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

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DOW-UAP-D101 is an Intelligence Information Report (IIR) produced by AFSOC A2OH and dated April 27, 2022, documenting events from September 8, 2021. The report was originally classified Secret/Noforn and declassified March 20, 2026, by USCENTCOM Chief of Staff MG Richard A. Harrison. It describes observations made by the aircrew of a USSOF AC-130 Gunship during a nighttime live-fire training exercise over the Gulf of Oman. The crew reported approximately 25 separate UAP encounters, observed via EO/IR sensor as "cold orbs" roughly four feet in diameter, flying at estimated speeds between 250 and 1,300 mph, at altitudes from near the water's surface to unspecified higher altitudes, in coordinated formations and erratic individual flight paths.

The report is notable for several specific behavioral claims: the UAPs reportedly departed immediately when the aircraft's 105mm cannon was triggered, suggesting some form of environmental awareness. The aircraft's DVR failed during the incident, limiting documentation; the report references associated video files in companion records DOW-UAP-PR117 through PR122. The source identity is redacted under 1.4(c) and (b)(6) exemptions. The document carries a standard disclaimer that all descriptive language reflects unverified crew interpretation. It was distributed broadly across the intelligence community, including DIA, CIA, NSA, FBI, NGA, and multiple combatant commands.

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Redactions present in this record. Black bars protect identities of eyewitnesses, locations of facilities, or non-UAP-related sensitive material.

This document is an Intelligence Information Report (IIR), the primary standardized format utilized by the Department of War, military services, and the broader Intelligence Community to disseminate unevaluated intelligence information derived from human sources (HUMINT), open sources, and field collection activities. IIRs are not finished intelligence products; they serve as inputs for subsequent all-source intelligence assessments. This report accompanies the footage contained within DOW-UAP-PR117 through DOW-UAP-PR122. This report documents an observation by the aircrew of a U.S. Special Operations Forces (USSOF) AC-130 Gunship on September 8, 2021, during a nighttime live-fire training exercise over the Gulf of Oman. The aircrew reported first observing two unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) after dropping a water-activated flare. The report describes the UAP as stationary, approximately four feet in diameter, 0-20 feet above the water’s surface. Throughout the training sortie, the aircrew reported observing approximately 25 instances involving similar phenomena via infrared sensor, describing them as “cold orbs.” Aircrew visual estimates of the UAP’s apparent speed range from 250 to 1,300 miles per hour. The report characterizes the UAP’s behavior as “maneuvering aggressively,” “flying in various formations,” and appearing to react to deployments of the aircraft’s onboard weapons systems. The aircrew stated that they were unable to capture video footage of the phenomena because the aircraft’s digital video recorder was not functioning during the incident. All descriptive and estimative language contained in this report reflects the reporter’s subjective interpretation at the time of the event. Such characterizations should not be interpreted as a conclusive indication of the presence or absence of any intrinsic object features or performance characteristics.

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6/1/22, 11:23 AM Document View Record Preview XML Declassified by MG Richard A. Harrison USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Declassified on: 20 March 2026 IIR - Intelligence Information Report —Core Metadata IIR NUMBER: COLLECTOR OVERALL CLASSIFICATION: PRIMARY KEY VERSION NUMBER ORIGINATING SYSTEM NAME ORIGINATING SYSTEM ID LAST MODIFICATION SYSTEM: CREATE DATE LAST CHANGE DATE MESSAGE FROM ADDRESS: DTG DATE TITLE: SUMMARY: © Print Close 3024(0) COLLECTOR NAME AFSOC A2OX - MOTHERSHIP COLLECTOR NUMBER 6600 50005165458 1 1.4(c) 2022-04-27T13:29:17.651Z 2022-04-27T13:18:21.087040000+00:00 1.4(C) WASHINGTON DC//AFSOC HURLBURT FLD FL/AFSOCI/ 271329ZAPR22 2022-04-272 ] Multiple Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Observed Maneuvering Erratically and In Formation Over Gulf of Oman During AC-130 Gunship Live Fire Training on 8 September 2021 - Attachment TARGET: TOPICS: IFC/ACC KEYWORD NHS& ERITCOM MDR 26-0049 to MDR 26-0061 (b)6) caneering aggressively. APs also appeared to react to the aircraft fring is main Portion Mark: Country: U OM Non State Entity: Portion Mark: NIPF FMCC TECH IFC150B IFC220L IFC150A Approved for Release to AARO 03/26/26 000001 1/7

