Mission Report DOW-UAP-D20: Unidentified Object Observation Over Syria, March 2023

Source file: dow-uap-d20-mission-report-southern-united-states-2023.pdf Originating agency: Department of Defense / USCENTCOM / AFCENT Date range: March 31, 2023 – April 1, 2023 Page count: 6 (all read) High-significance pages: page 1 (mission narrative and UAP observation), page 6 (UAP details and 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 "several bright objects maneuvering quickly" west to east northeast. The operator reported achieving a track on the UAP via an onboard targeting pod for approximately 20 seconds. The report describes that UAP then dimmed and disappeared from the targeting pod. 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

On March 31, 2023 a two-ship of U.S. Air Force F-16CM aircraft launched from Prince Sultan Air Base (OEPS) to fly a Defensive Counter Air (DCA) mission over Syria under Operation Inherent Resolve. At 2302 Zulu, the pilots reported observing 10 to 20 bright objects, assessed as possible UAP, moving rapidly from west to east. The objects were captured briefly only in the aircraft's targeting pod before disappearing. A comparative analysis demonstrated that the objects were not stars.

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Research Article

Introduction

The document carries the title "DOW-UAP-D20, Mission Report, Southern United States, 2020" — yet its content reveals an entirely different reality. The mission was flown on March 31, 2023 over Syrian territory, as part of an active U.S. military operation. The mismatch between the file's official name and its content may stem from a classification error, a deliberate obfuscation policy, or bureaucratic confusion in the release process. The document was originally classified SECRET/NOFORN and was released to the public on October 8, 2025 by Major General Richard A. Harrison, USCENTCOM Chief of Staff.

Operational context

Two F-16CM aircraft of the 77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (under 378 AEW) launched from Prince Sultan Air Base (OEPS) at 1901 Zulu on March 31, 2023, to fly a Defensive Counter Air (DCA) mission inside the killbox designated ESSA. ESSA is an air targeting area in Syria used as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, whose objective is to eliminate the remnants of ISIS.

The pilots checked in with a tactical air controller using the callsign KINGPIN and remained on station for approximately 3 hours and 2 minutes total. Total mission duration was 6 hours and 47 minutes. The aircraft were equipped with all standard combat systems: AIM-120 missile, AIM-9X missile, SNIPER LDP targeting pod, ALQ-184 system, and M61A1 cannon with 510 rounds.

The UAP incident

At 2302:05 Zulu the UAP event began. The pilots reported observing several bright objects moving rapidly from west to east, northeast of the point designated RLZ (most likely the Raqqa area, Syria). The pilots attempted to lock onto the objects with the targeting pod (SNIPER LDP) in TV mode. Each object was captured in the pod for only about 20 seconds before it dimmed and disappeared from the screen.

Technical data on the UAP recorded in the report:

• Number of objects: 10 to 20 (POSS 10X–20X)
• Altitude: FL600 and above (over 60,000 feet / approximately 18,000 meters)
• Direction of motion: west to east
• Radar signatures: none (NO — UAP Signatures)
• Pilots' position: FL265 (approximately 26,500 feet)
• UAP initial position: DATA MASKED
• Health effects on people: none

A critical technical finding

At the end of the report appears an analyst comment of particular importance. The analyst noted that the pilots performed a comparison between the targeting pod locked on the suspect objects and a star. The results were different. This finding rules out the simple explanation of misidentification with a celestial body. The pilots — experienced in identifying stars and celestial background — saw with their own eyes that what was before them was not a star.

The file identification problem

The filename "Southern United States" does not match the document content in any way. The mission was flown across Syria, launched from the Middle East, and is classified under USCENTCOM rather than USNORTHCOM. Several hypotheses exist to explain the gap: an administrative error in document classification, a deliberate codename to prevent identification, or confusion in the disclosure preparation process. It is also possible the report number "undefined-8584059" indicates a registration system fault.

Unit framework and systems

The unit responsible for the mission is the 77 EFS (77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron) under 378 AEW (378th Air Expeditionary Wing). The operations center is the 609 CAOC (Combined Air Operations Center). All relevant personnel names — POC, QC, and Approver — were redacted under FOIA exemption b(6). The MAJCOM is AFCENT and the COCOM is USCENTCOM.

Significance

Several aspects of this incident stand out:

First, the reported UAP altitude is FL600+, meaning above 60,000 feet. F-16 aircraft operate up to roughly 50,000 feet. Objects capable of operating above the service ceiling of fighter aircraft pose an operational and technological challenge not explained by known technology providers.

Second, no radar signature was recorded. Objects of considerable size (seen by eye and in a targeting pod) operating at such altitude with no radar signature whatsoever raise fundamental questions.

Third, the objects moved rapidly and performed maneuvers — "maneuvering quickly" — from west to east. This description implies control rather than free fall.

Fourth, the objects disappeared after they were captured in the targeting pod. It is possible this was a response to the lock-on action.

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Key People

Role	Rank	Unit	Name
POC (point of contact)	First Lieutenant (1LT)	77 EFS / 378 AEW	redacted (FOIA b(6))
QC (quality control)	Staff Sergeant (SSgt)	378 AEW	redacted (FOIA b(6))
Approver	Technical Sergeant (TSgt)	378 AEW	redacted (FOIA b(6))
Declassifying authority	Major General	USCENTCOM	MG Richard A. Harrison (classified)

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Locations

Name	Description
OEPS	Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia — launch and recovery base
ESSA	killbox in Syria — operational activity area
RLZ	reference point in Syria (most likely Raqqa) — UAP observation area
IZ Airspace	Iraqi airspace — transited during the mission
SY Airspace	Syrian airspace — primary mission area

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Incidents

Incident	Date and Time (Zulu)	Location	Pages
Launch of 2-ship F-16CM	03/31/2023 – 1901Z	OEPS base	pages 1, 5
Entry into Iraqi airspace	03/31/2023 – 2007Z	IZ airspace	page 1
Entry into Syrian airspace, contact with KINGPIN	03/31/2023 – 2058Z	SY airspace / ESSA	page 1
UAP observation — 10–20 bright objects	03/31/2023 – 2302Z	NE of RLZ, Syria	pages 1, 6
Departing station, return to base	04/01/2023 – 0000Z	ESSA	page 1
Exit from Iraqi airspace	04/01/2023 – 0046Z	IZ airspace	page 1
Landing at OEPS base	04/01/2023 – 0148Z	OEPS base	page 1

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Notable Quotes

"FLT OBSERVED MULTIPLE POSS UAPS. (SEE UAP)" -- Mission narrative, 2302Z, page 1

"STARTING AT 2302:05Z [REDACTED] FLT OBSERVED SEVERAL BRIGHT OBJECTS MANEUVERING QUICKLY WEST TO EAST NE OF RLZ. [REDACTED] FLT WOULD OBTAIN POSS UAP ON TARGETING POD (TV MODE) FOR APPROX 20S BEFORE OBJECT WOULD BECOME DIM AND DISAPPEAR FROM TARGETING POD. NONE OF THE OBJECTS WERE SEEN IN ANY FORMATIONS AS PREVIOUSLY SEEN IN PRIOR SORTIES. NFTR." -- UAP description, page 6

"ANALYST COMMENT: [REDACTED] FLT COMPARED TARGETING POD BETWEEN POSS UAP AND STAR. RESULTS WERE DIFFERENT." -- Analyst comment, page 6

"UAP Altitude, Depth, Velocity, and Trajectory: FL600+" -- UAP data, page 6

"UAP Signatures: No" -- UAP data, page 6