⚡Major disclosure

This document represents a congressional-triggered AARO disclosure of 51 potentially UAP-related Department of War records requested by eight sitting U.S. House members in March 2026, marking a formal legislative oversight action on classified UAP materials.

DOW-UAP-PR080, "20 October 2020 [CALLSIGN] [CALLSIGN] Observes UAP

Department of WarVideoVideo ReportLight redactionPURSUE Release 1

5/10

solid newsworthy item

UAP Insight significance score

Location: CENTCOM
Incident date: 2020
Duration: 4 minutes 54 seconds (full video); individual object transits last 1-2 seconds each
Witnesses: Sensor only
Released: May 22, 2026

UAP Characteristics

? Unknown shapeErratic movement

Evidence Types

IR Video

Government Programs Referenced

AAROPURSUE

Official Conclusion

No analytical judgment, investigative conclusion, or factual determination provided; video description is for informational purposes only.

Official Description

"On March 6, 2026, eight members of the U.S. House of Representatives requested access to 51 potentially UAP-related records allegedly held by the Department of War and the Intelligence Community. The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) identified a collection of responsive materials held on a classified network. Many of these materials lack a substantiated chain-of-custody. AARO assesses that this video, whose uploader-defined title is, “20 October 2020 [CALLSIGN] [CALLSIGN] Observes UAP,” is likely derived from an infrared sensor aboard a U.S. military platform operating within the United States Central Command area of responsibility in 2020. A user uploaded this video to a classified network in October 2020. Video Duration: 00:04:54 Video Description: 01:17-01:21: An area of contrast enters the sensor field-of-view from the top right of the screen. The sensor pans toward the object, then pans away. 02:45-02:46: An area of contrast transits the sensor field-of-view across the bottom right quarter to the bottom middle edge of the screen. 03:12-03:13: An area of contrast transits the sensor field-of-view from the top right quarter to the bottom left quarter, after which the sensor changes modes and attempts to track the area of contrast. 03:20-03:21: An area of contrast transits the sensor field-of-view from the top right quarter to the bottom left quarter, after which the sensor changes modes and attempts to track the area of contrast. 03:35-03:36: An area of contrast transits the sensor field-of-view across the bottom right quarter, after which the sensor attempts to track the area of contrast. 03:40-03:41: An area of contrast transits the sensor field-of-view across the bottom right quarter to the bottom middle edge of the screen, after which the sensor attempts to track the area of contrast. 04:02-04:03: An area of contrast transits the sensor field-of-view across the bottom right quarter to the bottom middle edge of the screen, after which the sensor attempts to track the area of contrast. 04:22-04:23: An area of contrast transits the sensor field-of-view across the bottom left quarter. 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

→AARO assessed the video is likely derived from an infrared sensor aboard a U.S. military platform in the CENTCOM area of responsibility in 2020.
→Eight members of the U.S. House of Representatives requested access to 51 potentially UAP-related records from the Department of War and Intelligence Community on March 6, 2026.
→The video shows at least eight distinct moments where an area of contrast enters or transits the sensor field-of-view, with the sensor attempting to track the object on several occasions.
→AARO explicitly notes that many of the responsive materials, including this video, lack a substantiated chain-of-custody.
→AARO provides no analytical judgment, investigative conclusion, or factual determination regarding the event's validity, nature, or significance.

UAP Insight Analysis— AI generated, not official

A 4-minute 54-second infrared sensor video, reportedly captured by a U.S. military platform operating in the CENTCOM area of responsibility in October 2020, shows multiple brief transits of an area of contrast across the sensor field-of-view. The video was uploaded to a classified network and was identified by AARO as part of a collection of potentially UAP-related records requested by eight House members in March 2026. AARO explicitly notes the materials lack a substantiated chain-of-custody and offers no analytical conclusions about the object's nature.

Analyst Notes

AARO explicitly states the materials lack a substantiated chain-of-custody, significantly limiting evidential value. No analytical conclusion is offered. The object is described only as an 'area of contrast' with no shape determination possible. Individual transit events last only 1-2 seconds each. No corroborating sensor data (radar, visual) is referenced. The video was user-uploaded to a classified network, introducing provenance uncertainty.

Extracted Entities

Agencies & Organizations

Department of WarAll-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO)U.S. House of RepresentativesIntelligence Community

Locations

United States Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility

Aircraft & Objects

Area of contrast observed in infrared sensor video, consistent with an unidentified aerial object

Dates

October 20, 2020 (incident date per video title)October 2020 (video uploaded to classified network)March 6, 2026 (congressional records request)

Official video via DVIDS · Open on DVIDS ↗

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