Intelligence Information Report, Unresolved UAP Report, Gulf of Oman, 2021

A U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command Intelligence Information Report (marked 'not finally evaluated') documenting a USSOF AC-130 gunship crew's observation of approximately 25 instances of infrared 'cold orb' UAPs during a live-fire training exercise on 8 September 2021. The crew first saw two roughly four-foot-diameter cold orbs hover over a dropped flare and fly away immediately as the aircraft's cannon was fired; over the sortie they observed orbs flying in coordinated formations of two and three, at estimated speeds of 250-1,300 mph, seemingly reacting to the aircraft's weapons. The aircraft's video recorder is reported to have failed and corrupted the footage, so no surviving video documents the events in this file.

Why this rating A single sensor type (one aircraft's EO/IR feed) but a sustained, repeated (~25-instance) observation by trained sensor operators, with a specific and unusual claim (apparent reaction to weapons fire) and coordinated multi-object formation flying; however, no surviving video corroborates the account in this file because the DVR reportedly failed, which is itself a data-quality problem that prevents independent review of the underlying sensor data.

• DocumentDOW-UAP-D101Release 5

  DOW-UAP-D101, Intelligence Information Report, Unresolved UAP Report, Gulf of Oman, 2021

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• VideoDOW-UAP-PR117Release 5

  DOW-UAP-PR117, Unresolved UAP Report, Gulf of Oman, 2021

  16 seconds of secondary cell-phone video of an AC-130J infrared sensor display, one of six contemporaneous clips (PR117-122) from a 8 Sept 2021 Gulf of Oman sortie. The paired Intelligence Information Report (DOW-UAP-D101) describes ~25 instances of 'cold orbs,' four feet in diameter, maneuvering at 250-1300 MPH in coordinated formation, that fled without altitude change at the moment the aircraft's cannon fired. The released video shows only an area of contrast remaining centered in frame.

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• VideoDOW-UAP-PR118Release 5

  DOW-UAP-PR118, Unresolved UAP Report, Gulf of Oman, 2021

  30 seconds of secondary cell-phone video of the same AC-130J sensor display and 8 Sept 2021 Gulf of Oman event as PR117, PR119-122. An area of contrast is tracked, briefly exiting and re-entering the bottom of frame. Same paired IIR (DOW-UAP-D101) applies.

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• VideoDOW-UAP-PR119Release 5

  DOW-UAP-PR119, Unresolved UAP Report, Gulf of Oman, 2021

  2 seconds of secondary cell-phone video from the same 8 Sept 2021 Gulf of Oman sortie as PR117, PR118, PR120-122; the shortest of the six released clips. An area of contrast remains near the center of frame for the full duration. Same paired IIR (DOW-UAP-D101).

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• VideoDOW-UAP-PR120Release 5

  DOW-UAP-PR120, Unresolved UAP Report, Gulf of Oman, 2021

  13 seconds of secondary cell-phone video from the same 8 Sept 2021 Gulf of Oman sortie as PR117-119, PR121-122. Sensor display elements repeatedly cross the frame; the tracked area of contrast loses distinctiveness after the sensor changes mode twice. Same paired IIR (DOW-UAP-D101).

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• VideoDOW-UAP-PR121Release 5

  DOW-UAP-PR121, Unresolved UAP Report, Gulf of Oman, 2021

  34 seconds of secondary cell-phone video from the same 8 Sept 2021 Gulf of Oman sortie. Shows a larger area of contrast transiting top-to-bottom of frame and a smaller one exiting/re-entering, before the sensor reacquires and centers an area of contrast. AARO's own comment on this file states its content significantly overlaps with PR122.

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• VideoDOW-UAP-PR122Release 5

  DOW-UAP-PR122, Unresolved UAP Report, Gulf of Oman, 2021

  26 seconds of secondary cell-phone video from the same 8 Sept 2021 Gulf of Oman sortie, showing essentially the same sequence as PR121 (larger area of contrast transiting frame, smaller one exiting/re-entering, sensor reacquiring and centering). AARO's own comment confirms the overlap with PR121.

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• Unverified

  The aircrew observed two cold orbs, roughly four feet in diameter, hovering stationary 0-20 feet above the water for about 15 seconds, then rapidly flying away without changing altitude at the moment the aircraft's cannon fired.

• Unverified

  The report states no means of propulsion were observed for the orbs despite the speed and maneuvering estimates.

• Unverified

  The aircraft's Digital Video Recorder is reported to have failed during the sortie, corrupting the footage of the UAP observations.