UAP Mission Report: Greece, January 2024 — The Diamond-Mass Incident at FL200

Source file: dow-uap-d25-mission-report-greece-january-2024.pdf Originating agency: Department of Defense / DoD Modern UAP Date range: January 25, 2024 (250109Z to 252149Z) Page count: 7 (all reviewed) High-significance pages: 1 (primary narrative, UAP observation), 6 (detailed UAP data), 7 (UAP GENTEXT description, anomalous characteristics)

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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 one UAP, estimating its speed as "approximately 434 knots (499 mph)". The observer described the UAP as diamond-shaped, with a non-maneuvering probe at the bottom. The observer noted that the UAP was only visible when viewed via an onboard Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) sensor. The observer reported that the event occurred over a duration of approximately two minutes. 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 classified MISREP mission report, released on October 24, 2025 by Major General Richard A. Harrison, USCENTCOM Chief of Staff, describes a UAP observed on January 25, 2024 during an airborne ISR mission in the Greece theater. An unidentified diamond-shaped craft with a straight, non-maneuvering "tail" was detected solely by an onboard SWIR camera while moving at flight level 200 (roughly 20,000 feet) at approximately 434 knots. The senior technician — an E-4 rank airman who filed the report — assessed the UAP as "benign" and rated its control state as "unknown." The event lasted about two minutes.

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Research Article

Introduction

In the early-morning hours of January 25, 2024, during a long-endurance ISR patrol in the Greece theater under USCENTCOM and AFSOC, an unidentified aerial phenomenon was observed by a U.S. aircrew operating from base LGLR. The incident, assigned serial number 250509ZJAN2024-CENTCOM 001, is one of the most methodically documented cases in the 2025–2026 wave of document disclosures.

The Mission and Operational Background

The mission flew under air tasking order ATO-24-024, mission number 4055, classified as an AREC/ISR sortie. A single aircraft from the 33 SOS (Special Operations Squadron), 27 SOW, launched from base LGLR in Greece at 0109Z on January 25, 2024 and recovered at 2149Z after a mission lasting 20 hours and 40 minutes. The aircraft carried a primary FMV (Full Motion Video) sensor and a BLASPHEMY system for SIGINT collection. Mission equipment included an AN/DAS-4 intelligence-collection package and a LINK 16 datalink. Time on station amounted to 8 hours and 29 minutes (0635Z to 1504Z).

The UAP Incident: Initial Statement

At 0509Z, while transiting toward the area of operations, the crew identified an unidentified flying object. The official mission narrative records: "AT 0509Z, [REDACTED] OBSERVED AN UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL PHENOMENON (SEE UAP 1)." The observation lasted only about two minutes, from 0509Z to 0511Z, with no further associated events.

UAP Data: Technical Analysis

The UAP section of the document (page 6) contains the following technical data.

Initial detection time: 250509:00ZJAN24

Physical characteristics:

• Shape: a round diamond shape with a straight, non-maneuvering "tail"
• Physical state: solid
• Sensor signatures: SWIR WHT (a white signature on the short-wave infrared sensor only)
• The UAP did not appear at all on the standard FMV camera, only on the SWIR camera

Movement data (estimated):

• Speed: approximately 434 knots (at initial detection)
• Altitude: FL200 (roughly 20,000 feet)
• Track direction: west (W)
• Flight pattern: maintained a steady flight path, increased and decreased altitude, did not change trajectory

Friendly aircraft state at detection:

• Altitude: FL250 (roughly 25,000 feet)
• Speed: 176 knots
• Heading: 162 degrees
• Position: 35SQT (UTM grid, masked)

Threat assessment: The crew classified the UAP as "benign." No active investigation of the UAP was conducted. There were no additional witnesses. No physical material was collected. There were no effects on personnel or equipment.

The control question: The document notes "UAP Under Intelligent Control: UNK" — meaning it is unknown whether the object was operating under any form of control. The means of propulsion is likewise marked "UNK" (unknown).

