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HomeWorldMysterious Area 51: Secretive US Air Force RAT55 jet spotted, reviving Hangar 18 alien theories

Mysterious Area 51: Secretive US Air Force RAT55 jet spotted, reviving Hangar 18 alien theories

Rare footage of the secretive US Air Force RAT55 jet at Area 51 reignites decades-old alien and UFO conspiracy theories.

August 22, 2025 / 10:38 IST
Mysterious US Air force jet spotted over Area 51 (Image: X)

Mysterious US Air force jet spotted over Area 51

A mysterious US Air Force aircraft, the top-secret Boeing 737-200 known as the RAT55 jet, was recently spotted flying over Nevada’s Groom Lake facility, famously called Area 51. Photographer Michael Rokita captured rare footage of the elusive RAT55 from 26 miles away atop Tikaboo Peak.

The video shows the plane performing touch-and-go maneuvers before landing on runway 32 and taxiing to Hangar 18, the largest hangar at Area 51, according to the Daily Mail. A YouTuber has seemingly confirmed rumors about this secret plane and its connection to Area 51.

Speculation surrounding Hangar 18 includes theories that the government is conducting secret projects there. The most intriguing rumor suggests the hangar houses evidence of crashed UFOs and extraterrestrial life, including alien technology. It is also believed to be involved in highly classified aerospace programs, fueling ongoing speculation and intrigue.

Among American conspiracy theories, few are as intriguing as those surrounding Area 51, the highly classified US base in the Nevada Desert.

About RAT55

The RAT55 is a highly modified aircraft designed to collect radar data on stealth aircraft during flight, often working alongside other classified programs. It operates covertly, using the call sign "Sabre 98," and flies exclusively in restricted airspace, frequently disabling its tracking devices to disappear from radar.

Easily identified by its distinctive nose and humpbacked shape, the RAT55’s main function is to test the stealth capabilities of other aircraft mid-air.

This secretive role may include support for projects like the RQ-80 drone and the new B-21 Raider stealth bomber. The aircraft is known to operate near Edwards Air Force Base and often avoids detection by turning off its transponder.

Mysterious Area 51 

For many years, the US government denied the existence of Area 51. It wasn’t until 2013 that officials acknowledged the base, stating it was used solely for testing advanced military aircraft.

In April, a story surfaced about Jerry Freeman, a cultural researcher who inadvertently trespassed into a restricted section of Area 51 and lived to tell his experience.

Freeman had been searching for lost 1849 Gold Rush journals near the Nevada base in 1996 and entered the area at night. Instead of finding historical documents, he claimed to have possibly encountered an alien spacecraft, as reported to UFO researcher George Knapp.

Moneycontrol World Desk
first published: Aug 22, 2025 10:28 am

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