Unknown Formation Tracked Arabian Gulf 2020
Aircrew observed formation of unknown flying objects via sensor for two minutes before clouds obscured.
Aug 27, 2020
Arabian Gulf
PURSUE Program
AI Disclosure Brief
AI assistedReported Object Read
Formation of unknown flying objects tracked by sensor traveling NE-NW along the coast for approximately two minutes before positive identification lost due to cloud cover.
Notable Characteristics
- Duration: 2 minutes
- Environment: sky
Reported Motion
- traveling NE-NW
Evidence Notes
- Sensor observation logged in official MISREP.
- Tracked from 1527Z to 1529Z 27 Aug 2020.
Declassified USAF mission report documents brief sensor contact with unidentified formation in Arabian Gulf amid ISR operations; tracking lost to weather.
Formation
SENSOR
85%
Prosaic Leads
- Unidentified conventional aircraft or drones obscured by clouds.
- Possible misidentified birds or balloons in formation.
Anomalous Indicators
- Labeled 'UNK' in official report.
- Tracked via sensor for 2 minutes without PID.
Evidence Gaps
- Redacted callsign, aircraft type, and sensor details.
- No imagery or FMV from observation provided.
- No size, speed, or altitude data.
Evidence Quotes // source statements
Open archive"FROM 1527Z TO 1529Z, OBSERVED A FORMATION OF FLYING OBJECTS TRAVELING NE-NW ALONG THE COAST... TRACKING THIS FORMATION FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES BEFORE PID WAS LOST IN CLOUD COVER."
Unknown speaker / 482ATKS
GENTEXT/OBSERVATION details.
"OBSERVED IX UNK FORMATION."
Unknown speaker / 482ATKS
Observation line summary.
Pattern Mesh // linked sightings
DOW-UAP-D60 Mission Report, Arabian Gulf 2020
Air Force asset observed single UAP transiting via FMV over Arabian Gulf.
Same country: Arabian Gulf
Same source archive
DOW-UAP-D65: Multiple UAP Over Arabian Gulf, 2020
Air Force drone mission logged three unidentified aerial phenomena via FMV during ISR ops.
Same country: Arabian Gulf
Same source archive
Unresolved UAP Report, Arabian Gulf, 2020
The United States Central Command submitted a report of an unidentified anomalous phenomenon (UAP) to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) consisting of five minutes and 11 seconds of video footage from an infrared sensor aboard a U.S. military platform in 2020. The reporter did not provide any oral or written description of the observation. Video Description: This video features incidentally recorded audio, which does not relate to the visual content described below. 00:00-00:30: No content. 00:31-03:24: The sensor pans down and to the right to focus on an area of contrast. The sensor tracks the area of contrast against the background for approximately three minutes, panning to maintain its position generally within the center of the frame. The sensor cycles contrast and zoom levels several times throughout, appearing as brief, bright white flashes across the frame. 03:25-04:23: The sensor cycles through reticles of various sizes while continuing to track the area of contrast. Between 04:20 and 04:23, the area of contrast briefly leaves the center of the sensor field-of-view. 04:24-04:50: The sensor field-of-view widens to zoom out from the scene, continuing to track the area of contrast. 04:50-04:54: The sensor stops tracking the area of contrast, at which point it exits the frame from the top left quadrant of the screen. 04:55-05:11: No content. This video description is provided for informational purposes only. Readers should not interpret any part of this description as reflecting an analytical judgment, investigative conclusion, or factual determination regarding the described event’s validity, nature, or significance.
