U.S. Air Force ISR Mission Report: UAP Incident Over Regional Maritime Waters — United Arab Emirates, June 2024
U.S. Air Force ISR Mission Report: UAP Incident Over Regional Maritime Waters — United Arab Emirates, June 2024
Source file: dow-uap-d27-mission-report-united-arab-emirates-october-2023.pdf Originating agency: Department of Defense / DoD Modern UAP — USCENTCOM / AFSOC Date range: June 6–7, 2024 (DTG: 062100Z–070713Z JUN24) Page count: 8 (all reviewed) High-significance pages: 1 (primary narrative), 5 (initial UAP data), 6 (detailed UAP profile), 7 (visual description — GENTEXT/UAP)
Researcher's note: The filename references October 2023, but the document content and CSV verification place the incident on June 7, 2024 in the Gulf of Oman region. All analysis below is based on the actual content.
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 at an estimated altitude of approximately 24,000 feet. The observer estimated the UAP's speed as 163 knots (187 mph). 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 documents a UAP incident that occurred on June 7, 2024 at 04:57Z during a return-to-base leg of a U.S. ISR aircraft operating under Operation ENDURING SENTINEL in the USCENTCOM area. The unmanned aircraft detected a glowing spherical object with a prominent visual anomaly — a vertical cylindrical pole suspended beneath the object. The object moved straight just over the surface of the water at 140 knots and did not respond to the presence of the friendly aircraft. The final assessment: benign.
Research Article
Introduction
On June 7, 2024, in the early-morning hours by UTC, a U.S. ISR aircrew reported an unexpected UAP observation during a return flight to base OMAM — the airfield located in the Abu Dhabi region of the United Arab Emirates. The report, classified SECRET/NOFORN and subsequently released on October 24, 2025 by Major General Richard A. Harrison, USCENTCOM Chief of Staff, was filed under MISREP number undefined-10055709 and constitutes a rare documentation of a UAP incident in Arabian Gulf airspace.
The mission was conducted as part of Operation ENDURING SENTINEL, USCENTCOM's enduring operation in the Middle East. The aircraft — an ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) platform belonging to the 3 SOS (Special Operations Squadron), 27 SOW — launched from base OMAM on June 6, 2024 at 21:00Z, initially to conduct a maritime monitoring mission.
Mission Sequence
Launch and initial monitoring phase
The aircraft launched from OMAM at 21:00Z on June 6, 2024 via departure route SLR and proceeded toward the mission area. At 18:22Z, the aircraft received a "7-LINE" update (a ground terminal-guidance directive) but did not reach its on-station point due to weather conditions. Accordingly, an initial RTB (Return to Base) was executed.
Two NIB (Non-Interference Basis) tasks
At 22:56Z, and again at 04:44Z the following day, the aircraft executed two monitoring tasks on a "non-interference basis" (NIB). Both tasks involved maritime scanning — specifically, locating and tracking dhow-type vessels sailing toward the SP (a classified support point). The aircraft was directed to scan 75 nautical miles west, north, and east of the SP, to report vessel flags, and to identify equipment, communications gear, weapons, personnel, and cargo, including canvas-covered items.
On both tasks, the aircraft reached the SP and found no personnel or vehicle activity. Between 22:57Z and 23:30Z and between 04:45Z and 05:48Z, full scans were conducted and findings on vessel activity were reported. The ITC intent was satisfied.
Key Incidents
UAP incident — 04:57Z, June 7, 2024
During the return-to-base flight at 04:57Z, while transiting over coordinate MGRS 40RFM60 (a sea/gulf area), the aircraft detected one unidentified object (1X UAP). UAP details:
Physical description: A glowing, hot, unidentified spherical object with a vertical cylindrical pole/bar — without lateral displacement — attached to the bottom of the object. A possible reflection of the object on the water below it was also recorded.
Movement data:
- UAP speed: 140 knots (kinetic velocity, precision: estimated)
- Direction of travel: straight just over the surface of the water
- Altitude: not reported separately
- Response to aircraft presence: no change (NO CHANGE)
Friendly aircraft data at the time of the incident:
- Altitude: 23,999 feet above mean sea level (MSL)
- Speed: 163 knots
- Heading: 294 degrees
- Position: 40RFM60 (MGRS)
Additional characteristics:
- Physical state: solid
- Means of propulsion: unknown
- Effect on personnel: no
- Effect on equipment: not specified
- Payload: not identified
- Intelligent control: not assessed / not specified
- Advanced capabilities: no
- Interrogations: none conducted
- Engagements: none conducted
- Objects collected: no
Event serial number: 060457ZJUN2024-CENTCOM
Origin assessment: benign
Sensor and Avionics Systems
The aircraft was equipped with:
- TGT Pod: AN/DAS-1 (advanced FLIR/EO reconnaissance camera)
- Additional avionics: AH/GMESH/SF
- Datalink: LINK 16
- Radar warning receiver (RWR)
- Missile warning system (MWS)
- IRCM (IR-guided missile countermeasures system)
- ECM (electronic warfare)
The UAP was not scanned by sensors (Observation Interrogation of UAP: NO), which limits the volume of objective data that can be derived from the incident.
