The Department of War has made public a previously classified video, labeled PR78, that captures an encounter from November 2, 2020. The footage was released under the Pentagon’s PURSUE policy, which requires the declassification of UAP‑related material when it does not threaten national security. The video shows a U.S. military aircraft using the placeholder callsign “Callsign” observing and tracking an unidentified aerial phenomenon.
Recorded by an onboard sensor, the clip depicts a small, metallic‑looking object moving at high speed. According to the file’s metadata, the aircraft was operating in an undisclosed location and the sensor tracked the object for roughly two minutes.
The report does not reveal the exact geographic coordinates or the specific type of aircraft involved. Technical details embedded in the filename suggest the sensor was likely an infrared or electro‑optical system, typical on modern military platforms. The object appears to perform rapid accelerations and sudden directional changes that exceed the known capabilities of conventional aerospace vehicles.
The document explicitly states that no speculation is offered about the object’s nature and emphasizes that the footage is raw and unenhanced, so no definitive conclusions can be drawn from the video alone. Nevertheless, the Department of War has classified the incident as a “genuine UAP event,” basing that determination on sensor cross‑referencing and operator testimony.
The release aligns with ongoing transparency initiatives led by the All‑domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. AARO, which was established in 2022, has been tasked with centralizing UAP investigations across the Department of Defense, while the Secretary’s office has endorsed the disclosure as part of a broader effort to reduce stigma and encourage service members to report unusual sightings. Context surrounding the event remains limited. The report does not indicate whether multiple sensors tracked the object or if other aircraft were present.
It also does not mention any attempts at communication or identification. The use of the callsign “Callsign” is noted as a placeholder commonly employed in training or classified operations, hinting that the platform may have been engaged in a sensitive mission.
Looking ahead, AARO can request additional data from the unit that conducted the flight, including radar logs, maintenance records, and interviews with the aircrew. The office may also direct other intelligence agencies to seek corroborating signals intelligence or satellite imagery. AARO’s director has said that each declassified case is examined for the possibility of follow‑up investigation.
The PR78 video adds to an expanding collection of UAP footage released by the Pentagon since 2020. Analysts caution that, without supplementary data, the recording remains an anomaly.
AARO continues to stress that the majority of UAP reports are eventually identified as conventional objects or phenomena, although a small fraction remain unexplained.
