DOW-UAP-D58, Range Fouler Debrief, NA, October 2020

Department of WarPDFIncident ReportSECRETLight redaction6/10— solid newsworthy itemPURSUE Release 1

Incident date: 10/27/20
Released: May 8, 2026

AI Analysis

A U.S. Navy Range Fouler Debrief Form dated October 27, 2020, documents a nighttime DCA mission encounter with two unknown contacts at 26,000 feet altitude. An O-3 pilot from the 77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron obtained radar lock and target pod video on two IR-significant contacts exhibiting anomalous behavior, including one circling the other, before they disappeared in approximately 1/30th of a second. The pilot reported receiving noise jamming indicated by two chevrons.

Key Findings

→Two unknown contacts (range foulers) were detected at 26,000 feet altitude on October 27, 2020 during a nighttime DCA mission, first detected at bullseye ZIM 248/17.
→The pilot obtained radar lock and ATFLIR/target pod video but was unable to close within 16.9 nautical miles to achieve better identification.
→The target pod showed 2 IR-significant contacts; one range fouler was observed circling around the other before both disappeared in approximately 1/30th of a second.
→Visual tally was achieved, described as 2x red blinking strobes; objects were characterized as balloon-shaped, metallic, opaque, and reflective.
→Noise jamming was received and indicated by two chevrons, suggesting possible electronic warfare activity associated with the contacts.

Analyst Notes

Single-pilot report with no corroborating witness accounts from other aircrew documented in this form. The pilot was unable to close within 16.9NM, limiting visual identification quality. The 'balloon-shaped' descriptor could suggest a conventional balloon or tethered object, though the disappearance in 1/30th of a second and noise jamming are anomalous. Noise jamming could indicate a sophisticated adversary platform rather than a truly anomalous phenomenon. Some fields (contact latitude, longitude, wind data) were left blank. Identifying information is redacted per SPEAR protocol.

Extracted Entities

Agencies & Organizations

77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (77 EFS)SPEAR (data collection system)USCENTCOMAARO

Aircraft & Objects

Two IR-significant unknown contacts described as balloon-shaped, metallic, reflective, opaque, with red blinking strobesOne contact observed circling the other at high speed (disappeared in 1/30th of a second)

Dates

10/27/202001:12:21Z (time of detection)

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AI analysis by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 17, 2026