DOW-UAP-D109, Mission Report, Middle East, 2022
Middle East UAP sighting: Air Force mission report (2022)
solid newsworthy item
UAP Insight significance score
- Location
- Iraq
- Incident date
- 2022
- Duration
- Approximately 1 hour 40 minutes (0524Z to 0704Z)
- Witnesses
- Sensor only
- Released
- September 18, 2026
UAP Characteristics
Evidence Types
Government Programs Referenced
Official Conclusion
Unresolved; UAPs did not hinder the mission and no identification was made.
Official Description
This document is a Mission Report (MISREP), a standardized reporting form the U.S. military uses to record the circumstances surrounding its operations. U.S. military services often use MISREPs to report unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). The GENTEXT, or “general text” section of these reports often contains important qualitative, contextual information, distinguishing it from the more quantitative, or numerical, data found elsewhere in the report. This mission report accompanies video footage derived from an infrared system aboard a U.S. military platform in 2022 (DOW-UAP-PR140 and DOW-UAP-PR141). A U.S. military operator reported observing UAP, describing it as consisting of “six small spherical objects grouped together. They characterized the behavior of the UAP as “seem[ingle] agile,” and “frequently changing direction.” The reporter estimated the speed of the UAP to have been 480 miles per hour. All descriptive and estimative language contained in this report reflects the reporter’s subjective interpretation at the time of the event. Such characterizations should not be interpreted as a conclusive indication of the presence or absence of any intrinsic object features or performance characteristics.
Key Findings
- →At 0524Z on 5 May 2022, the crew observed probable UAPs flying sporadically within the target area, traveling at various speeds between 80-180 MPH in a southwesterly direction.
- →The UAPs were estimated to be approximately 1-2 meters in size; altitude could not be determined.
- →Observation of UAPs continued from 0524Z to 0704Z, during which the sensor operator periodically reacquired the UAPs after returning to primary points of interest.
- →Dust storms affected sensor collection on the UAPs between 0524Z and 0704Z, limiting the quality of data gathered.
- →Full Motion Video (FMV) was the method of observation, with accompanying WSV footage noted as attached; the UAPs did not hinder the primary mission.
This is a declassified U.S. Air Force Mission Report (MISREP 7467030) from May 2022, filed by the 20th Attack Squadron (20 ATKS) under Operation INHERENT RESOLVE in the USCENTCOM AOR, likely over Iraq. During an ISR mission conducting target development, the crew observed multiple probable UAPs traveling southwest at speeds of 80-180 MPH, captured via Full Motion Video (FMV). Dust storms partially affected sensor collection on the UAPs between 0524Z and 0704Z.
Analyst Notes
Key operational details including takeoff/landing locations, aircraft callsigns, mission type, and target identifiers are redacted under b(1)(B), limiting full contextual assessment. The UAP observation is sensor-based (FMV/infrared) but no radar corroboration is mentioned. Dust storms during the observation window (0524Z-0704Z) explicitly degraded sensor collection quality. Speed estimates (80-180 MPH) are consistent with conventional small drones, and the 1-2 meter size is also consistent with commercial UAS. No official conclusion or identification was reached in the document.
Extracted Entities
People
Agencies & Organizations
Locations
Aircraft & Objects
Dates
Full transcript · 6 pages
Machine transcription by Claude Haiku 5.5 — it may contain errors; check the original. Redacted text stays redacted.
