Except for the fact you didn’t actually SEE it, did you Commander?
No, he/they did not. They were electronic tracking signals, from a new radar system in the plane, that reportedly still needed major development and upgrades. Did the NYT mention that? No mention in the article above,
In another thread someone said the pilots made visual confirmation of the objects. I don’t know if that’s true or not.
Except vids and transcripts are 14 years apart. Did the FLIR imaging still have hiccups ?
In one of the videos, the pilots were using a flir pod attached to the side of an F-18. The Flir pods have been in use since the 1980’s. With great success I might add. Other newer models of Flir pods are being used as well.
If the pilots can lock on to something and track it with both a Flir pod and with their radar, I’d have to say that something was out there.
Marine aviation electronics tech here. 10years worth..