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6/1/22, 11:23 AM IR DOI: REQUIREMENT NUMBER: SOURCE: Record Preview Classification MESSAGE: COMMENT: 2021-09-08Z NTRI200AJ002421 Declassified by MG Richard A. Harrison USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Declassified on: 20 March 2026 Source Identifier Source Description (U 1.4c 1.4(c), 130b Context Statement (S//NF) Source had direct access to the reported information via the co nduct of official duties. Source was aware information woul d be provided to the US governmen t. INITIAL OBSERVATION. On 8 September 2021 a United States Special Operations Forces (USSOF) AC-130 Gunship was conducting live fire training the Gulf of Oman in the vicinity of (IVO) //MGRS: 40REN681.4a131.4a/ during period of darkness. The AC-130 first observed Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (UAPs) when the aircraft dropped a water-activated flare to use as a mock target. The AC-130 entered an orbit around the flare and the Combat Systems Officer (CSO) conducted collateral scans with the aircraft's Electro Optica/Infrared (EO/IR) sensor IVO the flare. When the CSO slewed the sensor in IR mode back to the flare they observed two approximately four-foot diameter cold orbs between O to 20 feet above the surface of the water stationary over the flare for approximately 15 seconds. After those 15 seconds passed, the CSO pulled the trigger firing the aircraft's 105mm cannon. Immediately upon pulling the trigger, during the slight delay between trigger pull and the cannon's recoil, the CSO observed the pair of UAPs rapidly fly away from the flare and out of the sensor feed without changing altitude, SUBSEQUENT OBSERVATIONS. The AC-130 crew observed approximately 25 instances of UAPs viewed in IR as cold orbs in both white-is-hot an black-is-hot mode during the sortie. Two UAPs were observed flying in a loose but coordinated formation increasing and decreasing altitude like a wave while maneuvering around, over, and under each other in a manner similar to how dolphins playfully swim in a pod. (SOURCE COMMENT: They [The UAPs] knew they were flying together), UAPs were also separately observed flying in a formation of three and separately observed flying erratically and maneuvering aggressively. The attached videos depict a smoothly slewing EO/IR sensor or a stationary EO/IR sensor with multiple UAPs darting around the sensor feed. The AC-130's crew attempted to save entirety of the EO/IR footage of the UAP observations but the aircraft's Digital Video Recorder (DVR) inexplicably faled and the video data became corrupted. ESTIMATED SPEED. The CSO calculated the UAP's approximate speeds using the aircraft's TACTOOL and clocked their maximum observed maneuvering speed at 1300 miles per hour (MPH) and the UAPs minimum observed maneuvering speed at 250 MPH. No means of propulsion were observed. 1.4c is the tag line for AFSOC personnel conducting 1.4c debriefing. (U/. This IIR was coordinated with USDAO Muscat and SOCCENT J2X without comment. (U) Source A is available for recontact about information in this report. (U/ Geographic coordinates were derived from AC-130 sensor feed GPS data. (U Requests concerning foreign disclosure and release of the information contained in this report should be sent to the AFSOC FDO af 3.5c. (b)(6) Include the justification, serial number, subject line of the report and the proposed request in the initial correspondence. (UI IIR Evaluations and Source Directed Requirements regarding this report are highly encouraged to assist in assessing collection efforts and requirements. Evaluations and Source Directed Requirements can be created using 1.4(c 3.5c, (b)(6) Any questions concerning this report should be Approved for Release to AARO 03/26/26 000002 USCENTCOM MDR 26-0049 to MDR 26-0061 3.5c, (b)(6) 2/7

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6/1/22, 11:23 AM FULL MESSAGE TEXT: Record Preview directed to 3.5c. (b)(6) any final product or brief the IIR information was utilized. R ZAKYAAPR 22 TO AFIAA AMHS BOLLING AFB DC AFSOC HURLBURT FLD FL AMC INTEL CEN SCOTT AFB IL AMEMBASSY MUSCAT CDR AOG FT GEORGE G MEADE MD CDR FORSCOM DCS G2 ANALYSIS DIV FT BRAGG NC CDR FORSCOM DCS G2 OPS DIV FT BRAGG NC CDR JSOC FT BRAGG NC CDR SOTF FT BRAGG NC CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL CDR USSOCOM MACDILLAFB FL CDR USTRANSCOM INTEL CELL SCOTT AFB IL CDRINSCOMACO FT GEORGE G MEADE MD CDRINSCOM FT BELVOIR VA CDRINSCOMIOC FT BELVOIR VA CDRNGIC CHARLOTTESVILLE VA NASHINGTON DC CJCS NMCC WASHINGTON DC CMO513THMIBDE FT GORDON GA CNO WASHINGTON DC COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC COMSOCCENT INTEL MACDILL AFB FL COMSOCCENT J2 MACDILL AFB FL COMSOCCENT J3 MACDILL AFB FL COMSOCCENT J5 MACDILL AFB FL COMSOCCENT TASK FORCE MACDILLAFB FL CSG SOCOM MACDILLAFB FL DA AMHS WASHINGTON DC DCDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL DEFENSE JOC WASHINGTON DC DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC DEPT OF STATE WASHINGTON DC DIA WASHINGTON DC DIRMSIC REDSTONE ARSENAL AL DIRNCMI FT DETRICK MD DIRNSA FT GEORGE G MEADE MD DIRNSA FT MEADE MD DNI WASHINGTON DC FBI WASHINGTON DC FORSCOM ACE FT MCPHERSON GA HQ AFOSI QUANTICO VA HQ AFSOC A2 HURLBURT FLD FL HQ AFSOC A3 HURLBURT FLD FL HQ AFSOC HURLBURT FLD FL HQ AFSOC INTEL HURLBURT FLD FL HQ ICE INTEL WASHINGTON DC HO INSCOM G2X FT BELVOIR VA HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL HQ USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL HQDAAOC G2 INTEL WATCH DAMI FIW WASHINGTON DC Please reference IR number along withchard 2026 USCENTCOM MDR 26-0049 to MDR 26-0061 3.5c, (b)(6) 03/26/26 000003 3/7

