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Range Fouler Reporting Form
Tracked a round, cold object in IR over the Gulf of Aden at 23,819 ft traveling at 277 mph. Object made abrupt directional changes during 8-minute contact.
Analysis
One contact became three. A Navy helicopter pilot from HSM-73 tracked a single unknown air contact over the North Arabian Sea until it slipped behind a cloud. When it reappeared, two more were with it, due east of the original position. All three held course, speed, and altitude together at roughly 22,000 feet, heading west. No electronic signals, no radar track, no IFF. They appeared to have round shapes with wings or airframe structures. August 24, 2020.
Key Findings
- Three possible unidentified small air contacts observed with negative electronic signals, radar track, and IFF
- Initial single contact tracked, lost behind a cloud, then two additional contacts appeared upon re-acquisition
- All three contacts maintained their relative course, speed, and altitude
- No stable trackfile could be established; distance and speed of contacts unknown
- Contacts appeared to have round shape and wings/airframe configurations
- No interaction took place between the helicopter and the unknown contacts
Page Extractions 1 pages
Page 1
View PDF ↗statushas_content
doc_typeform
classificationDeclassified by MG Richard A. Harrison, USCENTCOM Chief of Staff; USCENTCOM MDR 26-0038 to 26-0046, Approved for Release to AARO
page_descriptionRange Fouler Debrief Form documenting observation of 3 unidentified small air contacts by HSM-73 pilot during routine operations in the North Arabian Sea on August 24, 2020.
dates
- 2020-08-24 | Date of observation
- 00:04:30 Z | Time of detection (night hours)
people
- O-3 Rank pilot | Squadron HSM-73 | Pilot crew position | Observer/reporter
- MG Richard A. Harrison | USCENTCOM Chief of Staff | USCENTCOM | Declassification authority
organizations
- HSM-73 | Navy helicopter squadron conducting SSC mission
- USCENTCOM | U.S. Central Command
- SPEAR | Reporting and analysis organization
- AARO | All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (recipient of release)
locations
- North Arabian Sea | Region of observation
- Contact working area: 21440 | Operational area designation
- Contact latitude: 21440 | Coordinates (partially redacted as 1.4a for longitude)
- Wind direction at contact altitude: 310 degrees, speed 5 knots
observations3 possible unidentified small air contacts observed during routine operations; negative electronic signals (ES), radar track, and IFF (Identification Friend/Foe) track; distance to contact unknown; speed of contact unknown; precise course unknown but appeared westerly heading; initially observed 1x unknown air contact and tracked it before losing sight as it went behind a cloud; when contact was regained, 2x additional unknown air contacts were seen due east of initial contact location; all 3 contacts appeared to maintain their relative course, speed, and altitude; direction/speed listed as 270/UNK; round shape and wings/airframe configurations checked; contact was moving; no stable trackfile; altitude constant yes at 22000 feet
sensor_details
- Negative ES (Electronic Signal detection) | No electronic emissions detected
- Negative radar track | No radar return
- Negative IFF track | No identification friend/foe response
- SSC mission type | Stated mission description
assessments
- Radar equipped: Other | Form assessment
- Stable trackfile: No | Form assessment
- No interaction took place | Crew assessment
redactions
- Crew member name, rank | Contact information sanitized
- SIPR email address | Classified contact information
- "1.4a" redaction in longitude field | Classified coordinate information
- "(b)(6)" redactions appear throughout | Classified contact/repository information
- Repository link redacted | Classified file upload location
quotes"[1.4a] observed 3x possible unidentified small air contact I while conducting routine operations in the North Arabian Sea. Negative ES, radar track, and IFF track. Distance to contact was unknown. Speed of contact was unknown. Precise course of contact was unknown, but appeared to be on a westerly heading. No interaction took place between [1.4a] and the unknown air contacts. Initially observed 1x unknown air contact and tracked it before losing sight as it went behind a cloud. When contact on the unknown air contact was regained, 2x additional unknown air contacts were seen due east of the location of the initial contact. All 3x unknown air contacts appeared to maintain their relative course, speed, and altitude." | Pilot description