Same country: Arabian Gulf
Same source archive
Unresolved UAP Report, Arabian Gulf, 2020
The United States Central Command submitted a report of an unidentified anomalous phenomenon to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) consisting of four minutes and 53 seconds of video footage from an infrared sensor aboard a U.S. military platform in 2020. The reporter did not provide any oral or written description of the observation. Video Description: 00:00-00:12: An area of contrast enters the sensor field-of-view from the bottom left corner of the frame. The sensor pans to track the area of contrast, keeping it generally within the lower left quadrant of the frame. 00:13-00:40: The area of contrast intermittently loses distinctiveness against the background, seeming to disappear and reappear irregularly. 00:41: The sensor narrows its field-of-view to zoom in on the area of contrast. 00:42-00:52: An area of contrast exits the sensor field-of-view from the left half of the top of the frame, after which the sensor pans up and to the left. 00:53-02:09: The sensor pans erratically, with an area of contrast appearing in a relatively fixed position to the left and slightly below the center of the frame. 02:09-02:29: The sensor switches imaging modalities, and the area of contrast appears to the right and slightly above the center of the frame. 02:30-04:53: The sensor switches imaging modalities again, and the area of contrast returns to its previous position to the left and slightly below the center of the frame. This video description is provided for informational purposes only. Readers should not interpret any part of this description as reflecting an analytical judgment, investigative conclusion, or factual determination regarding the described event’s validity, nature, or significance.
Same country: Arabian Gulf
Same source archive
Unresolved UAP Report, Arabian Gulf, 2020
The United States Central Command submitted a report of an unidentified anomalous phenomenon to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) consisting of one minute and 34 seconds of video footage from an infrared sensor aboard a U.S. military platform in 2020. The reporter did not provide any oral or written description of the observation. Video Description: 00:01: An area of contrast enters the sensor field-of-view from the bottom third of the left side of the screen. 00:02-01:34: The sensor pans from left to right, tracking the area of contrast and keeping it generally centered within the field-of-view. This video description is provided for informational purposes only. Readers should not interpret any part of this description as reflecting an analytical judgment, investigative conclusion, or factual determination regarding the described event’s validity, nature, or significance.
Same country: Arabian Gulf
Same source archive
Unresolved UAP Report, Arabian Gulf, 2020
The United States Central Command submitted a report of an unidentified anomalous phenomenon to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) consisting of one minute and three seconds of video footage from an infrared sensor aboard a U.S. military platform in 2020. The original reporter digitally altered the imagery by pausing the video playback and adding a white line encircling an area of interest at timestamp 00:10, annotated with the phrase “U/I SMALL THERMAL SIGNATURE.” AARO did not edit the originally reported material, and this media is presented as received. Video Description: 00:00-00:09: An area of contrast brightens within the sensor field-of-view, becoming increasingly distinct against the background. 00:10-00:14: Playback pauses to display a white line encircling an area of interest, annotated with the phrase “U/I SMALL THERMAL SIGNATURE.” 00:15-01:03: Playback resumes, with the sensor panning to track the area of contrast against the background, generally maintaining the area of contrast’s position within the top third of the display area. During this period, the sensor cycles through several contrast and zoom settings. This video description is provided for informational purposes only. Readers should not interpret any part of this description as reflecting an analytical judgment, investigative conclusion, or factual determination regarding the described event’s validity, nature, or significance.
Same country: Arabian Gulf
Same source archive
Chronology Trace // before & after
Official Files // source material
1 linkedDOW-UAP-D61, Mission Report, Arabian Gulf, August 2020
Dectass1f1ed by MG Richard A. Hamson USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Dectass1fied on 22 January 2026 Misrep 4685903 Narrative ( • t AT 2307Z,[Mi] TOOK OFF FROM OKAS. AT 2320Zi~ HANDED OVER FROM THE LRE. FROM 0003Z TO 1917Z,~COLLECTED SIGINT VI,} AIRHANDLER. FROM 0041Z TO 1840ZJ 1.4a !SUPPORTED NAVCENT TO OPERATION! 1.4a !IVO ARABJAN GULF, STRAIT OF HORMUZ AND GULF OF OMAN. SEE IS~ LINE 1. AT 0532Z,! 1Aa ! RECEIVED A GUARD CALL. SEE GUARDCALL LINE I. AT 15272, ~OBSERVED IX UNK I FORMATION. SEE OBSERVATION LINE 1. AT 1840Z,~ WAS CLEARED TO RTB. AT 1944Z, ~ HANDED BACK TO THE LRE. AT 2012Z,~LANDIED AT OKAS. FMV WAS 'EXPLOITED BY DGS 1. 21 MISSION HOURS, 17.9 lMINT HOURS, I IMINT TASKING PROSECUTED, 19.2 SlGlNT HOURS, 1 SIGINT TASKING PR SECUTED, 2 TOTAL TASKINGS PROSECUTED Admin CLAS