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DECLASSIFED UNCLASSIFIED Declassified by: MG Richard A. Harrison USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Declassified on: 20260710 SECRET//REL TO USA, FVEY Misrep 7467030 Narrative (SECRET\REL TO USA, FVEY) AT 2149Z, [REDACTED] TOOK OFF FROM [REDACTED] AT 2158Z, [REDACTED] HANDED OVER WITH[REDACTED] WITH FULLY MISSION CAPABLE SENSORS. AT[REDACTED] FROM 0057Z TO 1552Z, [REDACTED] CONDUCTED TARGET DEVELOPMENT ON O[REDACTED] [REDACTED] ISO [REDACTED] (SEE ISR 1). AT 0524Z, [REDACTED] OBSERVED [REDACTED] PROB UAPS TRAVELING SW AT ROUGHLY 80-180 MPH. (SEE OBSERVATION 1) AT[REDACTED] RETURNED TO BASE. AT [REDACTED]. AT [REDACTED] FULL MOTION VIDEO WAS EXPLOITED BY [REDACTED] AT 1924Z, [REDACTED] LANDED AT [REDACTED] WITH A LAST ENGINE SHUT-DOWN TIME OF 1934Z. [REDACTED] TASKING PROSECUTED,[REDACTED] [REDACTED] TASKING PROSECUTED, [REDACTED] TOTAL TASKINGS PROSECUTED Admin CLASSIFICATION • Classification: SECRET • Associated Caveats: REL TO USA, FVEY • Classification Source (MS or Classification Guide ID): MS • Declassification Date (YYYYMMDD): 20470504 OPERATION • Operation: INHERENT RESOLVE • Domain: AIR • Operations Center: 609th • Major Command (MAJCOM): AFCENT • Combatant Command (COCOM): USCENTCOM 3.5C. (B)(6) SECRET//REL TO USA, FVEY DECLASSIFED UNCLASSIFIED
DECLASSIFED UNCLASSIFIED Declassified by: MG Richard A. Harrison USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Declassified on: 20260710 SECRET//REL TO USA, FVEY MSGID • Report Type: MISREP • Originator (Unit or Squadron): 20 ATKS • Submit Date (Auto-generated): MSNID • Tasking Order (ATO): ZZ • Mission Type: [REDACTED] • ATO Mission Number: [REDACTED] • Country Tasked: US - United States • Service Tasked: A - AIR FORCE Poc POC • Rank: A1C • Full Name: (b) (6) • Unit: (b) (6) • Wing: (b) (6) • Phone Number: (b) (6) • Email: (b) (6) • Service: Air Force • Operations Center: (b) (6) QC • Rank: SSgt • Full Name: (b) (6) • Unit: (b) (6) • Wing: (b) (6) • Phone Number: (b) (6) • Email: (b) (6) • Service: Air Force • Operations (b) (6) APPROVER • Rank: SSgt • Full Name: (b) (6) • Unit: (b) (6) 3.5C. (B)(6) SECRET//REL TO USA, FVEY DECLASSIFED UNCLASSIFIED
DECLASSIFED UNCLASSIFIED Declassified by: MG Richard A. Harrison USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Declassified on: 20260710 SECRET//REL TO USA, FVEY • Wing: (b) (6) • Phone Number: (b) (6) • Email: [REDACTED] • Service: Air Force • Operations Center: (b) (6) INGEST • Rank: • Full Name: • Unit: • Wing: • Phone Number: • Email: • Service: • Operations Center: ACEQUIP ACEQUIP • Aircraft Callsign: (b) (6) • Radar Name or Destination: • Radar Software Load or Mission Data: • Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) Name or Designator: • RWR Software Load or Mission Data: • MWS Name or Designator: • MWS Software Load or Mission Data: • IRCM Name or Designator: • IRCM Software Load or Mission Data: • ECM Name or Designator: • ECM Software Load or Mission Data: • CMD Name or Designator: • Chaff Designator: • Num Chaff or Cartridges: • Flare Designator: • Num Flares: • Towed Decoy Name or Designator: • Towed Decoy Software Load or Mission Data: • Num Towed Decoys: • Type of Radar-Guided AAM: • Num Radar-Guided AAM: 3.5C. (B)(6) SECRET//REL TO USA, FVEY DECLASSIFED UNCLASSIFIED
