DOW PDF RELEASE 2026-05-08 INC. 8/27/20 ⊙ Persian Gulf ⚠ REDACTED ⌥ 1,150 WORDS OCR

DOW-UAP-D61, Mission Report, Persian Gulf, August 2020

▮ AI SYNOPSIS · Sonnet 4.6

DOW-UAP-D61 is a Mission Report (MISREP), number 4685903, filed by the 482nd Attack Squadron (482ATKS) under USCENTCOM, covering a roughly 21-hour airborne reconnaissance mission flown on August 26–27, 2020, over the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman. The aircraft, type and callsign redacted, took off from and returned to OKAS. At 1527Z on August 27, the crew observed a formation of unknown flying objects traveling northeast to northwest along the coast for approximately two minutes before losing track in cloud cover. The observation was made via onboard sensor; specific grid coordinates for the sighting location are partially redacted. The mission also logged an Iranian Air Defense guard call and conducted ISR in support of NAVCENT.

The UAP observation is brief and data-poor: no bearing, range, altitude, or speed figures were recorded in the structured fields, and positive identification was never established before cloud cover obscured the formation. The aircraft type, mission operation name, tasking order details, and personnel names are redacted under exemptions including 1.4a and b(6). The weather note — light cloud coverage preventing continuous tracking — appears both in the ISR effectiveness section and the observation narrative, underscoring that no further characterization of the formation was possible. The report was declassified January 22, 2026, and approved for release to AARO.

▮ 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 Mission Report (MISREP), a standardized reporting form the U.S. Military uses to record the circumstances surrounding its operations. U.S. military services often use MISREPs to report Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) to AARO. The GENTEXT, or “general text” section of these reports often contains important qualitative, contextual information, distinguishing it from the more quantitative, or numerical, data found elsewhere in the report. A U.S. military operator reported observing a “formation of unknown flying objects” traveling northeast to northwest along the coast for approximately two minutes. The report notes that light cloud coverage “prevented the continuous tracking of the formation.” 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 USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Dedassified on 22 January 2026 Misrep 4685903 Narrative AT 2307Z, 1.4a| TOOK OFF FROM OKAS. AT 2320Z,[ 1.4a HANDED OVER FROM THE LRE. FROM 0003Z TO 1917Z, 1.4a COLLECTED SIGINT VIA AIRHANDLER. FROM 0041Z TO 1840Z, 1.4a SUPPORTED NAVCENT TO OPERATION E 1.4a _IVO ARABIAN GULF, STRAIT OF HORMUZ AND GULF OF OMAN. SEE ISR LINE 1. AT 0532Z, | 1.4a RECEIVED A GUARD CALL. SEE GUARDCALL LINE 1. AT 1527Z, 1.4a OBSERVED 1X UNK FORMATION. SEE OBSERVATION LINE 1. AT 1840Z, 1.4a WAS CLEARED TO RTB. AT 1944Z, 1.4a HANDED BACK TO THE LRE. AT 2012Z, 1.4a LANDED AT OKAS. FMV WAS EXPLOITED BY DGS1. 21 MISSION HOURS, 17.9 IMINT HOURS, 1 IMINT TASKING PROSECUTED, 19.2 SIGINT HOURS, 1 SIGINT TASKING PROSECUTED, 2 TOTAL TASKINGS PROSECUTED Admin CLASSIFICATION • Classification: • Associated Caveats: • Classification Source (MS or Classification Guide ID): MULTIPLE SOURCES • Declassification Date (YYYYMMDD): 20450301 OPERATION • Operation: 1.4a • Domain: AIR • Operations Center: 609th • Major Command (MAJCOM): ACC • Combatant Command (COCOM): USCENTCOM MSGID • Report Type: MISREP • Originator (Unit or Squadron): 482ATKS • Submit Date (Auto-generated): MSNID 3.5c, (b)(6) USCENTCOM MDR 26-0019 Approved for Release to AARO 01/26/26 001

