Western US test range orb and helicopter encounters, late 2025
Late 2025 · Military test range, western United States (Nevada region)
Summary
Two documents describe one helicopter mission over a military test range in the western United States in 2025. The FBI document says the helicopter left an operations center at about 1700 hours with two pilots from a state partner organization and several federal personnel, to conduct a daytime aerial search of a mountain range. The ODNI narrative gives the date as late 2025 and says the aim was to investigate loud thuds heard in the mountains and orb sightings reported over several previous nights.
The ODNI narrative says the crew found debris several times and determined it was remnants from rockets and other projectiles from years of weapons testing. The FBI document records that the helicopter lifted off at 2141 to check debris spotted by a listening post and searched with negative results. At 2202 the listening post reported an orb seen under FLIR and described as "super-hot". The FBI document says it broke into two objects. It adds that the orb came within ten feet of the helicopter. The FBI account notes that at 2207 the operations center reported five military aircraft in the airspace on a training mission.
Between about 2218 and 2257 the FBI document logs a series of sightings by the witness (naked eye) and the pilots (NVG): a swarm of lights, two large orange orbs above the rotor disk, and repeated formations of four to six orbs that flared up one at a time and flared down in reverse order. Several appeared over the military aircraft. The ODNI narrative describes the same sequence, says the close encounter lasted 10-15 seconds, and says the witness remarked that the orbs seemed to be "chasing" the fighters.
The FBI document records that the pilots were recording, but that many sightings were above the helicopter, outside the FLIR camera angle. The witness wrote that some things could not be seen with the naked eye. The ODNI narrative says the witness took no photos. Neither document states a conclusion about the orbs. The helicopter returned to the operations center low on fuel at about 2316 per the FBI account.
What the files say
“LP/OP confirmed the sighting then relayed they spotted an orb under FLIR and described as "super-hot" hovering at ground level before heading bearing [REDACTED] from LP/OP.”
Page 1 →“LP/OP reported the orb gained elevation, came within ten feet of [CALL SIGN 1] and then headed east to [REDACTED] [REDACTED]”
Page 2 →“They appeared to be oval shaped, orange in color with a white or yellow center and emitting light in all directions.”
Page 2 →“The orbs appeared to break off from [CALL SIGN 1] and pursue the [MILITARY AIRCRAFT].”
Page 3 →“Each time, we determined it was remnants from rockets and other projectiles that had crashed during years of weapons testing on the range.”
Page 1 →“I didn’t take photos, as I was focused on assessing what it was and whether it posed a threat.”
Page 2 →
Explanations in the record
What the documents themselves say the event was, as recorded. Not our assessment.
- Debris found on the ground during the search was determined to be remnants of rockets and other projectiles that crashed during years of weapons testing on the range. — Senior intelligence officer's account of orange UAP (2025), page 1
- Five military aircraft were conducting a training mission in the airspace at the time of the sightings, and a possible aircraft was seen moving away to the west. — Multi-hour UAP encounter near US military site (2025): FBI debrief, page 2