DOW-UAP-D65: Multiple UAP Over Arabian Gulf, 2020
Air Force drone mission logged three unidentified aerial phenomena via FMV during ISR ops.
Jul 16, 2020
Arabian Gulf
PURSUE Program
AI Disclosure Brief
AI assistedReported Object Read
Aircraft observed three separate unidentified aerial phenomena via full motion video during reconnaissance mission in Arabian Gulf region.
Notable Characteristics
- Environment: sky
Reported Motion
No confident entries yet.
Evidence Notes
- FMV observations logged at 1830Z, 1920Z, 2345Z on 16 Jul 2020.
- Grid locations: 39RVM58, 39RUN76, 39RUN62.
- No weather impact noted.
Declassified USAF drone MISREP documents three FMV-detected UAP during routine ISR over Arabian Gulf; no further details on object characteristics or behavior provided.
Unclear
FMV, ANDAS4
85%
Prosaic Leads
- Unidentified drones or UAS in contested airspace.
- Sensor artifacts from ANDAS4 pod.
- Vessels or decoys misidentified as aerial.
Anomalous Indicators
- Multiple discrete UAP events over 5+ hours.
- Logged explicitly as 'UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL PHENOMENON' in official report.
- FMV exploitation by DGS-1 noted but details redacted.
Evidence Gaps
- No descriptions of UAP shape, motion, or size.
- FMV files not included; only textual logs.
- Redacted callsigns, headings, and operation names limit context.
Evidence Quotes // source statements
Open archive"AT 1830Z, 1.4a OBSERVED AN UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL PHENOMENON IVO 39RVM58"
Unknown speaker, 482 ATKS Crew / US Air Force
OBSERVATION line 1, FMV method.
Source"AT 1920Z 1.4a OBSERVED AN UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL PHENOMENON IVO 39RUN76"
Unknown speaker, 482 ATKS Crew / US Air Force
OBSERVATION line 2, FMV method.
Source"AT 2345Z 1.4a OBSERVED AN UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL PHENOMENON IVO 39RUN62"
Unknown speaker, 482 ATKS Crew / US Air Force
OBSERVATION line 3, FMV method.
SourcePattern 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
Unknown Formation Tracked Arabian Gulf 2020
Aircrew observed formation of unknown flying objects via sensor for two minutes before clouds obscured.
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-D65, Mission Report, Arabian Gulf, July 2020
Declassified by MG Richard A. Harrison USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Declassified on: 16 March 2026 FOUO / Privacy Act applies Misrep 4472514 Narrative AT 0443Z. 1.4a TOOK OFF FROM OKAS. AT 0504Z 1.4a HANDED OVER FROM THE LRE. FROM 0631Z TO 0050Z 1.4B FROM 0552Z TO 0012Z 1.4a SUPPORTED NAVCENT TO OPERATION (b)(1)1.4a IVO ARABIAN GULF, STRAIT OF HORMUZ AND GULF OF OMAN. SEE ISR LINE 1. AT 0615, OBSERVED AN UNIDENTIFIED A GUARD CALL. SEE GUARD CALL LINE 1. AT 1830 AERIAL PHENOMENON. SEE OBS LINE 1. AT 1920Z, BSERVED AN UNIDENTIFIED BSERVED AN UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL PHENOMENON. SEE OBS LINE 2. AT 2345Z. 1.4a AERIAL PHENOMENON. SEE OBS LINE 3. AT 0012Z. AS CLEARED TO RTB. AT 0124Z, 1.4a LANDED AT OKAS. FMV WAS EXPLOITED BY DGS-1. 20.3 MISSION HOURS, 18.3 IMINT HOURS, 1 IMINT TASKING PROSECUTED, 18.3 1