mats: i think the tic tac event is explainable without any aliens required

mats: a sub in the area field testing electro-optical warfare techniques against peer adversary interfering with IR with sub-launched drones and buggy radars you could fly a balloon through

mats: er, with IR. and sub-launched drones*

mats: presumably the us UAP program is intended for snatching foreign aircraft, for analysis and RE