Concepts
Concepts glossary term

Cut-out

Cut-outs are the primary mechanism for informal technology assessment.

Concepts Also: Cut-out, cut-out Has Dossier → 1 sources

01 Definition

An intelligence community term for an intermediary that allows two parties to interact without direct contact. In technology assessment, a cut-out allows the government to assess private sector technologies without formal acknowledgment.

02 Detailed_Analysis

A cut-out is an intelligence community intermediary structure that provides deniability. If exposed, the government can credibly state it had no formal relationship with the technology developer.

03 Key_Facts

  • ▸ No written contracts (CIA LILINK pattern)
  • ▸ Shell company structures
  • ▸ Provides deniability
  • ▸ Can be terminated without trace

06 Related_Terms (2)

SAP Invisible College

07 Related_Entities (12)

Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland
person Black Track
Pulse-Power-Based Weaponry DIRD
Document Classified Programs
AAWSAP (Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program)
Program Programs
BAASS (Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies)
Organisation Organizations
Christopher "Kit" Green
person Personnel
Hal Puthoff
person UAP Research
Eric Davis
person UAP Research
Robert Bigelow
person UAP Research
James Lacatski
person UAP Research
George Knapp
person UAP Research
SRI International
organisation RD Foundation
Marmer v. Firmage
event Gray Track (Exotic)

08 Timeline_Mentions (10)

1972

Puthoff at SRI (1972-1995): CIA/DIA remote viewing (Stargate) — 50-year UAP physics career from SRI to AAWSAP to TTSA

Stanford PhD. SRI 1972. Remote viewing with Targ. 1974 Nature paper. Stargate program. 38 DIRDs for AAWSAP. Vacuum/metric engineering. BAASS Science Director. TTSA co-founder. 50-year career.

uap-research
1975

Vallée develops Control System Theory (1970s): UAP as meta-system of communication, not just 'visitors from another star'

Most influential UAP theoretical framework. Control system for human consciousness. Meta-system of communication. Adapts to culture. Open or closed? Six-layer model with Davis.

uap-research
1975

Travis Walton abduction (Nov 5, 1975): seven-man crew witnesses, five passed polygraphs, five-day disappearance, 'Fire in the Sky'

Seven-man logging crew. All saw craft. Walton struck by beam. Missing 5 days. Massive search (Sheriff/Forest Service/USAF). Five of six passed polygraphs. 'Small beings with large eyes' (Grays). 'Fire

uap-research
1978

Soviet SETKA UFO Investigation Program Established

The Soviet Union established a standing military order to investigate UFO sightings, controlled by Military Unit 73790. This program would evolve through multiple codenames and eventually spawn the Th

program
1980

Rendlesham Forest (Dec 26-28, 1980): UK's Roswell — USAF nuclear base, Lt. Col. Halt witness, triangular craft, radar confirmation

UK's Roswell. USAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge (nuclear). Lt. Col. Halt (deputy commander). Triangular craft, 2-3m. Ground traces. Radar: thousands of mph. Multi-night. Penniston touched craft. Pope investi

uap-research
1985

Alexander organizes ATP group (1985): first informal interagency UFO study — no paper trail, briefed White House/NSC/CIA

Army Colonel organized interagency UFO study group. Military + intelligence + engineers. No paper trail. Briefed senior officials. Predates AAWSAP by 23 years. Found no single program = stove-piping.

uap-research
1985

Christopher Mellon (1985-2026): DASD-I under Clinton/Bush, SSCI Staff Director, gave Pentagon videos to NYT, Disclosure Foundation Chair

20-year IC career. DASD-I Clinton/Bush. SSCI Staff Director. SAP oversight. Gave Pentagon videos to NYT. USSOCOM legislation. Disclosure Foundation chair. Japan UAP caucus address. AARO obstruction ev

uap-research
1986

Soviet Thread-3 Reverse-Engineering Program Begins

Thread-3 was the Soviet Union's sophisticated reverse-engineering initiative, formally tasked against four domains that would later be replicated exactly by the American AAWSAP DIRDs. The program conc

program
1993

MARAUDER (August 1993): USAF compact toroid weapon, 100 billion g acceleration, Shiva Star, went dark mid-1990s

USAF Phillips Lab compact toroid weapon. 100 billion g acceleration. 9.5 MJ Shiva Star. 'Not a fusion program' — weapons. Physics identical to FRC. Went dark mid-1990s. Lineage: SHIVA I → MARAUDER → F

uap-research
1993

Thread-3 Documents Smuggled to DIA

Thread-3 documents were smuggled out of Russia in 1993 and reached the DIA, providing the foundation for the American AAWSAP program that would be established 14 years later.

program
View Full Timeline →

09 FAQ

What is Cut-out? ▾
An intelligence community term for an intermediary that allows two parties to interact without direct contact. In technology assessment, a cut-out allows the government to assess private sector technologies without formal acknowledgment.
Why does Cut-out matter? ▾
Cut-outs are the primary mechanism for informal technology assessment.
How does Cut-out relate to other concepts? ▾
Cut-out is closely related to SAP, Invisible College. These relationships are documented in the research glossary and cross-referenced with primary source documents.
When did Cut-out appear in the research timeline? ▾
Cut-out is referenced in 10 timeline events, including "Puthoff at SRI (1972-1995): CIA/DIA remote viewing (Stargate) — 50-year UAP physics career from SRI to AAWSAP to TTSA" (1972). The timeline provides chronological context for the development and application of this concept.
Which entities are associated with Cut-out? ▾
12 entities are associated with Cut-out in the network graph, including Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland, Pulse-Power-Based Weaponry DIRD, AAWSAP (Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program). Explore the network graph for full relationship mapping.

Quick_Facts

Category
Concepts
Aliases
Cut-out, cut-out
Sources
1
Related Terms
2
Graph Entities
12
Timeline Events
10

Intelligence_Dossier

View Full Dossier →
Cut-out
View on Network Graph →

Source_PDFs 1 FILES

Declassified CIA records
PDF Archive →
← Previous Bridge Financing All Terms Next → Nested Classification