DOW-UAP-PR098, "UFOs in formation over Persian Gulf?"
▮ AI SYNOPSIS · Sonnet 4.6
DOW-UAP-PR098 is a 17-minute, 36-second video recorded by an infrared sensor aboard an unidentified U.S. military platform operating within the CENTCOM area of responsibility, likely over or near the Persian Gulf. The footage was uploaded to a classified network in October 2019 by an unknown user. It came to light after eight House members requested access to 51 potentially UAP-related records in March 2026. AARO identified it within a collection of responsive materials and released it on May 22, 2026. The video shows one or more thermal contrast signatures being tracked by a sensor that repeatedly zooms, pans, and adjusts contrast across the duration.
The record has notable chain-of-custody problems: the uploader is unidentified and provenance is unverified. The user-defined title is informal and unattributed. No metadata, sensor parameters, platform identity, altitude, or corroborating data accompany the footage. Whether the contrast signatures represent multiple distinct objects or sensor artifacts remains unresolved. AARO's description explicitly disclaims any analytical or investigative conclusions.
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Redactions present in this record. Black bars protect identities of eyewitnesses, locations of facilities, or non-UAP-related sensitive material.
On March 6, 2026, eight members of the U.S. House of Representatives requested access to 51 potentially UAP-related records allegedly held by the Department of War and the Intelligence Community. The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) identified a collection of responsive materials held on a classified network. Many of these materials lack a substantiated chain-of-custody.
AARO assesses that this video, whose uploader-defined title is, “UFOs in formation over Persian Gulf?” is likely derived from an infrared sensor aboard a U.S. military platform operating within the United States Central Command area of responsibility. A user uploaded this video to a classified network in October 2019.
Video Duration: 00:17:36
Video Description:
00:00-00:02: No Content.
00:02-00:21: An area of contrast becomes visible. The sensor pans to track the area of contrast within the center of the field-of-view.
00:22-01:59: The sensor zooms in on the area of contrast. At a higher level of magnification, the area appears as multiple distinct areas of contrast.
02:00-02:02: The areas of contrast briefly leave the field-of-view.
02:03-04:00: The sensor zooms in and out multiple times to track the area of contrast.
04:01-04:26: The area of contrast becomes less distinguishable against the background. The sensor zooms in further.
04:27-06:29: The sensor progressively zooms in on the area of contrast.
06:30-13:17: The area of contrast is at times indistinguishable from the grain of the video. The sensor makes several contrast adjustments to compensate.
13:18-16:22: The sensor zooms in and out several times.
16:23-17:23: The area of contrast repeatedly exits and enters the frame.
17:24-17:27: The sensor zooms out to track the area of contrast.
17:27-17:36: No content.
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.