UAP Imagery

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Al Taqaddum Object

UAP Video - Al Taqaddum Object

In October 2017, an infrared sensor onboard a force protection aerostat near Al Taqaddum Air Base, Iraq, captured 17 minutes of video of an unidentified object.

AARO assesses that the object was a cluster of partially and fully inflated balloons. The object's appearance is consistent with other recorded observations featuring balloon clusters. AARO employed full-motion video analysis and pixel examination techniques to inform its assessment.

AARO assesses that the object did not demonstrate anomalous performance characteristics. AARO used geo-locational data from the aerostat to assess the object's speed and direction of travel.
Mt. Etna Object

UAP Video - Mt. Etna Object

In December 2018, a forward-looking infrared video sensor aboard an uncrewed U.S. Air Force platform captured this footage while operating over the Mediterranean Sea. This footage depicts an object that appears to be transiting a plume of superheated gas and ash produced by an eruption of Mt. Etna, a volcano in Sicily, Italy. AARO coordinated an interagency and international analytical effort that determined that optical effects from the intense atmospheric conditions near the volcano distorted the video, causing the object to appear to transit the plume. AARO assesses with moderate confidence that the footage instead depicts a balloon approximately 170 kilometers from the caldera traveling at wind speed and direction.

Mt. Etna Case Resolution
Puerto Rico Object

Puerto Rico Object Video

On April 26, 2013, an infrared sensor onboard a U.S. Customs and Border Protection aircraft captured footage of a UAP event over the Rafael Hernandez Airport near Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The footage appears to depict a UAP moving at high speed, splitting into two objects, and entering and exiting the water before disappearing into the ocean off Puerto Rico's northwestern coast. AARO assesses with high confidence that the objects did not demonstrate anomalous speeds or flight behaviors. An Intelligence Community partner's reconstruction of the flight path and look angle from the infrared sensor indicates that the video instead depicts two objects traveling near each other rather than a single object splitting into two. This reconstruction also demonstrates that the objects traveled in a straight line at wind speed and did not enter the water at any point.

Puerto Rico Case Resolution
Puerto Rico Object Digital Systems Toolkit Reconstruction
"Go Fast" Object

NAVAIR - FOIA: Case: "GO FAST" Video

Forward-Looking Infrared video footage of an unidentified object recorded by the aircrew of a U.S. Navy F/A-18F in 2015.

"Go Fast" Case Resolution
Western U.S. Objects

UAP Video: Western U.S. Objects

Analysis of the full motion video, combined with commercial flight data in the region, led AARO to assess that the objects were three separate commercial aircraft flying at a great distance from the infrared sensor. The radar tracks for commercial aircraft aligned with the objects, which were only seen as small dots due to their significant distance from the sensor.

Western United States Case Resolution
Atmospheric Wake - South Asian Object (Sensor #1)

UAP Video: Atmospheric Wake - South Asian Object (Sensor #1)

An MQ-9 forward-looking infrared video sensor captured this footage in South Asia as it was recording another MQ-9. After analysis of the full motion video, inclusion of additional footage with a longer focal length, and analysis of commercial flight data in the region, AARO assesses that the object likely is a commercial aircraft and that the trailing cavitation is a sensor artifact resultant of video compression.

Atmospheric Wakes Case Resolution
Atmospheric Wake - South Asian Object (Sensor #2)

UAP Video: Atmospheric Wake - South Asian Object (Sensor #2)
An MQ-9 forward-looking infrared video sensor captured this footage in South Asia as it was recording another MQ-9. After analysis of the full motion video, inclusion of additional footage with a longer focal length, and analysis of commercial flight data in the region, AARO assesses that the object likely is a commercial aircraft and that the trailing cavitation is a sensor artifact resultant of video compression.

Atmospheric Wakes Case Resolution
Middle East Object

UAP Video: Middle East Object

This clip was taken by an MQ-9 in the Middle East, and while AARO assesses the object in the clip is not exhibiting anomalous behavior, the object remains unidentified.
Unresolved Case: Navy 2021 "Flyby"

UAP Video - Unresolved Case: Navy 2021 Flyby

This video, captured by the pilot in the cockpit of a Navy fighter jet, demonstrates the typical speed at which military aircraft may approach an unknown object.
NAVAIR - FOIA: Unresolved Case: FLIR Video

NAVAIR - FOIA: Unresolved Case: FLIR Video

Forward Looking Infrared - Video of a U.S. Navy F/A-18 jet crew’s encounter with an unexplained anomalous phenomena (UAP).
NAVAIR - FOIA: Unresolved Case: Gimbal Video

NAVAIR - FOIA: Unresolved Case: GIMBAL Video

Video of a U.S. Navy F/A-18 jet crew’s encounter with an unexplained anomalous phenomena (UAP).