DOW-UAP-D57, Range Fouler Reporting Form, Gulf of Aden, September 2020
▮ AI SYNOPSIS · Sonnet 4.6
DOW-UAP-D57 is a Range Fouler Reporting Form submitted by a U.S. Navy aircrew member assigned to the 172nd Attack Squadron (172 ATKS), documenting an incident on September 4, 2020, at 21:09–21:17 Zulu over the Gulf of Aden. The reporting pilot, an O-3, observed a single contact via ATFLIR infrared sensor set to black hot mode, which rendered the object as bright white, indicating a cold thermal signature. The object was tracked for eight minutes at an estimated speed of 277 mph on a heading of 168 degrees, with a slant range of approximately 6.17 nautical miles. The contact made several abrupt directional changes during the encounter. The aircraft was operating at 23,819 feet HAT during an ISR mission.
The report is notable for its documentation of sudden directional changes and a cold IR signature, which are recurrent characteristics in Navy UAP reporting. The observer's location data is partially redacted under exemption b(1)1.4a. Contact and submission information for the SPEAR program is withheld under b(3)/b(6). No radar trackfile, electronic attack indications, or visual identification is recorded. The document was cleared for release to AARO and carries a USCENTCOM case identifier.
▮ TOP WORDS IN THIS DOCUMENT
Redactions present in this record. Black bars protect identities of eyewitnesses, locations of facilities, or non-UAP-related sensitive material.
This document is a Range Fouler Reporting Form, a standardized reporting form the U.S. Navy uses to record the circumstances surrounding an unauthorized intrusion into controlled airspace during active military operations or training. These reports contain a narrative description of the observer’s experiences.
A U.S. military operator reported tracking a “round, cold object” over the Gulf of Aden for eight minutes via “black hot” IR sensor, making the UAP appear “bright white.” The report states that the UAP was “traveling 168 degrees at 277 mph” and “made a few abrupt directional changes” during the encounter.
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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Declassified by MG Richard A.
Harrison
usc lease go not use the purple
Decla
'sybmit" button above Save and
Range Fouler Reporting Form
Fougmail the complete file manually
(see below).
Please complete this form to the best of your ability. If you do not have the requested information,
please leave the field blank. If there was more than one "group" please report each on a separate
form for data collection purposes. You should receive a response within 5 business days.
Last Name, First Name
Rank
Squadron
SIPR Email Address
0-3
172 ATKS
Crew Position
Other
This information is for contact only. SPEAR sanitizes all reports of identifying information.
Absolutely no identifying information for aircrew or squadron will be recorded for analysis.
09/04/20
Date (mm/dd/yv)
21:09:00
Time of detection
(hh:mm:ss Z)
Night
Day / Night
ISR
Side No.
Buno
Mission Description (CAS, BFM, etc)
LFE?
N
E
23819
Contact Working Area
Contact Latitute
N/S
Contect Longitude
(Ex: W-72 1A)
EW
Contact Altitude
(DD:MM:SS)
(DD:MM:SS)
(Ex: 22000)
Please attempt to determine a Lat / Long for the contact at initial detection. We recommend
using JMPS to reference the sensor-derived bearing and range relative to the bullseye you had
in use. If that method is not available, any reasonable derivation of location will work, but please
be as specific as possible and make a note in the comments section. These locattons may be
used to cue other means of tracking.
Alfitude
Constant?
Wind Dir at
Contact Alt
(From)
Was the contact moving?
Wind
Speed
Yes
Direction/Speed
(Ex. 090/15)
168/277
Radar Equipped:
Stable Trackfile?:
# of Contacts in "Group": 1
EA Indications (Check all that apply):
AIM-9x Self-Track:
ATFLIR Autotrack:
Tally Achieved:
ECM
Arc
• Letter
Identifier
False
Trackfiles
Other/
Ambiguous
Please check all that apply:
Round:
Moving Parts:
Square:
Metallic:
Balloon-shaped:
Markings.
Wings/Airframe:
Translucent:
Other Shape:
Opaque:
Apparent Propulsion:
Reflective:
Please use the field below to describe the contact and any interaction in your own words with as much
detail as possible. Please be sure to include any detail not included in questions above.
Contact at 21:09z to 21:17z 04SEP2020. MGRS location 38P LT 78(117/36h411.J (estimated lat/long
(b)(1)1.4a
While at 23,819 HAT over the Gulf of Aden we tracked a round, cold object
in IR traveling 168 degrees at 277 mph. It made a few abrupt directional changes during the 8 minute
contact. Our sensor was aimed -39 degrees below our altitude with a slant range of 6.17NM and ground
range of 8.81KM. The IR sensor was set to black hot and the object in question was a bright white.
Don't use the purple "submit" button! Save this form with filename "Date_Squadron_RF.pdf" and email
it to
3.5c, (b)(6)
] (Also in the global). For troubleshooting, call 3.5c, (b)(6)
Thank you for your time. Please ensure all display tapes are ripped for the entire time of interaction and
saved as a .wmv (Example: 4 May VFA-106 HUD.wmv). Squadron intel personnel shall upload those files
to the repository located at
this link.
_ _ 3,5c, (b)(6)
USCENTCOM 26-0028
Approved for Release to AARO - FOUO/ PA applies
03/16/26 000001