When PSYOPs are part of a nation's military strategy, they are known collectively as psychological warfare (PSYWAR). A PSYOP used in warfare has the primary purpose of influencing attitudes and behavior of a hostile foreign power in a way that achieves the warring nation's objectives. During war, a nation's use of propaganda and other psychological measures would often be illegal to use on its' citizens at home.

A modern example of PSYWAR occurred in the early 1990s during the Gulf War. In that campaign the U.S. led coalition successfully used PSYOPs and ejected Iraq's military out of Kuwait. Tens of thousands of Saddam Hussein's military were induced to surrender or defect by an exceptionally effective deception PSYOP. Other military examples are readily available for those willing to search the Internet.

In environments less than war, a nation uses PSYOPS to accomplish its objectives just as the military would during a war. PSYOP policy is derived from normal governmental policy statements. It has become integrated into governmental operations as a means of doing business. That is most assuredly how PYOPs have come into play within the UFO phenomena.

In the beginning a policy of playing down UFOs may have been implemented in order to reduce perceived public anxiety. This policy may have made sense sixty years ago but now has outlived its usefulness. Regardless of the policy's legitimacy, PSYOPs would have been an expected government outcropping to respond to the policy decision. PSYOPs can be massive campaigns or mere statements made to the right audience by the correct spokesperson.

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