Mission Report: UAP Observation in the Middle East, May 2022

Source file: dow-uap-d10-mission-report-middle-east-may-2022.pdf Originating agency: Department of Defense / DoD Modern UAP (USCENTCOM) Date range: May 6–7, 2022 Page count: 6 (all read) High-significance pages: 1 (mission narrative, UAP observation), 5 (ISR and observation details), 6 (detailed UAP description)

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Official Blurb (from war.gov)

This document is a Mission Report (MISREP), a standardized reporting form the U.S. Military uses to record the circumstances surrounding its operations. U.S. military services often use MISREPs to report Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) to AARO. The GENTEXT, or "general text" section of these reports often contains important qualitative, contextual information, distinguishing it from the more quantitative, or numerical, data found elsewhere in the report. A U.S. military operator reported observing "5x UAP fly across the screen." The report continues by describing one of those observations as a "possible missile" and the remaining four as "possible birds." All descriptive and estimative language contained in this report reflects the reporter's subjective interpretation at the time of the event. Such characterizations should not be interpreted as a conclusive indication of the presence or absence of any intrinsic object features or performance characteristics.

Summary

This is a declassified Mission Report (MISREP) under number undefined-7473483, submitted within the U.S. Air Force's Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. The mission involved a single aircraft from the 432 AEW conducting SIGINT collection and target development in the Middle East theater. At 1514Z on May 6, 2022, the Air Force crew documented an observation of an unidentified anomalous phenomenon (UAP) that appeared as an object with missile-like characteristics in the field of view of the full-motion-video (FMV) camera. Between 1514Z and 1934Z a total of five UAPs were observed; four were assessed as probable birds, while one remained unexplained, with features resembling a missile. The report was forwarded to AARO and released following declassification by USCENTCOM.

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Research Article

Introduction

On May 6, 2022, a U.S. Air Force intelligence-collection aircraft took off at 0246Z, with handover to the LRE (Launch and Recovery Element) at 0253Z and with fully mission-capable sensors. The mission was conducted within the framework of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE — the deployment of U.S. forces against ISIS — under USCENTCOM command and directed by the 609 CAOC operations center. The aircraft flew a REC/XCAS sortie, that is, a combination of intelligence reconnaissance and extended close air support.

Mission structure and sensor systems

The mission was tasked by the 432 AEW and approved by an ISRD unit of the 379 AEW. The primary sensor noted is FMV/SI — full-motion video combined with SIGINT. SIGINT collection began at 0958Z and continued until 2036Z. The full-motion video was exploited by DGS1 (Distributed Ground Station 1), indicating real-time analysis from a remote location.

The documented reconnaissance start point is 38SMC54 (MGRS grid), an area indicating a Middle Eastern geographic environment. Target development included documentation of personnel, vehicles, weapons, trails, communications equipment, and populated structures. Weather conditions hampered collection, as dust prevented most FMV observation of the ground.

Key incidents

First UAP observation — 1514Z, May 6, 2022

At 1514Z, while on station at coordinate 38SMC53, the collection aircraft identified one UAP in the FMV field of view. According to the GENTEXT/OBSERVATION on page 6, the crew identified a UAP with visual characteristics resembling a possible missile, which crossed the field of view in the vicinity of 38SMC53/96. Immediately afterward, through 1934Z, the same crew documented four additional UAPs.

The report details:

• 1514Z: one UAP observed with the "visrecce of a possible missile" in the field of view.
• 1514Z–1934Z: five UAPs in total observed crossing the screen.
• Four of five: the additional UAPs (apart from the first) were assessed as fitting closer to the profile of possible birds.
• First UAP: the only one that retained possible-missile characteristics and was not explained as a bird.

Observation method: FMV only. No range, direction of travel, altitude, speed, or any further physical data of the UAP itself were recorded, likely because of the rapid nature of the passage across the field of view.

Full mission timeline

Phase	Time (UTC)	Description
Takeoff	060246Z MAY22	Aircraft took off
Handover	060253Z MAY22	Handover to LRE with full sensors
On station	060958Z MAY22	On-station start; SIGINT begins
UAP observation	061514Z MAY22	Observation of a UAP with missile-like characteristics
Additional UAPs	1514Z–1934Z	Four more UAPs, assessed as birds
Off station	062036Z MAY22	Off station; SIGINT ends
Landing	070004Z MAY22	Landing
Engine shutdown	070014Z MAY22	End of mission

Significance

This report represents a typical record of a UAP observation from a military intelligence aircraft in an active theater. Several points merit particular attention.

First, the distinction the crew drew between the first UAP and the other four indicates a degree of analytical capability and awareness of the difference between birds and unexplained objects. The crew did not classify the first as a bird but retained the "possible missile" characterization — indicating genuine doubt about its nature.

Second, the fact that dust prevented most FMV observation of the ground limits contextual analysis. It is possible the UAP was observed against a backdrop of dust rather than clear sky, which could influence visual interpretation.

Third, the report was released in October 2025 following declassification by Major General Richard A. Harrison, USCENTCOM Chief of Staff, with instructions to transfer it to AARO. The report is marked under MDR 25-0093 / JS-250710-TM8S, and the predetermined declassification date is 20470506.

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Key People

Role	Rank	Unit	Notes
POC (point of contact)	SSgt	Classified unit, 432 AEW, 609 CAOC	Name redacted
QC (quality control)	SrA	Classified unit, 432 AEW	Name redacted
Approver	SSgt	ISRD, 379 AEW, 609 CAOC	Name redacted
Declassification authority	MG Richard A. Harrison	USCENTCOM Chief of Staff	Declassified October 7, 2025

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Locations

Location	Details
Takeoff base	Classified (ICAO redacted)
Reconnaissance area	38SMC54 (MGRS grid, Middle East)
UAP observation location	38SMC53/96
Landing base	Classified (ICAO redacted)
Operations center	609 CAOC (Combined Air Operations Center)

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Incidents

Incident	Date	Location	Pages
UAP observation with missile-like characteristics	061514Z MAY22	38SMC53/96	1, 5, 6
Four additional UAPs (possible birds)	1514Z–1934Z MAY22	38SMC53	6
Start of SIGINT collection	060958Z MAY22	Area 38SMC54	1, 5
FMV exploited by DGS1	Throughout the mission	Remote	1

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Notable Quotes

"AT 1514Z, [REDACTED] OBSERVED 1X UAP (SEE OBSERVATION 1)." — page 1, main narrative

"FROM 1514Z TO 1934Z, [REDACTED] OBSERVED 5X UAP FLY ACROSS THE SCREEN. AT 1514Z [REDACTED] OBSERVED A UAP WITH THE VISRECCE OF A POSSIBLE [REDACTED] MISSILE FLY ACROSS THE FOV IVO 38SMC53[...]96[...]. [REDACTED] PROCEEDED TO SEE 4X OTHER UAPS IN THEIR FOV UNTIL 1934Z. ALL 4X REMAINING UAP FIT CLOSER TO THE PROFILE OF POSSIBLE BIRDS." — page 6, GENTEXT/OBSERVATION

"DUST HINDERED MOST FMV COLLECTION OF THE GROUND." — page 6, WEATHER

"FULL MOTION VIDEO WAS EXPLOITED BY DGS1." — page 1, main narrative