DOW-UAP-PR36, Unresolved UAP Report, Middle East, May 2020

Department of WarVideoVideo ReportNo redactionsPURSUE Release 1

5/10

solid newsworthy item

UAP Insight significance score

Location: Middle East
Duration: 2 minutes and 17 seconds
Witnesses: Sensor only
Released: May 8, 2026

UAP Characteristics

? Unknown shapeErratic movementLuminous

Evidence Types

IR Video

Government Programs Referenced

AAROPURSUE

Official Conclusion

Unresolved

Official Description

The United States Central Command submitted a report of an unidentified anomalous phenomenon (UAP) to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) consisting of two minutes and 17 seconds of video footage from an infrared sensor aboard a U.S. military platform in 2020. An accompanying Range Fouler report, DoW-UAP-D38, described the UAP as a solid white object making erratic movements above the water. Video Description: 00:05: An area of contrast briefly enters the sensor field-of-view from the left side of the screen. 00:06-00:18: The sensor pans away from the scene’s initial subject matter while cycling contrast settings and zoom levels. 00:19: The area of contrast re-enters the sensor field-of-view from near the center of the top edge of the screen. 00:20-01:15: The area of contrast remains generally within the sensor field-of-view. 01:16: The sensor narrows its field-of-view to zoom in on the area of contrast. 01:56: The sensor further narrows its field-of-view to zoom in on the area of contrast. 02:10: A blue reticle briefly appears on screen but does not acquire a lock on the area of contrast. 02:15-02:17: The sensor switches to a different modality and loses track of the area of contrast. This video description is provided for informational purposes only. Readers should not interpret any part of this description as reflecting an analytical judgment, investigative conclusion, or factual determination regarding the described event’s validity, nature, or significance.

Key Findings

→The UAP was described in the accompanying Range Fouler report as a solid white object making erratic movements above water.
→The infrared sensor aboard a U.S. military platform captured 2 minutes and 17 seconds of footage of an unidentified area of contrast.
→The sensor attempted to acquire a targeting lock via a blue reticle at the 02:10 mark but was unsuccessful.
→The sensor lost track of the object after switching to a different modality at 02:15-02:17.
→The case was submitted to AARO and remains classified as an unresolved UAP report.

UAP Insight Analysis— AI generated, not official

A declassified infrared sensor video of approximately 2 minutes and 17 seconds, submitted by U.S. Central Command to AARO, depicts an unidentified area of contrast over water in the Middle East in May 2020. An accompanying Range Fouler report (DoW-UAP-D38) describes the UAP as a solid white object making erratic movements above the water. The sensor failed to achieve a tracking lock on the object before losing it upon switching modalities.

Analyst Notes

The video description is explicitly disclaimed as not reflecting any analytical judgment or factual determination about the event. The sensor failed to acquire a lock, and the object was lost when the sensor switched modalities, limiting technical data captured. No independent corroborating sensors or human witnesses are referenced in this metadata. The 'area of contrast' phrasing is deliberately neutral and does not confirm a physical object. The Range Fouler report (DoW-UAP-D38) provides the more substantive description but is not analyzed here.

Extracted Entities

Agencies & Organizations

United States Central Command (USCENTCOM)All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO)Department of War

Locations

Middle East

Aircraft & Objects

Solid white object making erratic movements above waterUnidentified area of contrast observed in infrared sensor footage

Dates

May 2020

Official video via DVIDS · Open on DVIDS ↗

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AI analysis by claude-sonnet-4-6 · May 20, 2026