The Department of War, in coordination with the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), has declassified a short video clip of an unidentified anomalous phenomenon (UAP) recorded on September 17, 2020. The footage, designated PR84 under the Pentagon’s release framework, was captured by a platform operating under the callsign identifier. The release follows the implementation of the PURSUE policy framework, which standardizes the declassification and dissemination of UAP-related material across the Department of Defense.
The video, lasting approximately 30 seconds, shows a small, dark, oval-shaped object moving against a clear blue sky. According to the metadata, the sensor was operating in a standard visual spectrum mode at the time of recording.
The platform’s location is not disclosed in the file, but the object is observed at an estimated altitude of 15,000 feet, traveling at a speed that the report describes as consistent with conventional aircraft. However, the object executes a sudden 90-degree turn without any visible means of propulsion or aerodynamic surfaces, a maneuver that the report notes is beyond known human technology. The report does not identify the object or offer any explanation for its behavior.
It states that the sensor operator, using the callsign, reported the object after it appeared on radar and was visually confirmed. The operator described the object as metallic and silent, with no heat signature detected by infrared sensors.
The Department of War has not released any additional data from the same event, citing ongoing analysis. The release is part of a broader effort by AARO to provide transparency regarding UAP encounters while protecting sensitive operational details. The PURSUE policy, established in 2023, requires that all UAP incidents involving military platforms be reviewed for potential declassification within five years.
This particular video was cleared for release after a review by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, which determined that it contained no classified technical information. Context for the incident remains limited. The Department of War has not specified whether the platform was operating in a domestic or international airspace.
The filename, dow-uap-pr084-17-sept-2020-callsign-observes-uap, indicates that the event was logged as a routine observation. No other sensors or platforms corroborated the sighting, according to the report.
Moving forward, AARO has the authority to request additional data from the Department of War, including radar logs, maintenance records, and operator interviews. The office may also task other intelligence agencies with cross-referencing the object’s characteristics against known databases. AARO’s next quarterly report, expected later this year, may include further analysis of this incident if additional information becomes available.