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Declassified by MG Richard A, Harrison USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Declassified on: 22 January 2026 • Tasking Order (ATO) 1.4a • Mission Type: AREC • ATO Mission Number: 1.4a • Country Tasked: US - UNITED STATES • Service Tasked: A - AIR FORCE Poc POC • Rank: 1st Lt • Full Nantess, (b)(3), 130b, (b)(6) • Unit: 482ATKS • Wing: 432 AEW • Phone Number: 3.5c, (bY6) • Email: C • Service: Air Force • Operations Center: 609 CAOC ec • Rank: Ctr • Full Name: 3.5c, (b)YS) • Unit: 12AF, Det 3, PAROC • Wing: Other • Phone Number: [ 3.5c, (b)(6) • Email: [ • Service: Air Force • Operations Center: Other APPROVER • Rank: Ist Lt • Full Names/o. (b(3). 130b. (6)) • Unit: 609th AOC • Wing: Other • Phone Number: 3,5c.(bY6) • Email: 3.5c, (b)(6) • Service: Air Force • Operations Center: 609 CAOC INGEST 3.5c, (b)(6) 3.5c, (b)(6) USCENTCOM MDR 26-0019 3.5c, (b)(6) Approved for Release to AARO 01/26/26 002

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Declassified by MG Richard A, Harrison USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Declassified on: 22 January 2026 • Rank: • Full Name: • Unit: • Wing: • Phone Number: • Email: • Service: • Operations Center: ACEQUIP ACEQUIP • Aircraft Callsign: 1.4a • Radar Name or Destination: - • Radar Software Load or Mission Data: - • Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) Name or Designator: - • RWR Software Load or Mission Data: - • MWS Name or Designator: - • MWS Software Load or Mission Data: - • IRCM Name or Designator: - • IRCM Software Load or Mission Data: - • ECM Name or Designator: - • ECM Software Load or Mission Data: - • CMD Name or Designator: - • Chaff Designator: - • Num Chaff or Cartridges: - • Flare Designator: - • Num Flares: - • Towed Decoy Name or Designator: - • Towed Decoy Software Load or Mission Data: - • Num Towed Decoys: - • Type of Radar-Guided AAM: - • Num Radar-Guided AAM: - • Type of IR-Guided AAM: - • Num IR-Guided AAM: - • Gun Name or Designator: - • Num Gun Rounds: - • Air-to-Ground Wpn to Incinde Num of Each: 1.4(a) • TGT Pod Name or Designator: ANDAS4 • Additional Avionics: AH_GMESH • Data Link: - 3.5c, (b)(6) USCENTCOM MDR 26-0019 Approved for Release to AARO 01/26/26 003

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Declassified by MG Richard A, Harrison USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Declassified on: 22 January 2026 • Gentext: - Timeline Landing • Last Land Location (ICAO Code): OKAS • Last Land Time: 272012:00ZAUG20 • Last Engine Shutdown Time: 272022:00ZAUG20 • Total Mission Time: 21 hours 5 minutes • Gentext/Additional Details: - Takeoff • Callsign: 1.4a • Number of Aircraft: 1 • Asset Type (Aircraft): 1.4a, 1.4g • Aircraft Tail Number(s): l 1.4a • Takeoff Location (ICAO Code): OKAS • Takeoff Time DTG: 262307:00ZAUG20 • Mode 3 (IFF Codes): - • Gentext/Additional Details: - • Mission Canceled: On Station • Time On Station DTG: 262320:00ZAUG20 • Callsign: [ • JTAR Number: - • Killbox (Location): - • Mission Type: AREC • ITAC Callsign: - • Gentext/Additional Details: - • Did not Arrive On Station: ISR • Time-on Station DTG: 270041:00ZAUG20 • Time-off Station DTG: 271840:00ZAUG20 • Aircraft Callsign: 1.4a • Msn Type: AREC • Primary Sensor: ANDAS4 USCENTCOM MDR 26-0019 3.5c. (b)(6) Approved for Release to AARO 01/26/26 004