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6/1/22, 11:23 AM Record Preview HODA DIR G2X WASHINGTON DC JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK JAC MOLESWORTH UK JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC JPRA FT BELVOIR VA JWAC DAHLGREN VA NASIC WRIGHT PATTERSON AFB OH NCTC WASHINGTON DC NGA WASHINGTON DC NGIC INTEL OPS CHARLOTTESVILLE VA NGIC SRD FT GEORGE G MEADE MD ONI WASHINGTON DC PENTAGON WASHINGTON DC USASOC INTEL CTR FT BRAGG NC USCENTCOM CCJ2 MACDILLAFB FL USCENTCOM CCJ3 MACDILLAFB FL USCENTCOM JOC MACDILL AFB FL USSOCOM J2 INTEL MACDILL AFB FL USSOCOM J3 OPERATIONS DIRECTORATE MACDILL AFB FL USSOCOM J5 STRATEGY PLANS AND POLICY MACDILL AFB FL USSOCOM JTF DEPLOYED USSOCOM SOFM MACDILL AFB FL USSTRATCOM INTEL DIRECTORATE OFFUTT AFB INFO 14(c) WASHINGTON DC CIA WASHINGTON DC S EG RE T//NOFORN QQQQ SERIAL: (U 1.4c DATE OF PUBLICATION: 271329Z APR 22 US Air Force INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE SOURCE, (OR NONSTATE ENTITY: ) Oman COMM SUBJECT: (S/INF - Multiple Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Observed Maneuvering Erratically and In Formation Over Gulf of Oman During AC-130 Gunship Live Fire Training on 8 September 2021 - Attachment DATE OF INFORMATION: (U) 08 SEP 2021. CUTOFF: (U) 08 Sep 2021. SUMMARY: (S//NF) On 8 September 2021 a USSOF AC-130 Gunship observed approximately 25 instances of UAPs while conducting a live fire exercise in the Gulf of Oman, The UAPs were observed as cold orbs flying at lower altitudes between 250 to 1300 MPH in different formations as well as maneuvering aggressively. UAPs also appeared to react to the aircraft firing its main cannon. SOURCE NUMBER A: (U//FOUO) 1.4(c), 130b CONTEXT A: (S//NF) Source had direct access to the reported information via the conduct of official duties. Source was aware information would be provided to the US government. Approved MoNRe lease to SARN INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATEL Declassified by MG Richard A. harrison USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Declassified on: 20 March 2026 USCENTCOM MDR 26-0049 to MDR 26-0061 3.5c, (b)(6) 03/26/26 000004 4/7

