In October 2023, a U.S. Air Force ISR platform from the 50th Attack Squadron, operating out of Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE under Operation Spartan Shield, observed two separate unidentified aerial phenomena during an approximately 17-hour mission over the Persian Gulf. The encounters occurred at 02:41Z and 03:22Z at roughly 24,300 feet altitude while the aircraft was on a heading of 280 degrees at 162 knots true airspeed.
The first UAP was estimated to be traveling at approximately 320 mph; the second at approximately 440 mph. Both objects registered as solid physical phenomena, with the first exhibiting a notably cold thermal signature against its background — an inversion of what conventional powered aircraft typically present on infrared sensors. Military personnel filed a formal MISREP, and the case was reported to AARO. An IR sensor recording was captured.
The case is significant for several reasons: the cold thermal signature is anomalous for a conventional craft, both observed velocities substantially exceed the aircraft’s own speed, the encounters occurred within a geopolitically sensitive airspace corridor near the Iranian border (the aircraft received a professional guard call from Iranian Air Defense the same mission).
The first UAP in this encounter registered a ‘thermal cold’ signature on infrared — meaning it appeared colder than the surrounding background sky. This is the opposite of what any conventional propulsion system (jet engine, rocket, internal combustion) would produce, making prosaic explanations challenging.
Extraordinary velocities
Both UAPs were estimated at high speed — 320 mph and 440 mph respectively — by a trained military ISR operator while the observing platform was traveling at 162 knots (~186 mph) in cruise. Neither object was identified as a friendly or hostile platform, and no radar returns, RF emissions, or acoustic signatures were recorded.
- October 23, 2023 – 00:15Z: ISR aircraft (callsign and tail number redacted) takes off from Al Dhafra Air Base (OMAM), UAE.
- 00:30Z: Aircraft handed over from the LRE (Long-Range Element) to operational control.
- 01:45Z: Aircraft receives one professional guard call from Iranian Air Defense, instructing it to ‘maintain safe distance from border.’ Operator responds it is conducting routine operations in international airspace. Contact with Iranian Air Defense ceases.
- 01:55Z: Aircraft goes on station. Mission type: Joint Surveillance Reconnaissance (JSR). Equipped with AN/DAS-1 MTS-B targeting pod (ANDAS1) and AH\GMESH data link.
- October 24, 2023 — 01:55Z to 18:37Z: Aircraft conducts IMINT collection supporting NAVCENT under Op Spartan Shield. FMV collected and exploited by DGS-2 (Distributed Ground System-2). SIGINT also collected via Airhandler from 01:50Z to 20:19Z.
- 02:41Z: First UAP observation. Operator observes one solid UAP in vicinity of grid 39RYJ (Persian Gulf). Aircraft altitude: FL243. Aircraft speed: 162 KTAS, heading 280 degrees. UAP estimated velocity: 320 mph. UAP thermal signature: COLD (anomalous). Observer assessment: Benign. No RF detected, no engagement.
- 03:22Z: Second UAP observation. Operator observes one solid UAP in vicinity of grid 39RXK6 (approximately same operating area). Aircraft conditions identical. UAP estimated velocity: 440 mph. Thermal signature: UNK. Observer assessment: Benign. No RF detected, no engagement.
- 18:37Z: Aircraft cleared to return to base.
- 19:12Z: Aircraft goes off station.
- 20:19Z: Aircraft handed back to LRE.
- 20:58Z: Aircraft lands at OMAM (Al Dhafra Air Base). FMV exploited by DGS-2.
- September 12, 2025: MISREP declassified by MG Richard A. Harrison, USCENTCOM Chief of Staff.
- May 8, 2026: MISREP and associated IR sensor video (DOW-UAP-PR27, 4 minutes 57 seconds) publicly released via PURSUE Release 1 on war.gov/UFO. NOTE: The above image is real but from another case file.
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