UAP Weekly Digest — May 16 – May 22, 2026

A serving senior U.S. intelligence official provided a first-hand account in May 2026 of investigating unusual phenomena at a sensitive U.S. military facility in late 2025, describing encounters with unidentified glowing orbs at close and distant ranges from a helicopter vantage point, as well as a high-speed low-altitude object that appeared to split and accelerate in two directions. The account is accompanied by infrared imagery captured by federal officials on the ground during the same event, with materials originally released on war.gov/UFO on 8 May 2026. The official's assessment of object proximity and behavior is based on direct observation but remains unverified by independent analysis.

AARO released a lengthy classified military infrared video allegedly depicting objects over the Persian Gulf, likely from a U.S. military platform in the CENTCOM area of responsibility. The 17-minute 36-second video shows a single area of contrast that becomes difficult to distinguish from background noise, requiring multiple sensor contrast adjustments. AARO did not provide analytical judgment, and chain of custody is unsubstantiated.

AARO released a 46-second classified military infrared video from February 2023 allegedly depicting a U.S. Air Force F-16C shooting down an unidentified object over Lake Huron using an unspecified weapon system. At the 20-second mark, the footage shows two distinct areas of contrast, with the initial subject fragmenting in a radial displacement pattern consistent with a high-energy event. Chain of custody is unsubstantiated, and AARO provides no analytical judgment or confirmation of the incident.

AARO released a classified military infrared video from March 2025 depicting multiple spherical objects tracked near a submarine in a location not specified but assessed to be military platform-derived. The video shows at least three distinct transit events of areas of contrast over approximately 4 minutes 50 seconds. The uploader's title suggests the objects transition in and out of water. Chain of custody is unsubstantiated, and AARO provides no analytical assessment of the claim.

Avi Loeb provides preliminary assessment of the second batch of declassified UAP files released by the U.S. Department of War, highlighting a spherical object (DOW-UAP-PR067) seen passing through clouds and discussing whether observed objects are real or misidentifications.

On 2 November 2020, a U.S. military infrared sensor platform operating in the Central Command area captured approximately 5 minutes of video showing two distinct areas of contrast tracked sequentially by sensor operators. AARO assessed the video as derived from military sensor data uploaded to a classified network in November 2020. The video was released in March 2026 following congressional request for UAP-related records. Documentation notes this is distinct from DOW-UAP-PR078 despite similar subject matter.

On 2 November 2020, a U.S. military infrared sensor platform operating in the Central Command area captured approximately 5 minutes of video showing two distinct areas of contrast tracked sequentially by sensor operators. AARO assessed the video as derived from military sensor data uploaded to a classified network in November 2020. The video was released in March 2026 following congressional request for UAP-related records. Documentation notes this is distinct from DOW-UAP-PR077 despite similar subject matter.

On 7 October 2020, a U.S. military infrared sensor platform operating in the Central Command area captured 4 minutes and 34 seconds of video showing an area of contrast that operators tracked and adjusted zoom and modality settings to observe. AARO assessed the video as derived from military sensor data uploaded to a classified network in October 2020. Released in March 2026 following congressional request for UAP-related records, the materials lack substantiated chain-of-custody documentation.

AARO identified a 3-minute 57-second infrared video labeled as showing a spherical UAP with erratic movement, allegedly from a U.S. military platform in the European Command area in August 2022. The video was digitally altered before upload to a classified network in June 2024 and was provided to Congress following a March 2026 House request. AARO notes that digital alterations significantly influence the apparent performance characteristics of the tracked object. Chain-of-custody documentation is not substantiated.

On 5 January 2023, a U.S. military infrared sensor platform operating above the Yellow Sea recorded approximately 1 minute and 10 seconds of video showing an area of contrast that sensor operators tracked and adjusted zoom levels for multiple times. AARO assessed the video as likely derived from military sensor data uploaded to a classified network in June 2024. The same underlying material was uploaded by two different users with different titles, creating a duplicate designation inconsistency. Released in March 2026 following congressional request, the video lacks substantiated chain-of-custody.