A Department of War mission report identified as “DOW‑UAP‑D28, Mission Report, Iraq, September 2024” details an encounter with an unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAP) observed by a U.S. military aircraft while conducting a weapons calibration exercise on 20 September 2024. The sortie departed OKAS at 1740 Z, reached its operational area around 1930 Z, and checked in with the forward operations center before commencing the test.
The mission profile listed “armed overwatch” and noted the release of several munitions: a 20 × 105 mm round, a 101 × 30 mm round, and an AGM‑176 Griffin air‑to‑surface missile. During the missile launch, the crew’s infrared sensors—designated MX‑20 and MX‑25—registered a bright lens‑flare‑like event moving rapidly across the sensor field of view. The report describes the phenomenon as “moving through the aircraft’s sensor field‑of‑view at a high rate of speed” and characterizes the source as “significant heat.” The description reflects the reporter’s subjective interpretation at the time; no definitive identification was made.
Technical details in the MISREP indicate the aircraft was equipped with an AN/APN‑241 radar, AN/ALR‑56M radar software load, and an AAR‑47 missile warning system. While the form includes standard mission data—aircraft configuration, mission type, and weapon release chronology—specific identifiers such as the aircraft’s callsign, tail number, and crew names are redacted.
The document was released to the public on 8 May 2026 through the Department of War’s PURSUE archive. MISREPs (Mission Reports) serve as the military’s standardized method for recording operational circumstances and are routinely forwarded to the All‑Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) when they involve UAP observations. AARO, an office within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, is tasked with investigating unidentified aerial and other anomalous phenomena.
Its first director was physicist Sean Kirkpatrick, who reported to then‑Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks; the current director is Jon T. Kosloski.
The release of this report under PURSUE suggests ongoing AARO analysis of the incident and a broader effort to increase transparency regarding UAP sightings. The limited narrative in the mission report offers a concise snapshot of the event but leaves many questions unanswered. The nature, origin, and classification of the observed heat source remain undetermined, and the redactions constrain public insight into operational specifics.
As the Department of War continues to publish declassified documents through the PURSUE platform, analysts and the public can anticipate further details that may clarify this and similar encounters. The DOW‑UAP‑D28 report underscores the U.S. military’s systematic approach to documenting and forwarding unexplained aerial observations to AARO for review.
Future disclosures are expected to expand understanding of the phenomenon and the investigative steps being taken. Until additional information emerges, the September 2024 Iraq incident stands as a documented example of a UAP sighting recorded during a routine weapons calibration test.
