DOW-UAP-PR117, Unresolved UAP Report, Gulf of Oman, 2021
Gulf of Oman UAP infrared video, 16-second clip (2021)
solid newsworthy item
UAP Insight significance score
- Incident date
- 9/8/2021
- Duration
- 16 seconds (video length)
- Witnesses
- Human + sensor
- Released
- August 7, 2026
UAP Characteristics
Evidence Types
Government Programs Referenced
Official Conclusion
Unresolved (per the report title); no analytical conclusion is stated in the description
Official Description
The United States Central Command submitted a report of an unidentified anomalous phenomenon to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) consisting of 16 seconds of video footage. This footage is a secondary capture, recorded via a cellular device, of an infrared sensor display aboard a U.S. Special Operations Forces AC-130J Gunship. This footage does not represent native primary sensor data, and the secondary recording method introduces limitations in fidelity, resolution, and overall visual quality. Artifacts inherent to filming a screen, such as blurring or flickering, may be present. The footage contained within DOW-UAP-PR117 through DOW-UAP-PR122 was captured contemporaneously. An accompanying Intelligence Information Report, DOW-UAP-D101, describes the phenomena as “cold orbs” approximately four feet in diameter. Video description: 00:00-00:16: An area of contrast remains generally within the center of the sensor field-of-view. 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
- →A 16-second secondary capture, filmed with a cellular device from an infrared sensor display, was submitted by CENTCOM to AARO.
- →The sensor platform was a U.S. Special Operations Forces AC-130J Gunship.
- →The video shows an area of contrast generally held near the center of the sensor field of view.
- →The accompanying Intelligence Information Report DOW-UAP-D101 describes the phenomena as 'cold orbs' approximately four feet in diameter.
- →The footage is part of a related set (DOW-UAP-PR117 through PR122) captured contemporaneously.
United States Central Command submitted to AARO a 16-second cellular-device recording of an infrared sensor display aboard a U.S. SOF AC-130J gunship over the Gulf of Oman on 9/8/2021. The video shows an area of contrast remaining generally centered in the sensor field of view. An accompanying Intelligence Information Report (DOW-UAP-D101) describes the phenomena as 'cold orbs' roughly four feet in diameter, and the footage was captured contemporaneously with DOW-UAP-PR118 through PR122.
Analyst Notes
Footage is a secondary cellphone recording of a screen, not native sensor data, so fidelity is degraded and artifacts such as blur or flicker are possible. The video shows only a generic area of contrast with no discernible structure, scale, or range data. The 'cold orbs' characterization comes from a separate report, and the description makes no analytical judgment. No mundane explanation is offered, but none is ruled out either.
Extracted Entities
Agencies & Organizations
Locations
Aircraft & Objects
Dates
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