DECLASSIFED UNCLASSIFIED Declassified by: MG Richard A. Harrison USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Declassified on: 20260710 SECRET//REL TO USA, FVEY • Type of IR-Guided AAM: • Num IR-Guided AAM: • Gun Name or Designator: • Num Gun Rounds: • Air-to-Ground Wpn to Include Num of Each: - • TGT Pod Name or Designator: [REDACTED] • Additional Avionics: [REDACTED] • Data Link: • Gentext: Timeline Takeoff • Callsign: [REDACTED] • Number of Aircraft: [REDACTED] • Asset Type (Aircraft): [REDACTED] • Aircraft Tail Number(s): [REDACTED] • Takeoff Location (ICAO Code): [REDACTED] • Takeoff Time DTG: 042149:00ZMAY22 • Mode 3 (IFF Codes): • Gentext/Additional Details: - • Mission Canceled: On Station • Time On Station DTG: [REDACTED] • Callsign: [REDACTED] • JTAR Number: - • Killbox (Location): - • Mission Type: [REDACTED] • JTAC Callsign: - • Gentext/Additional Details: - • Did not Arrive On Station: Off Station • Time Off Station DTG: [REDACTED] • Total Time On Station: [REDACTED] • Gentext/Additional Details: Landing 3.5C. (B)(6) SECRET//REL TO USA, FVEY DECLASSIFED UNCLASSIFIED
DECLASSIFED UNCLASSIFIED Declassified by: MG Richard A. Harrison USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Declassified on: 20260710 SECRET//REL TO USA, FVEY • Last Land Location (ICAO Code): [REDACTED] • Last Land Time: 051924:00ZMAY22 • Last Engine Shutdown Time: 051934:00ZMAY22 • Total Mission Time: [REDACTED] • Gentext/Additional Details: - ISR • Time-on Station DTG: 050057:00ZMAY22 • Time-off Station DTG: 051552:00ZMAY22 • Aircraft Callsign: [REDACTED] • Msn Type: [REDACTED] • Primary Sensor: [REDACTED] • Sensors Available: [REDACTED] • Tasking Type: PLANNED • Tasking or Request Number (JTAR#, AEM#, PRI#, or TIC#): - • BE Number (if NTISR): - • Tasked Start Point: [REDACTED] • Activity Description: TARGET DEVELOPMENT • FMV or Image File Name (if NTISR): - • EEIs Observed: • Number of EEIs: GENTEXT/ISR • Gentext: (SECRET//REL TO USA, FVEY) [REDACTED] CONDUCTED TARGET DEVELOPMENT ON [REDACTED] MISSION INTENT FOR THE TASKING WAS TO CONDUCT POL, IDENTIFY PID OF WEAPONS AND WEAPONS/AMMO STORAGE AREAS, AS WELL AS IDENTIFY PERSONNEL WITHIN THE COMPOUND. LOOKING FOR PID OF [REDACTED] [REDACTED] CONDUCTED EEI RELATED ACTIVITY AND OBSERVED NO SIGNIFICANT/NEFARIOUS ACTIVITY UNTIL RTB. ISR ASSET UTILIZATION • Supported Unit: [REDACTED] • Supported Operation: [REDACTED] • Precoord Time: [REDACTED] • Precoord Effectiveness: SATISFACTORY WEATHER • Weather: (SECRET//REL TO USA, FVEY) DUE TO DUST STORMS SOME COLLECTION ON UAPS WAS AFFECTED BETWEEN 0524Z AND 0704Z. 3.5C. (B)(6) SECRET//REL TO USA, FVEY DECLASSIFED UNCLASSIFIED
DECLASSIFED UNCLASSIFIED Declassified by: MG Richard A. Harrison USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Declassified on: 20260710 SECRET//REL TO USA, FVEY EFFECTIVENESS • Tasker: • Intel Gap Filled?: Yes • Gentext: - OBSERVATION • Observation DTG: 050524:00ZMAY22 • Aircraft Callsign: [REDACTED] • Aircraft Location: [REDACTED] • Aircraft Heading: - • Aircraft Altitude: - • Aircraft Airspeed: - • Relative Bearing or Clock Position: • Range: - • Killbox & Keypad: - • Observed Activity Location: [REDACTED] • Observed Activity Description: [REDACTED] • Method of Observation: FMV • EEIs Observed: • Number of EEIs: GENTEXT/OBSERVATION • Gentext: FROM 0524Z-0704Z, [REDACTED] WAS SCANNING VARIOUS POIs IVO [REDACTED] AND PERIODICALLY OBSERVED [REDACTED] UAPS FLYING SPORATICALLY WITHIN THE TARGET AREA AND IN THE NE PORTION OF [REDACTED] ACCORDING TO THE [REDACTED] , THE UAPs WERE TRAVELLING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS BETWEEN 80-180 MPH. WE WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE ALTITUDE. THE SIZE OF THE UAPs WERE APPROXIMATELY 1-2 METERS. DURING THE OBSERVATION PERIOD, [REDACTED] WOULD REACQUIRE THE UAPs AFTER RETURNING THE SENSOR BACK TO THE ORIGIONAL POI LOCATIONS. THE UAPs DID NOT HINDER THE MISSION. WSV IS ATTACHED BELOW WEATHER • Weather: [REDACTED] 3.5C. (B)(6) SECRET//REL TO USA, FVEY DECLASSIFED UNCLASSIFIED
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