DOW-UAP-D038: Range Fouler Debrief, Arabian Gulf, May 2020
This file is a standardized U.S. Navy 'Range Fouler Debrief' form, used to report unauthorized intrusions into controlled airspace during military operations or training. Dated 05/14/20 at 20:40:00 Z, it records a nighttime ISR observation in the Arabian Gulf. The reporter describes a single solid white object flying through the field-of-view, briefly lost and re-acquired, that appeared to make erratic movements above the water. The sensor operator manipulated the sensor to maintain track; 4x zoom was obtained before the object was lost due to poor track placement. Aircraft-relevant data includes side number 28314, BuNo 49524, contact altitude ~20,000–22,000, and an intermittent trackfile. The releasing agency notes that all descriptive and estimative language reflects the reporter's subjective interpretation and should not be taken as conclusive evidence of object features or performance. The form was declassified by MG Richard A. Harrison, USCENTCOM Chief of Staff, marked USCENTCOM MDR 26-0019, and approved for release to AARO on 01/26/26. It is paired with video PR-036 (DVIDS Video ID 1006083).
Description
A declassified U.S. Navy Range Fouler Debrief form documenting a military operator's report of an unidentified anomalous phenomenon observed over the Arabian Gulf on 14 May 2020. The form records a narrative in which a solid white object flew through the sensor field-of-view and appeared to make erratic movements above the water during an ISR tasking. Released by the U.S. Department of War with redactions and approved for release to AARO.
Claims
The releasing agency states descriptive language reflects the reporter's subjective interpretation and is not conclusive as to object features or performance.
90%Descriptive language reflects the reporter's subjective interpretation and is not conclusive evidence of object characteristics (per releasing agency).
90%A U.S. military operator observed a solid white object fly through the sensor field-of-view over the Arabian Gulf on 14 May 2020.
70%The object appeared to make erratic movements above the water and was tracked with intermittent trackfile before being lost due to poor track placement.
65%A U.S. military operator observed a solid white object fly through the field-of-view making erratic movements above the water over the Arabian Gulf on 14 May 2020.
60%The contact was logged at approximately 20,000 ft altitude at night (20:40:00 Z).
60%The object was briefly lost and re-acquired, tracked with 4x zoom, and lost again due to poor track placement.
55%
Events
May 14, 2020
UAP observation over Arabian Gulf
During an ISR tasking, a crew observed a solid white object flying through the field of view and making erratic movements above the water; obtained 4x zoom before losing track.
Jan 25, 2026
Approved for release to AARO
Document marked USCENTCOM MDR 26-0019, approved for release to AARO.
May 7, 2026
Public release by Department of War
Release date listed on hosting page manifest.
May 7, 2026
Document declassification/release
Range Fouler Debrief Form declassified and released by the U.S. Department of War; approved for release to AARO on 01/26/26.
Dates mentioned
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Extracted text (OCR)
Declassified by MG Richard A. Harrison USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Range Fouler Debrie Form Plea , o , us.~,;t , 13- 02 "submit" button above. Save and email the complete file manually (see below). Please complete this form to the best of your ability. If you do ot have the requested information, please leave the field blank. If there was more than one "group " please report each on a separate form for data collection purposes. You should receive a respons within 5 business days. Rank Last Name, First Name Squadron SIPR Email Address Crew Position This information is for contact only. SPEAR sanitizes all r ports of identifying information. Absolutely no identifying information for aircrew or squadmn will be recorded for analysis. 05/14/20 20:40:00 Date (mmldd/yy) Time of detection (hh:mm:ss Z) Night ISR Side No. Day I Night 28314 28314 N Contact Working Area (Ex: W-72 1A) Contact Latitute (DD:MM:SS) NIS Buno 49524 Contact Longitude (DD:MM:SS) Mission Description (GAS, BFM, etc) 20000 E EM' ( ' ontact Altitude : 22000) Please attempt to determine a Lat I Long for the contact at initial detection. We recommend using JMPS to reference the sensor-derived bearing and range relative to the bullseye you had in use. If that method is not available, any reasonable derivation of location will worl<, but please be as specific as possible and make a note in the comments section. These locations may be used to cue other means of tracking. Radar Equipped: AIM-9x Self-Track: Stable Trackfile?: Intermittent ATFLIR Autotrack: # of Contacts in "Group": 1 Tally Achieved: □ □ □ EA Indications (Check all that apply): □ ECM Arc □ Letter Identifier □ False Trackfi/es Yes Altitude Constant? Wind Dir at Contact Alt (From) Was the contact moving? □ Wind Speed Yes Direction/Speed (Ex. 090/15) Please check all that apply: Round: D Metallic: D Markings: D [Z] Moving Parts: D Translucent: D Balloon-shaped: D Square: Wings/Airframe : D D Reflective: D Opaque: Other Shape:O Apparent Propulsion:□ Other/ Ambiguous LFE? Please use the field below to describe the contact and any interiaction in your own words with as much detail as possible. Please be sure to include any detail not incl ded in questions above. While preforming an ISR tasking (UL TN/Black Hot/Lin), a solid w ite 1object flew through the FOV. There was a temporarily lose of the object but re-acquired shortly there after. The crew was able to follow the object as it appeared to make erratic moments above the water. During the follow, crew was able to obtain 4x zoom on the object but lost the object due to poor track place ent. While following, the sensor operator was continuously manipulating the sensor to maintain eyes on th1e object. This is apparent by the waves of the water in the background being visible and not being visible. Don't use the purple "submit" button! Save this form with filenam "Date_Squadron_RF.pdr' and email it toj 3.sc, (b)(S) (Also in the global) For troubleshooting, cal/I 3.Sc, (b)(B) I Thank you for your time. Please ensure all display tapes are rip11ed for the entire time of interaction and saved as a .wmv (Example: 4 May VFA-106 HUD.wmv). Squa 1ron lintel personnel shall upload those files to the repository located at this link. I 3.5c, (b)(B) USCENTCOM MDR 26-0019 I Approved for Release to AARO 01/26/26 001
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