DOW-UAP-PR042, Unresolved UAP Report, Middle East, 2020
Key moments
Official description
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.
✦ AI visual analysis
Grainy black-and-white infrared sensor footage shows a mostly flat grey field with a large soft-edged bright triangular or wedge-shaped area of contrast occupying the lower-left portion of the frame, resembling a heat bloom, plume, or lens flare. A tiny faint bright dot is visible near the center, close to the crosshair reticle. Cyan corner HUD brackets and an 'N' orientation marker are present, and black rectangular redaction boxes cover parts of the left, right, and top edges.
Generated with AI from the official file — may contain errors.
Official 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.
Source: U.S. Department of War / AARO — public domain · war.gov/ufo