Mission Report, Syria, November 2016
- Date
- 18 Nov 2016
- Place
- Syria
- Record
- Pentagon file
- Assessment
- Not assessed
- Evidence strength
What was reported
A one-page CTG 67.1 briefing slide (not a raw MISREP form), titled 'P-8A Observes Unidentified Low-Flying Object 55 NM Northwest of Latakia, Syria.' While monitoring KCTG activity, a P-8A observed via EO/IR what the slide itself calls 'a possible missile launch,' traveling at approximately 500 knots in sea-skim mode on a southeasterly heading before passing between a Russian vessel (INGUL ARS) and an unidentified vessel; visual contact was lost after about 2 minutes. The mission commander's own comment assesses the interaction as safe and the activity as standard, consistent with known KCTG patterns.
What officials concluded
Tentative explanation
CTG 67.1 assessed the object as consistent with standard, previously-assessed KCTG missile activity in the area, though this was the first such observation specifically by a P-8A.
- Agency
- Department of War
- Released in
- 123456
Evidence profile
- No: Visual
- Yes: Infrared
- No: Radar
- No: Video
- No: Photo
- No: Film
- No: Audio
- No: Night vision
- No: Other sensor
- No: Civilian
- Yes: Military aircrew
- No: Military ground
- No: Airline crew
- No: Sensor operator
- No: Law enforcement
- No: Scientist
- No: Astronaut
- No: Intelligence official
- No: Other
- No: Light only
- No: Orb or sphere
- No: Disc
- No: Triangle
- No: Cylinder
- No: Cube
- Yes: Other shape
- No: Physiological
- No: Physical trace
- No: Electromagnetic
- No: Sound
- No: Silent
Why this rating Single sensor (EO/IR); the reporting unit's own title and text identify the object as a 'possible missile' and the commanding officer explicitly assesses it as standard, known activity -- this is functionally a resolved/explained sighting despite being catalogued among 'unresolved' PURSUE files.
As described in the file
- Witnesses
- P-8A aircrew (Combined Task Group 67.1)
- Sensors
- EO/IR sensor
- Shape
- Not otherwise described (identified in-text as a possible missile)
- Motion
- Approx. 500 knots, sea-skim mode, southeasterly heading
- Duration
- Approx. 2 minutes
- Altitude or range
- Not stated
Pentagon files
DOW-UAP-D055, Mission Report, Syria, November 2016
Open the original on war.gov
What the file claims
- Unverified
A P-8A observed via EO/IR what its own report calls a possible missile launch traveling in sea-skim mode at approximately 500 knots, passing between a Russian and an unidentified vessel.
- Unverified
The mission commander characterized the interaction as safe and assessed the object as consistent with standard KCTG activity in the region.
On the map
35.00° N, 38.00° E, plotted at the centre of the country
Show on the map