On September 8, 2021, the aircrew of a U.S. Special Operations Forces AC-130J Gunship reported observing unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) during a nighttime live-fire training exercise over the Gulf of Oman. The aircrew first reported observing two UAP after dropping a water-activated flare, describing them as stationary and approximately four feet in diameter, 0-20 feet above the water’s surface. Throughout the sortie, the aircrew reported approximately 25 instances involving similar phenomena observed via infrared sensor, describing them as "cold orbs." Aircrew visual estimates of the UAP’s apparent speed ranged from 250 to 1,300 miles per hour, and the phenomena were described as "maneuvering aggressively," "flying in various formations," and appearing to react to deployments of the aircraft’s onboard weapons systems. The aircrew stated they were unable to capture video because the aircraft’s digital video recorder was not functioning during the incident. The footage contained within DOW-UAP-PR117 through DOW-UAP-PR122 was captured contemporaneously as secondary recordings made via a cellular device of the infrared sensor display. An accompanying Intelligence Information Report, DOW-UAP-D101, documents the observation.
The case was submitted to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) for formal assessment as part of the office's centralized UAP reporting pipeline. AARO reviews all reports submitted by military branches, intelligence agencies, and other government bodies, applying standardized analytical criteria to determine whether observed objects or phenomena can be identified as conventional aircraft, drones, atmospheric phenomena, or sensor artifacts, or whether they exhibit genuinely anomalous characteristics warranting further investigation.
This material was among records identified in response to Congressional oversight requests and was publicly released as part of the Department of War's disclosure initiative. The release is intended to promote transparency and enable independent analysis of UAP-related records held by the U.S. government.
DOW-UAP-PR117 (16 sec): 00:00-00:16: An area of contrast remains generally within the center of the sensor field-of-view.
DOW-UAP-PR118 (30 sec): 00:00-00:30: An area of contrast remains generally within the center of the sensor field-of-view, momentarily exiting the bottom of the frame.
DOW-UAP-PR119 (2 sec): 00:00-00:02: An area of contrast remains generally within the center of the sensor field-of-view.
DOW-UAP-PR120 (13 sec): 00:00-00:08: An area of contrast remains generally within the center of the sensor field-of-view. Visual elements of the sensor display enter and exit the frame throughout the duration of the video. 00:08-00:13: The sensor changes modalities twice and the area of contrast loses distinctiveness against the background.
DOW-UAP-PR121 (34 sec): 00:00-00:12: An area of contrast remains generally within the center of the sensor field-of-view. Visual elements of the sensor display enter and exit the frame throughout the duration of the video. 00:13-00:18: A relatively larger area of contrast transits from the bottom of the frame to the top of the sensor's field-of-view, then re-enters from the top left to the bottom left of the frame. The relatively smaller area of contrast exits the bottom of the frame, and re-enters from the upper-right quarter of the frame. 00:19-00:34: The sensor adjusts, and an area of contrast enters the sensor field-of-view from the top of the frame, and remains generally within the center of the frame. AARO Comment: This video footage significantly overlaps in content with DOW-UAP-PR122.
DOW-UAP-PR122 (26 sec): 00:00-00:05: An area of contrast remains generally within the center of the sensor field-of-view. Visual elements of the sensor display enter and exit the frame throughout the duration of the video. 00:06-00:07: A relatively larger area of contrast transits from the bottom of the frame to the top of the sensor's field-of-view, then re-enters from the top left to the bottom left of the frame. The relatively smaller area of contrast exits the bottom of the frame, and re-enters from the upper-right quarter of the frame. 00:08-00:26: The sensor adjusts, and an area of contrast enters the sensor field-of-view from the top of the frame, and remains generally within the center of the frame. AARO Comment: This video footage significantly overlaps in content with DOW-UAP-PR121.
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.
The official conclusion of AARO is that this case remains an unresolved UAP report. The available evidence does not provide sufficient information to conclusively identify the phenomenon as any specific conventional platform, nor does it contain observable characteristics that can be definitively categorized as anomalous. The designation "unresolved" reflects the determination that the available evidence is insufficient to reach a positive identification or to rule out conventional explanations.
This case is representative of a category of AARO reports where the duration and quality of the available data are inadequate to support a definitive analytical conclusion. Such cases remain open in AARO's case management system and may be revisited if additional data becomes available.
- Q.01What was the true nature and origin of the observed phenomenon? Without independent sensor data -- including radar tracking, electronic warfare system returns, or corroborating optical observations -- it is impossible to determine the object's range, velocity, altitude, or physical composition.
- Q.02What additional sensor data from the recording platform exists but has not been publicly released? Military and intelligence platforms typically carry multiple sensor systems operating simultaneously. Whether radar, electronic support measures, or other onboard sensors captured contemporaneous data has not been addressed in any official public statement.
- Q.03What information has been redacted from this record, and how does that redaction affect the completeness of the public record? The presence of redacted elements in the released material means that the public cannot fully assess the operational context.
- Q.04Have any subsequent incidents in the same area or involving similar characteristics been linked to this case? A comprehensive cross-referencing of UAP reports with matching signatures has not been conducted publicly.