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6/1/22, 11:23 AM Record Preview INTELLIGENCE, REPORT CLASSIFIED SECRET/NOFORN Declassified by MG Richard A. harrison TEXT: (U) USCENTCOM Chief of Staff INITIAL OBSERVATION. On 8 September 2021 a United States lassified on: 20 March 2026 Special Operations Forces (USSOF) AC-130 Gunship was conducting live fire training the Gulf of Oman in the vicinity of (IVO) //MGRS 40REN681.4a131.4a/ during period of darkness. The AC-130 first observed Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (UAPs) when the aircraft dropped a water-activated flare to use as a mock target. The AC-130 entered an orbit around the flare and the Combat Systems Officer (CSO) conducted collateral scans with the aircraft's Electro Optica/Infrared (EO/IR) sensor IVO the flare. When the CSO slewed the sensor in IR mode back to the flare they observed two approximately four-foot diameter cold orbs between 0 to 20 feet above the surface of the water stationary over the flare for approximately 15 seconds, After those 15 seconds passed, the CSO pulled the trigger firing the aircraft's 105mm cannon. Immediately upon pulling the trigger, during the slight delay between trigger pull and the cannon's recol, the CSO observed the pair of UAPs rapidly fly away from the flare and out of the sensor feed without changing altitude. SUBSEQUENT OBSERVATIONS. The AC-130 crew observed approximately 25 instances of UAPs viewed in IR as cold orbs in both white-is-hot an black-is-hot mode during the sortie. Two UAPs were observed flying in a loose but coordinated formation increasing and decreasing altitude like a wave while maneuvering around, over, and under each other in a manner similar to how dolphins playfully swim in a pod. (SOURCE COMMENT: They (The UAPs] knew they were flying together). UAPs were also separately observed flying in a formation of three and separately observed flying erratically and maneuvering aggressively. The attached videos depict a smoothly slewing EO/R sensor or a stationary EO/IR sensor with multiple UAPs darting around the sensor feed. The AC-130's crew attempted to save entirety of the EO/IR footage of the UAP observations but the aircraft's Digital Video Recorder (DVR) inexplicably failed and the video data became were observed. COMMENTS: 1. (Field Comment) (S//NF) for AFSOC personnel conducting 1.4c 1.4c is the tag line debriefing. 2. (U/ This IIR was coordinated with USDAO Muscat and SOCCENT J2X without comment. 3. (U) Source A is available for recontact about information in this report. 4. (U/ Geographic coordinates were derived from AC-130 sensor feed GPS data. 5. (U/ Requests concerning foreign disclosure and release o he information contained in this report should be sent to the AFSOC FDO at 3.5c, (b)(6) Include the justification, serial number, subject line of the report and the proposed request in the initial correspondence. 6. (U/ IIR Evaluations and Source Directed Requirements regarding this report are highly encouraged to assist in assessing collection efforts and requirements, Evaluations and Source Directed Approve er eles setbe fated using 1.4(c USCENTCOM MDR 26-0049 to MDR 26-0061 3.5c. (b)(6) 03/26/26 000005 5/7

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6/1/22, 11:23 AM COLLECTION MANAGEMENT CODE: U.S. CITIZEN: Record Preview 3.5c, (b)(6) Any questions concerning this Declassified by MG Richard A. Harrison report should be directed to 3.5c. (b)(6) USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Please reference IIR number along with any final product or brief the eclassified on: 20 March 2026 IIR information was utilized. ATTACHMENTS: (U) To follow - 1 ATTACHMENTS. 1. Video, 8 September 2021 UAPs 7, Powerpoint containg six embedded videos of 8 September 2021 UAPs captured via AC-130 (SECRET/NOFORN). TOPIC: (U) FMCC; TECH. FUNCTIONAL CODE: (U) IFC150B; IFC220L; IFC150A. REQUIREMENT: (U) NTRI200AJ002421. MGT CODE: (U) BG; BK; RD; DF: DG. INSTR: (U) U.S. NO. PREP: (U) 3.5c, (b)(6) JOINT REP: (U) None. DATE OF ACQUISITION: (U//T ) 20220407; USA, Cannon AFB, New Mexico POC: (U//FOUO) Direct all questions to AFSOC A2H, Hurlburt Field FL at SVOIP |3.5c. (b)(6) or TSVOIP 3,5c. (b)6) or email to WARNING: (U) THIS IS AN INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE REPORT CLASSIFIED SECRET//NOFORN. AGENCY: (U) Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA): Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA): Department of Corps; US Navy. U.S, MISSION: (U) None. MILITARY: (U) Air Force: CENTCOM: SOCOM: Navy: Army: Marine Corps. STATE/LOCAL: (U) None. ===_____========CLASSIFICATION 10000 ==. CLASSIFIED BY: AFSOC A2OH DERIVED FROM: DO SCG JUL 2017 DECLASSIFY ON: 50X1-HUM #0000 BG BK RD DF DG U.S. NO Classification Instruction REPORTER: 1.4c Extended Metadata PUBLIC NOTE: INTERNAL NOTES: BE NUMBER: MUSTERF CONFIER 56-0049 1 MDR 26-0061 3.5c, (b)(6) Approved for Release to AARO 03/26/26 000006 6/7

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6/1/22, 11:23 AM Record Preview Latitude Longitude UTM: ENCL NOTE: Declassified by MG Richard A. harrison USCENTCOM hief of Stafi Declassified March 2026 USCENTCOM MDR 26-0049 to MDR 26-0061 3.5c, (b)(6) Approved for Release to AARO 03/26/26 000007 717

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