ISR Activity During the Remainder of the Mission

After the UAP incident, the aircraft continued to the area of operations and reached station at 0635Z. From there it conducted:

• POL (Patterns of Life) reconnaissance and NSTR observation until 1353Z
• Tracking of a single individual in a silver SUV from 1353Z to 1500Z
• At 1400Z, a large white box was observed being transferred from a black SUV to a white van

The EEI (Essential Elements of Information): one element identified and reported. Coverage was assessed "satisfactory," and intelligence gaps were closed.

The Significance of the SWIR Signature

One of the most striking technical findings in this incident is that the UAP was observed exclusively on the SWIR (Short-Wave Infrared) camera and not on the standard FMV. This phenomenon, documented in other cases in the DoD holdings as well, raises questions about the nature of the object: Does it emit or reflect radiation in the SWIR band in a distinctive way? Is it opaque to visible light? SWIR cameras are sensitive to wavelengths between roughly 0.9 and 1.7 micrometers, a band invisible to the human eye and not captured by standard FMV cameras. A "SWIR WHT" signature (white on the SWIR sensor) points to a strong source of radiation or reflection in that band.

The Mediterranean-NATO Context

The mission operated in the Greece theater under USCENTCOM, indicating extensive American ISR aircraft activity in the eastern Mediterranean. Base LGLR is one of the military aviation bases in Greece used by NATO forces and U.S. SOCOM. The recurrence of UAP incidents documented across the Mediterranean–Middle East theater suggests a geographic pattern that warrants further analysis.

Significance

This incident is significant for several reasons:

1. Anomalous speed: 434 knots (roughly 500 mph / 804 km/h) is a high speed for an object not identified as an aircraft, particularly at FL200 with no IFF identification.
2. SWIR-only signature: Appearance on SWIR alone raises deep technical questions about the object's nature.
3. Non-maneuvering tail: Describing the tail as "non-maneuvering" implies it is not a controlled surface but a rigid part of the structure.
4. Altitude changes without trajectory change: This movement pattern is not characteristic of conventional aircraft.
5. No response to the observer: The UAP did not respond in any way to the presence of the aircraft.

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Key People

Person	Role
MG Richard A. Harrison	USCENTCOM Chief of Staff; signs the classification and the release document (October 24, 2025)
Official reporter (name masked)	A1C, 56 SOIS, 27 SOW, 609 AOC Det 1 — official point of contact (POC) for the report
QC officer (name masked)	SrA, 27 SOW, 609 CAOC
Incident observer	Senior Airman / E-4 (name masked) — the official UAP reporter

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Locations

Location	Description
LGLR	Launch and recovery base, Greece (ICAO code LGLR — Larissa airfield, Greece)
35SQT (masked)	Area of operations; exact location masked in the UTM grid
Theater	Greece / eastern Mediterranean, under USCENTCOM

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Incidents

Incident	Date	Location	Pages
UAP detection — diamond object at FL200, 434 knots, SWIR-only signature	January 25, 2024, 0509Z–0511Z	In transit, Greece theater, FL200/FL250	1, 6, 7
Tracking of silver SUV and the ADM (person of intelligence interest)	January 25, 2024, 1353Z–1500Z	Area of operations, masked	5
Transfer of a large white box from a black SUV to a white van	January 25, 2024, 1400Z	Area of operations, masked	5

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Notable Quotes

"AT 0509Z, [REDACTED] OBSERVED AN UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL PHENOMENON (SEE UAP 1)." (Page 1 — mission narrative)

"UAP WAS FLYING AT A SPEED OF APPROX 434 KNOTS. THE UAP APPEARED DIAMOND IN SHAPE WITH A NON-MANUEVERING PROBE AT THE BOTTOM. THE UAP ONLY APPEARED ON THE SWIR CAMERA. THE EVENT LASTED APPROX 2 MINUTES ENDING AT 0511Z, WITHOUT ANY OTHER INCIDENT OCCURING." (Page 7 — GENTEXT/UAP)

"UAP ANOMALOUS CHARACTERISTICS/BEHAVIORS: MAINTAINED STEADY FLIGHT PATH, INCREASED AND DECREASED ALTITUDE PROFILE, DID NOT CHANGE TRAJECTORY" (Page 7)

"UAP Signatures: SWIR WHT" (Page 6)

"UAP Under Intelligent Control: UNK" (Page 6)

"Observer Assessment of UAP: Benign" (Page 6)