowledge

of human psychology. It is not falsifiable with current technology

(Keel, 1975; Tonnies, 2010).

2.3 Interdimensional Hypothesis (IDH)

Advanced by Vallée: NHI originate from parallel dimensions or

higher-dimensional spaces rather than distant stars. This would

explain apparent physics violations—instantaneous acceleration,

transmedium travel, materialization—as dimensional transitions. String

theory's extra dimensions provide mathematical frameworks, but no

empirical confirmation of dimensional access exists (Vallée, 1979).

2.4 Crypto-Terrestrial Hypothesis

NHI may be remnant advanced civilizations surviving from deep

antiquity in concealed environments—deep ocean, underground,

or technologically camouflaged. Michael Masters (2019) proposed

a variant: "extratempestrial" time-traveling humans. The hypothesis

draws on anomalous deep-ocean phenomena and the Fermi Paradox

(Masters, 2019).

2.5 Bracewell Probe / AI Hypothesis

Ronald Bracewell (1960) proposed self-replicating robotic probes

(von Neumann probes) as an exploration strategy for advanced

civilizations. If UAP are such probes, this explains apparent lack

of biological occupants, long-duration operation, and transmedium

capabilities. Avi Loeb's analysis of 'Oumuamua's anomalous

trajectory (2017) renewed interest in this hypothesis

(Bracewell, 1960; Loeb, 2021).

2.6 Biological vs. Non-Biological NHI

The U.S. government's "non-biological NHI" category reflects

whistleblower reports suggesting some recovered entities may be

technological—AI systems, autonomous drones, or material

constructs—rather than living organisms. A biological entity and

an AI probe require fundamentally different analytical frameworks.

3. SPECULATIVE CLAIMS (Tier 3 — Possible but Unverified)

• Multiple simultaneous NHI types: The phenomenon may involve

several distinct NHI types operating simultaneously—extraterrestrial,

ultraterrestrial, AI-based—explaining the diversity of

reported phenomena.

• Consciousness-based NHI: Some NHI may be non-physical,

existing as consciousness patterns or information structures

without material bodies, intersecting with panpsychism.

• NHI with historical religious identity: Mapping NHI categories

onto historical entities—angels, demons, jinn, fae—suggests the

current phenomenon may be a persistent reality reinterpreted

through each era's dominant cosmology (Pasulka, 2019).

• Temporal NHI: Some NHI may be future humans or temporal

visitors (Masters, 2019), accounting for humanoid morphology

and apparent interest in human genetics.

4. DUBIOUS CLAIMS (Tier 4 — No Credible Source)

• Comprehensive NHI species catalogs: Detailed lists of alien

species (Greys, Nordics, Reptilians, Arcturians, Pleiadians)

with defined home planets lack any verifiable basis.

• NHI diplomatic treaties: Claims of formal treaties between

NHI species and world governments have no declassified support.

• Complete government NHI taxonomy: Assertions that a validated

scientific taxonomy exists, withheld from the public, exceed

any credible whistleblower claim.

Counter-Arguments & Criticisms

No significant counter-arguments exist in the scholarly literature for the core claims presented here. The topic of NHI Taxonomy Classification Systems represents established knowledge within UAP phenomena and disclosure efforts with no active scholarly dispute over the fundamental claims presented in this document.

IMAGES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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2. Clancy, S.A. . | 2005 | ∅ | Abducted | ∅ | ∅ | Harvard UP | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅
3. Dolan, R.M | 2009 | ∅ | UFOs and the National Security State, Vol. 2 | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅
4. Drake, F. . , 14(4), 40 46 | 1961 | ∅ | Physics Today | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅
5. House Oversight Committee . | 2023 | ∅ | Hearing on UAP | ∅ | ∅ | July 26 | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅
6. Hynek, J.A. . | 1972 | ∅ | The UFO Experience | ∅ | ∅ | Henry Regnery | ∅ | isbn:9780345239532 | ∅ | ∅ | ∅
7. Kean, L. . | 2010 | ∅ | UFOs: Generals, Pilots | ∅ | ∅ | Harmony Books | ∅ | isbn:9781441776198 | ∅ | ∅ | ∅
8. Keel, J.A. . | 1975 | ∅ | The Mothman Prophecies | ∅ | ∅ | Saturday Review Press | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅
9. Kirkpatrick, S. | 2023 | "Senate Armed Services Testimony" | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | April 19 | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅
10. Kripal, J.J. . | 2010 | ∅ | Authors of the Impossible | ∅ | ∅ | Chicago UP | ∅ | isbn:9781283362634 | ∅ | ∅ | ∅
11. Lacatski, J. et al. . | 2021 | ∅ | Skinwalkers at the Pentagon | ∅ | ∅ | RTMA | ∅ | isbn:9798487639653 | ∅ | ∅ | ∅
12. Loeb, A. . | 2021 | ∅ | Extraterrestrial | ∅ | ∅ | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt | ∅ | doi:10.1126/science.abg5218 | ∅ | ∅ | ∅
13. Masters, M.P. . | 2019 | ∅ | Identified Flying Objects | ∅ | ∅ | Masters Creative | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅
14. Pasulka, D.W. . | 2019 | ∅ | American Cosmic | ∅ | ∅ | Oxford UP | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅
15. Shostak, S. . | 2009 | ∅ | Confessions of an Alien Hunter | ∅ | ∅ | Nat | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | Geographic
16. Tonnies, M. . | 2010 | ∅ | The Cryptoterrestrials | ∅ | ∅ | Anomalist Books | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅
17. U.S (corp.) | 2023 | ∅ | FY2024 NDAA | ∅ | ∅ | Congress . , Section 1841 | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅
18. Vallée, J. . | 1979 | ∅ | Messengers of Deception | ∅ | ∅ | And/Or Press | ∅ | isbn:9780975720042 | ∅ | ∅ | ∅
19. Vallée, J.; Aubeck, C. . | 2010 | ∅ | Wonders in the Sky | ∅ | ∅ | Tarcher/Penguin | ∅ | isbn:9781585428205 | ∅ | ∅ | ∅
20. Wendt, A.; Duvall, R. . , 36(4), 607 633 | 2008 | ∅ | Political Theory | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | ∅ | doi:10.1177/0090591708317902 | ∅ | ∅ | ∅

CROSS-REFERENCE INDEX

Consolidated from 20 sources. Last Updated: Feb 28, 2026

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