DOW-UAP-PR040, Unresolved UAP Report, Middle East, 2020
▮ AI SYNOPSIS · Sonnet 4.6
DOW-UAP-PR040 is a one-minute, three-second infrared sensor video submitted by U.S. Central Command to AARO, documenting a 2020 incident over the Arabian Gulf. The recording originates from an unspecified U.S. military platform. At the ten-second mark, the original reporter paused playback and added a hand-annotated white circle and the label "U/I SMALL THERMAL SIGNATURE" before submitting the footage. AARO states it did not alter the material. The remainder of the video shows a sensor actively tracking a small thermal contrast feature, with the operator adjusting zoom and contrast settings across the clip's duration.
The report is notable for the sensor operator's on-the-spot annotation identifying the object as an unidentified small thermal signature, suggesting the phenomenon was considered unusual at the time of observation. No platform identification, altitude, speed estimates, or resolution data are provided in the available record, and there is no OCR text, meaning no accompanying written analysis or investigative conclusions are accessible. AARO has not assigned a classification to the phenomenon based on the released material.
▮ 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.
The United States Central Command submitted a report of an unidentified anomalous phenomenon to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) consisting of one minute and three seconds of video footage from an infrared sensor aboard a U.S. military platform in 2020. The original reporter digitally altered the imagery by pausing the video playback and adding a white line encircling an area of interest at timestamp 00:10, annotated with the phrase “U/I SMALL THERMAL SIGNATURE.” AARO did not edit the originally reported material, and this media is presented as received.
Video Description:
00:00-00:09: An area of contrast brightens within the sensor field-of-view, becoming increasingly distinct against the background.
00:10-00:14: Playback pauses to display a white line encircling an area of interest, annotated with the phrase “U/I SMALL THERMAL SIGNATURE.”
00:15-01:03: Playback resumes, with the sensor panning to track the area of contrast against the background, generally maintaining the area of contrast’s position within the top third of the display area. During this period, the sensor cycles through several contrast and zoom settings.
This video description is provided for informational purposes only. Readers should not interpret any part of this description as reflecting an analytical judgment, investigative conclusion, or factual determination regarding the described event’s validity, nature, or significance.