Arabian Gulf: USAF ISR crew tracks three objects of same shape moving among each other
At dusk on August 31, 2020, during an ISR mission over the Arabian Gulf, a U.S. Air Force pilot of the 482nd Attack Squadron saw an object fly through the sensor screen, began tracking it, saw it overtaken by a second object of the same size and shape at much higher speed, and at one point had three objects on screen moving among each other.
Background
The record is a one-page Range Fouler Debrief Form submitted by a pilot of O-2 rank of the 482nd Attack Squadron for an ISR mission on August 31, 2020 at dusk; the time of detection is blank and the contact position is withheld, but the narrative gives the MGRS grid of initial contact as 39R WL (digits withheld), which lies in the Arabian Gulf off the Iranian coast. The contact altitude is logged as 18,000 feet, constant, moving, with a direction and speed of 150/230; 'Other Shape' and 'Apparent Propulsion' are checked. The narrative states: 'Saw the initial object fly through the screen and started tracking it. Initial object was surpassed by another object of same size and shape but much higher speed. At one point during tracking the objects, there were three on the screen at the same time moving amongst each other.' The DoW published the form under the title 'Range Fouler Debrief, Japan, 2023', which contradicts the date and unit on the form; USCENTCOM approved release to AARO on March 16, 2026 (MDR 26-0028). The details are taken from the records released by the U.S. Department of War (record code DOW-UAP-D42) and do not represent an independent determination by From Beyond Space.