Significance
This incident stands out for several reasons. First, the visual description is unusual compared with most documented UAP incidents: a glowing sphere with a clear structural anomaly (a cylindrical pole) attached to its underside and reflecting off the sea is not a routine description and does not match any known commercial or military aircraft. Second, a speed of 140 knots over the water with no identified means of propulsion emerged as an interesting characteristic, although it is relatively low and does not exceed the range of routine aircraft. Third, the absence of any response to the presence of the friendly aircraft strengthens the hypothesis that this was an object without active environmental awareness.
On the other hand, the strategic significance is limited by several factors: the platform did not conduct a sensor scan of the UAP; the UAP did not demonstrate verified advanced capabilities; and no physical material was collected from it. Even so, the location of the case — an Arabian Gulf maritime area within CENTCOM's area of responsibility, from a vessel-monitoring zone with potential smuggling activity — gives the event an operational context worthy of attention.
Key People
| Person | Role |
|---|---|
| MG Richard A. Harrison | USCENTCOM Chief of Staff; signed the document release (October 24, 2025) |
| Point of contact (POC) | Rank SrA (Senior Airman), unit 27 SOW, operations center 609 CAOC (name redacted under FOIA exemptions b(6) and b(3)) |
| QC (Quality Control) | Rank A1C, unit 56 SOIS, wing 27 SOW, center 609 AOC Det 1 (name redacted) |
| Approver | Rank SrA, wing 379 AEW, center 609 CAOC (name redacted) |
| UAP reporter | Rank E-4, name redacted (FOIA b(3), b(6)) |
Locations
| Location | Description |
|---|---|
| OMAM | Launch and recovery base; military airfield in the Abu Dhabi region, United Arab Emirates |
| 40RFM60 / 40QFM92 (MGRS) | Coordinates of the mission area and the UAP incident; a maritime area, most likely a body of water near the Emirati coast |
| SP (Support Point) | Classified support point for vessel monitoring |
| 609 CAOC | Combined Air Operations Center 609, the body coordinating CENTCOM air operations |
Incidents
| Incident | Date | Location | Pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch from base OMAM for ISR flight | June 6, 2024, 21:00Z | OMAM, United Arab Emirates | 1, 4 |
| 7-LINE / initial RTB due to weather | June 6, 2024, 18:22Z | Mission area | 1, 5 |
| NIB 1 — maritime monitoring (dhow) | June 6, 2024, 22:56Z–23:30Z | 40RGM85 (MGRS) | 1, 5 |
| NIB 2 — maritime monitoring (dhow) | June 7, 2024, 04:44Z–05:48Z | 40RFM63 (MGRS) | 1, 7–8 |
| UAP observation — glowing sphere with cylindrical pole | June 7, 2024, 04:57Z | 40RFM60 (MGRS), maritime area | 1, 5, 6, 7 |
| Landing at OMAM / mission end | June 7, 2024, 07:13Z | OMAM, United Arab Emirates | 1, 4 |
Notable Quotes
"GLOWING HOT SPHERICAL UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT WITH A VERTICAL UNWAVERING CYLINDRICAL POLE/BAR ATTACHED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE OBJECT POSS REFLECTION FROM THE OBJECT IN THE WATER, MOVING AT 140KNOTS" (Page 7 — GENTEXT/UAP: UAP description)
"DURING RTB AT 0457Z, [REDACTED] OBSERVED 1X UAP WHILE TRANSITING OVER 40RFM60[REDACTED] FLYING AT AN ALTITUDE OF 23,999FT MSL AND SPEED OF 163KTS." (Page 7 — GENTEXT/UAP: UAP description)
"UAP MANEUVERABILITY OBSERVATIONS: FLYING STRAIGHT JUST OVER THE WATER AT SPEED OF 140KNOTS" (Page 6 — UAP profile)
"UAP RESPONSE TO OBSERVER ACTIONS: NO CHANGE" (Page 6 — UAP profile)
"UAP PHYSICAL STATE: SOLID" (Page 6 — UAP profile)
"UAP PROPULSION MEANS: UNKNOWN" (Page 6 — UAP profile)
"OBSERVER ASSESSMENT OF UAP: BENIGN" (Page 6 — observer assessment)
Images
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