View original document (0.3 MB) PDF viewer unavailable in this browser. Download the PDF to view. According to Department of War records released under the PURSUE archive on May 8, 2026, a U.S. military operator reported tracking a “round, cold object” over the Gulf of Aden for eight minutes during a night intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) mission on September 4, 2020.
The document, titled “DOW-UAP-D57, Range Fouler Reporting Form, Gulf of Aden, September 2020,” is a standardized U.S. Navy form used to record unauthorized intrusions into controlled airspace during active military operations or training. The report, filed by an operator with the rank of O-3 in squadron 1172 ATKS, states that the object was detected at 21:09:00 Zulu time at an altitude of 23,819 feet HAT (height above terrain).
The operator described the object as traveling at 168 degrees at 277 miles per hour, with the infrared sensor set to “black hot,” causing the object to appear “bright white.” The narrative section of the form notes that the object “made a few abrupt directional changes during the 8 minute contact.” The sensor was aimed 39 degrees below the aircraft’s altitude, with a slant range of 6.1 nautical miles and a ground range of 8.81 kilometers.
The Department of War document includes a checklist of physical characteristics observed by the operator. The object was marked as “Round” and “Cold,” with no indication of moving parts, metallic composition, wings, airframe, or markings.
The operator did not report any electronic attack (EA) indications, such as radar jamming or false trackfiles. The form also notes that the operator had a stable trackfile and that the IR sensor was in autotrack mode, but no tally was achieved, meaning the object was not visually confirmed outside of the sensor feed.
The official description accompanying the document, provided by the Department of War, states that “all descriptive and estimative language contained in this report reflects the reporter’s subjective interpretation at the time of the event.” It further cautions that “such characterizations should not be interpreted as a conclusive indication of the presence or absence of any intrinsic object features or performance characteristics.”
Context of the PURSUE Archive and the Range Fouler Form
The PURSUE archive, hosted at war.gov, is a Department of War initiative to declassify and release records related to unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). The “DOW-UAP-D57” document is one of several Range Fouler Reporting Forms that have been made public as part of this ongoing release.
The form itself is a standard U.S. Navy tool designed to capture detailed information about unauthorized intrusions into military operating areas, often referred to as “range foulers.” The document’s metadata indicates it was approved for release to the MRO (likely the Military Reporting Organization) on March 16, 2026, and is marked as FOUO (For Official Use Only) with a PA (Privacy Act) applies notation.
The report includes a request for the operator to save display tapes from the entire interaction as a .wmv file and upload them to a repository, though it is unclear from the document whether such video evidence was submitted or retained. The form also includes a note instructing users not to use a purple “submit” button and to save the file with a specific filename format, suggesting the form was part of an internal, non-automated reporting process.
Historical and Analytical Context
Per a Wikipedia summary of the year 1967, that year was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1967th year of the Common Era. While this historical reference does not directly relate to the Gulf of Aden incident, it provides a chronological anchor for readers unfamiliar with the broader timeline of UAP reporting. The incident in question occurred in September 2020, over 50 years after the year 1967, highlighting the continued nature of such encounters in modern military operations.
The Gulf of Aden, where the incident took place, is a strategic waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean, frequently patrolled by U.S. and allied naval forces. The operator’s report of a round, cold object making abrupt directional changes at a consistent speed of 277 mph aligns with patterns seen in other UAP reports, though the Department of War document offers no explanation for the object’s origin or nature.
What Remains Unanswered
The document leaves several key questions unresolved. The operator did not provide a specific latitude and longitude for the contact, instead noting an estimated MGRS (Military Grid Reference System) location that is partially redacted in the released version. No information is given about whether the object was tracked by radar or other sensors beyond the IR system.
The report also does not indicate whether the object was observed by other aircraft or ground-based assets. Readers should watch for future PURSUE releases to see if additional documentation, such as the requested video tapes or supplementary reports from other units in the area, becomes available.
The Department of War has not indicated whether this specific incident was resolved or whether the object was ever identified. As the PURSUE archive continues to expand, further details may emerge that clarify the nature of the round, cold object tracked over the Gulf of Aden in September 2020.
