View original document (1.3 MB) PDF viewer unavailable in this browser. Download the PDF to view. According to Department of War records released under PURSUE, a U.S. military platform in the United Arab Emirates captured four minutes and 57 seconds of video footage of an unidentified anomalous phenomenon (UAP) in 2023. The Department of War document, titled ‘DOW-UAP-PR27, Unresolved UAP Report, United Arab Emirates, October 2023’, provides a detailed description of the incident, including the video footage from an infrared (IR) sensor.
The footage shows an area of contrast becoming distinguishable against the background, which the IR sensor then pans to center on and zooms in on. The video description, provided for informational purposes only, notes that from 02:15 to 03:26, the area of contrast remains generally in the center of the sensor field-of-view.
However, from 03:27 to 04:57, the sensor motion causes the area of contrast to move erratically across the display, resulting in the sensor system repeatedly losing and reacquiring the area of contrast. The document explicitly states that this description should not be interpreted as reflecting an analytical judgment, investigative conclusion, or factual determination regarding the described event’s validity, nature, or significance.
Context and Agency Background
The incident was reported to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), an office within the United States Office of the Secretary of Defense that investigates unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and other phenomena. According to Wikipedia’s entry on the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, the AARO’s first director was physicist Sean Kirkpatrick, who reported to then-deputy defense secretary Kathleen Hicks. The current director is Jon T.
Kosloski. The AARO’s role in investigating UAPs is to provide a comprehensive and coordinated approach to understanding these phenomena.
The Department of War document also provides context on the mission during which the UAP was observed. The mission narrative, classified as FOUO (For Official Use Only) and subject to the Privacy Act, describes the mission as part of Operation Spartan Shield, with the U.S. military platform taking off from Al Dhafra and conducting various tasks, including collecting signals intelligence and conducting imagery intelligence (IMINT) in support of the operation.
The document mentions that the UAP was observed during the mission, but the official description offers limited detail beyond the video footage and mission narrative. Per a Wikipedia summary of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, the AARO’s investigation into UAPs is part of a broader effort by the U.S. government to understand and address the phenomenon.
The AARO’s work is likely to involve coordination with other government agencies, as well as the analysis of data and evidence collected during incidents like the one described in the Department of War document. The release of this document under PURSUE is significant, as it provides a rare glimpse into the U.S. military’s encounters with UAPs. The fact that the document is classified as FOUO and subject to the Privacy Act suggests that the information contained within is sensitive and potentially relevant to national security.
As such, the release of this document is likely to be of interest to those following the topic of UAPs and the U.S. government’s response to these phenomena. As the U.S. government continues to release documents related to UAPs under PURSUE, readers should watch for future releases that may provide additional information on this incident or others like it. The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office’s investigation into UAPs is ongoing, and it is likely that future releases will shed more light on the nature and significance of these phenomena.
For now, the Department of War document provides a fascinating glimpse into the U.S. military’s encounters with UAPs, and raises important questions about the role of the AARO in investigating these incidents. What remains unanswered is the significance of the UAP observed during the mission, and what implications this may have for national security or our understanding of the phenomenon.
As more information becomes available, it is likely that we will gain a deeper understanding of the UAP phenomenon and the U.S. government’s response to it. For now, the release of this document under PURSUE is an important step towards greater transparency and understanding of this complex and fascinating topic.
