33rd Squadron Tracks Circular Object Over Aegean

Brief

On October 26-27, 2023, a 33 Special Operations Squadron crew flew a 13.5-hour ISR mission under USCENTCOM, departing LGLR and recovering at OJMS. At 0035Z on October 27, the crew observed a UAP flying just above the ocean surface while en route to their primary target; the object was described as seemingly circular and too small to resolve detail. The UAP executed multiple sharp 90-degree turns at an estimated 80 mph before disappearing from the FMV feed at 0038Z. The observer assessed the phenomenon as benign; no effects on persons or equipment were recorded, and no material was recovered.

Metadata

Agency

Department of War

Release

5/8/26

Incident

10/27/23

Location

Aegean Sea

Type

PDF • .pdf

Length

7 pages

Classification

UNCLASSIFIED (declassified)

Tags

circular, FMV, Aegean Sea, 2023, 90-degree turns, low altitude, ocean surface, ISR

Key points

• UAP first observed at 0035Z on October 27, 2023, while the crew was en route to their ISR target — not during dedicated surveillance of the area.p.7
• The UAP was flying just above the surface of the ocean water at the time of observation.p.7
• UAP maneuverability formally logged as 'sharp 90 degree turns'; kinetic velocity estimated at 80 mph.p.6
• UAP physical description: 'seemingly circular, too small to make out details.'p.7
• The UAP was lost from the FMV feed at 0038Z, approximately three minutes after first contact, with no explanation recorded.p.7
• Observer assessed the UAP as benign; UAP signatures and effects on persons and equipment all recorded as NONE.p.6
• Full motion video was captured during the mission and exploited by a ground exploitation team (GET).p.1
• UAP propulsion means, RF frequency, and advanced capabilities were all logged as unknown (UNK); no radar or RF returns were recorded despite the aircraft carrying an AN/DAS-4 targeting pod and LINK 16 data link.p.6
• UAP was assessed as not under intelligent control; no material was recovered.p.7
• Mission was operated by 33 SOS / 27 SOW under AFSOC/USCENTCOM with FMV as the primary sensor, in support of a counter-VEO global campaign plan.p.2

Verbatim

• SEEMINGLY CIRCULAR, TOO SMALL TO MAKE OUT DETAILS

  p.7

• UAP FLYING JUST ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE OCEAN WATER

  p.7

• THE UAP TOOK MULTIPLE 90 DEGREE TURNS AT AN ESTIMATED 80 MPH

  p.7

• Sharp 90 degree turns

  p.6

• FULL MOTION VIDEO WAS EXPLbITED BY GET. 13:30 MISSION HOURS, 06:29 FMV HOURS

  p.1

• Observer Assessment of UAP: Benign

  p.6

Most interesting

• The sighting lasted roughly three minutes — contact at 0035Z, lost at 0038Z — with no recorded cause for the loss of track and no re-acquisition.
• Despite the object executing 90-degree turns at 80 mph, the observer assessed it as benign, and the UAP logged zero reaction to the observing platform.
• The mission was a counter-VEO ISR tasking; the UAP appeared incidentally while the crew was transiting to their primary target, not during dedicated anomaly observation.
• The aircraft carried an AN/DAS-4 targeting pod and a LINK 16 data link, yet all UAP RF fields are logged as UNK — the object produced no detectable electronic signature.
• The UAP's first and last seen coordinates both fall in grid zone 35S KD, consistent with the Aegean Sea operational area specified in the incident location.
• The document was declassified by MG Richard A. Harrison on January 22, 2026, and approved for release to AARO four days later on January 26, 2026 — suggesting a brief interagency processing window between declassification and disclosure.