Third Special Operations Squadron Tracks Glowing Sphere Over Gulf of Oman

Brief

During a 10-hour-13-minute ISR sortie under Operation ENDURING SENTINEL, a crew from 3 SOS / 27 SOW / AFSOC departing and recovering at Muscat (OMAM) detected one UAP at 04:57Z on 7 June 2024 during return to base over MGRS grid 40RFM60. The E-4 observer described the object as a 'glowing hot' sphere with a vertical, unwavering cylindrical pole or bar attached to its underside, flying just above the water at an estimated 140 knots while the observing aircraft flew at 23,999 feet MSL and 163 knots, with a possible reflection visible in the water below. No interrogation was conducted, the UAP showed no reaction to observation, and the observer assessed it as benign with unknown propulsion; all UAP kinematic values carry an 'Estimated' accuracy flag, indicating observer judgment rather than precision sensor telemetry. The report originally carried a 25-year declassification date of 20490606 but was released to AARO on 28 October 2025.

Metadata

Agency

Department of War

Release

5/8/26

Incident

6/7/24

Location

Gulf of Oman

Type

PDF • .pdf

Length

8 pages

Classification

SECRET//NOFORN (declassified 24 October 2025)

Programs

ENDURING SENTINEL

Tags

glowing sphere, cylindrical appendage, low altitude over water, Gulf of Oman, 2024, ENDURING SENTINEL, 140 knots, solid, unknown propulsion, EO/IR, possible water reflection

Key points

• UAP detected at 04:57Z, 7 June 2024, during return-to-base transit over MGRS grid 40RFM60 in the Gulf of Oman.p.1
• Object described as a glowing, hot, spherical unidentified object with a vertical, unwavering cylindrical pole or bar attached to its underside, with a possible reflection visible in the water below.p.7
• UAP estimated velocity: 140 knots flying just over the water; observing aircraft was at 23,999 ft MSL and 163 knots — an extreme vertical separation for a simultaneous sighting.p.6
• No interrogation of the UAP was performed; the object showed no change in response to the observer's presence.p.6
• UAP physical state assessed as solid; propulsion means unknown; no advanced capabilities, no effects on persons or equipment, no recovered material.p.6
• All kinematic accuracy flags on UAP data are marked 'Estimated,' indicating no precision tracking was recorded.p.7
• The UAP's last coordinate (40QFM92) crossed a MGRS grid zone boundary from the first coordinate (40RFM60), indicating a southward or southwestward track.p.7
• The mission's primary ISR tasking was full-motion video surveillance of dhow maritime activity near a redacted strategic point — the UAP encounter was incidental during RTB.p.5
• Original classification carried a declassification date of 20490606 (25 years post-incident); released early to AARO on 28 October 2025.p.1

Verbatim

• 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

  p.7

• FLYING STRAIGHT JUST OVER THE WATER AT SPEED OF 140KNOTS

  p.6

• DURING RTB AT 0457Z, (b)(1)1.4a OBSERVED 1X UAP WHILE TRANSITING OVER 40RFM60 (b)(1)1.4a (b)(1)1.4a 2 FLYING AT AN ALTITUDE OF 23,999FT MSL AND SPEED OF 163KTS.

  p.7

• AT 0457Z, DURING RTB (b)(1)1.4a DETECTED 1X UAP (SEE UAP 1).

  p.1

• UAP Propulsion Means: UNKNOWN

  p.6

• UAP Response to Observer Actions: NO CHANGE

  p.6

• Observer Assessment of UAP: Benign

  p.6

Most interesting

• The UAP bore a 'vertical unwavering cylindrical pole/bar' on its underside — a structural detail with no obvious conventional aircraft analog and no parallel in standard balloon or drone morphology.
• A possible reflection of the object was observed in the water beneath it, placing the UAP at very low altitude while the observing aircraft was at roughly 24,000 feet — approximately 4.5 nautical miles of vertical separation at the moment of sighting.
• The word 'glowing hot' implies either a thermal IR signature or visible luminosity; the aircraft carried an AN/DAS-1 multi-spectral targeting pod capable of recording both, yet no formal sensor interrogation was logged.
• The UAP's estimated 140-knot speed closely mirrors the observing aircraft's 163-knot transit speed, yet no attempt was made to close distance or verify the contact — consistent with a brief, incidental visual acquisition.
• The encounter occurred during the temporal overlap of NIB Tasking 2 (0444Z-0548Z), meaning the crew was actively scanning for maritime targets when the UAP appeared, suggesting the sensor suite was already in operation.
• MGRS coordinates show the UAP moving from 40RFM60 to 40QFM92, crossing a UTM grid zone boundary — the 'R' to 'Q' transition indicates a southward displacement of roughly 100 kilometers if taken at face value, though 'Estimated' accuracy flags apply.
• The reporting observer was an E-4 Senior Airman — the most junior enlisted grade — which places the evidentiary weight entirely on a single low-rank witness with no noted instrumented confirmation.
• The original 25-year declassification date (2049-06-06) on a report assessed by its own filer as 'Benign' and lacking anomalous characteristics is internally inconsistent, suggesting the long hold was driven by platform or operational sensitivity rather than UAP classification.