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Declassified by MG Richard A, Harrisor USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Declassified on: 22 January 2026 • Sensors Available: AH GMESH • Tasking Type: PLANNED • Tasking or Request Number (JTAR#, AEM#, PRI#, or TIC#): - • BE Number (if NTISR): - • Tasked Start Point: 39RUN461.4a$81.4a • Activity Description: ISR • FMV or Image File Name (if NTISR): - GENTEXT/ISR • Gentext: COORDINATED WITH NAVCENT 24 HOURS PRIOR TO TAKE OFF. PRECOORD WAS SATISFACTORY. AT 0041Z, [ 1.4a ARRIVED ON STATION ISO NAVCENT TO OPERATION TO CHARACTERIZE IRINGCN VESSELS, UAS ACTIVITY, ACTIVITY OUTSIDE OF PORTS, AND TO ESTABLISH PATTERN OF LIFE. FROM 0041Z TO 18402, 1.4a CONDUCTED SCANS IAW THE TARGET DECK IN THE ARABIAN GULF (AG). AT 0532Z, [1.4a RECEIVED A GUARD CALL. SEE GUARDCALL LINE 1. AT 0611Z, [1.4 OBSERVED ONE SMALL VESSEL DOCKED AT GREATER TUNB NAVAL PORT IVO 40RCQ301.4a061.4al AT 1527Z, 1.4a OBSERVED 1X UNK FORMATION. SEE OBSERVATION LINE 1. AT 1742Z,[ 1.4a OBSERVED 1X PROB NASER WAP BESIDES AN MIT VESSEL IVO 39RUN491.4al 11.4a BOTH VESSELS WERE DEAD IN WATER (DIW) IVO GRIDS. ADDITIONALLY, 2X ADULT MALES (ADMS) WERE OBSERVED ON THE REAR DECK OF THE PROB NASER WAP. AT 0700Z, 1.4a OBSERVED 1X POSS IL-76 CANDID AT ABU MUSA ISLAND AFLD IVO 40RCP0214a631.4a AT 1840Z,[1.4a] WAS CLEARED OFF TASKING AND RETURNED TO BASE (RTB). ISR ASSET UTILIZATION • Supported Unit: NAVCENT • Supported Operation: OPERATION • Precoord Time: 24 HOURS • Precoord EfTectiveness: SATISFACTORY 1,4a WEATHER • Weather: LIGHT CLOUD COVERAGE PREVENTED CONTINUOUS TRACKING OF UAP EVENT EFFECTIVENESS • Tasker: • Intel Gap Filled?: No • Gentext: - USCENTCOM MDR 26-0019 3.5c, (b)(6) Approved for Release to AARO 01/26/26 005

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Declassified by MG Richard A, Harrison USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Declassified on: 22 January 2026 Off Station • Time Off Station DTG: 271944:00ZAUG20 • Total Time On Station: 20 hours 24 minutes GUARDCALL • GUARDCALL DTG: 270532:00ZAUG20 • Aircraft Callsign: 1.4a • Ground Station Callsign: IRANIAN AIR DEFENSE • Aircraft Location: 40RCP 7&1.4a3 71.4a • Aircraft Heading: 018 M • Aircraft Altitude: FLI50 • Aircraft Airspeed: - • Number of Calls Noted from the Same Agency: 1 • Guardcall Tone: PROFESSIONAL. GENTEXT/GUARDCALL • Gentext: I AT 0532Z,[ 1.4a | WAS HAILED ON GUARD 1.4g FREQ BY IRANIAN AIR DEFENSE. ORDERS GIVEN: STANDARD CALL. 1.4a GAVE A STANDARD RESPONSE. NO MISSION IMPACTS OBSERVATION • Observation DTG: 271527:00ZAUG20 • Aircraft Callsign: 1.4a • Aircraft Location: 39RVM3&1,4aS91 4a • Aircraft Heading: - • Aircraft Altitude: - • Aircraft Airspeed: - • Relative Bearing or Clock Position: - • Range: - • Killbox & Keypad: - • Observed Activity Location: 39RVM8 11,4aP91.4a • Observed Activity Description: FORMATION OF UNK FLYING OBJECTS • Method of Observation: 1.4a SENSOR GENTEXT/OBSERVATION • Gentext: (S/REL) FROM 1527Z TO 1529Z.[ 1.4a JOBSERVED A FORMATION OF FLYING OBJECTS TRAVELING NE-NW ALONG THE COAST IVO 39RVM841.4aP91,4al 414a91,4al 1.4a WAS TRACKING THIS FORMATION FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES BEFORE PID WAS LOST IN 3.5c. (b)(6) USCENTCOM MDR 26-0019 Approved for Release to AARO 01/26/26 006

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Declassified by MG Richard A, Har USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Declassified on: 22 January 2026 CLOUD COVER. AIRCREW WAS UNABLE TO GAIN PID AGAIN ON THIS FORMATION WEATHER • Weather: LIGHT CLOUD COVERAGE PREVENTED THE CONTINOUS TRACKING OF THE FORMATION 3.5c, (b)(6) USCENTCOM MDR 26-0019 Approved for Release to AARO 01/26/26 007

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