AFSOC Circular Object Aegean Sea October 2023

Brief

On 29 October 2023, a U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command aircraft departed Larissa Air Base (LGLR) at 1504Z on a planned ISR mission and incidentally observed one possible UAP at 0811Z while returning to base. The UAP was described as seemingly circular and too small to make out details, flying just above the ocean surface at an estimated 30 MPH in a straight trajectory toward land. The observer assessed it as benign; no intelligent control was indicated and no effects on persons or equipment were recorded. Full motion video collected during the mission was exploited by a ground exploitation team, though the referenced UAP 1 attachment is not included in the declassified release.

Metadata

Agency

Department of War

Release

5/8/26

Incident

10/29/23

Location

Aegean Sea

Type

PDF • .pdf

Length

7 pages

Classification

UNCLASSIFIED (after declassification)

Tags

circular, low-altitude ocean, sea-skimming, FMV, Aegean Sea, 2023, MISREP-9337873, 30 MPH, solid, AFSOC ISR

Key points

• A single possible UAP was observed at 0811Z on 29 October 2023 while the aircraft was returning to base — an incidental observation, not a tasked detection.p.1
• The UAP was described as seemingly circular and too small to make out details, flying just above the ocean surface.p.7
• Estimated kinetic velocity of 30 MPH; trajectory recorded as estimated rather than measured.p.7
• Observer assessed the UAP as benign; no intelligent control indicated; UAP propulsion and advanced capabilities listed as unknown.p.6
• UAP signatures: NONE; UAP effects on persons: NO; UAP effects on equipment: NONE; no material recovery.p.6
• The mission was conducted by the 33rd Special Operations Squadron (33 SOS), 27th Special Operations Wing (27 SOW) under USCENTCOM/AFSOC.p.2
• Full motion video was collected during the mission and exploited by a ground exploitation team (GET); total FMV hours: 09:24 out of a 20-hour 1-minute mission.p.1
• The aircraft carried 2x AGM-114R9E and 2x AGM-114R2 Hellfire missiles, an AN/DAS-4 targeting pod, and G-MESH avionics suite — consistent with an armed ISR platform.p.4
• Document declassified by MG Richard A. Harrison, USCENTCOM Chief of Staff, on 22 January 2026 under MDR 26-0019; original classification expiry was set for 28 October 2048.p.1

Verbatim

• SEEMINGLY CIRCULAR, TOO SMALL TO MAKE OUT DETAILS

  p.7

• FLYING JUST ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE OCEAN WATER

  p.7

• THE UAP FLEWS IGHT ABOVE THE OCEAN TOWARDS LANDS

  p.7

• FULL MOTION VIDEO WAS EXPLOITED BY GET

  p.1

• Observer Assessment of UAP: Benign

  p.6

• UAP Under Intelligent Control (yes/no; if yes, describe): NO

  p.6

• UAP Advanced Capabilities And/Or Materials (yes/no; if yes, describe): UNK

  p.6

Most interesting

• The 20-hour 1-minute mission duration is consistent with an unmanned or long-endurance platform such as an MQ-9 variant — standard fixed-wing aircraft do not sustain such flight times.
• The aircraft carried four Hellfire missiles during what was logged as an ISR mission, indicating an armed overwatch or hunter-killer role rather than pure reconnaissance.
• The UAP was spotted at 0811Z while the aircraft was returning to base, not during the designated collection window — placing the observation entirely outside the mission's planned sensor activity.
• The primary ISR collection target, supported operation, and tasking request number are all data-masked in the declassified version; the nature of the surveillance mission remains classified.
• At 2244Z, six vehicles were observed on a parking garage rooftop with no associated personnel — logged in the ISR narrative without apparent resolution or follow-up.
• A 30 MPH estimated velocity for an airborne object flying just above the ocean surface is unusually slow; it is consistent with a low, sea-skimming trajectory but rules out most conventional aircraft in flight.
• UAP coordinates fall within MGRS grid zone 35S, placing the sighting in the eastern Mediterranean / Aegean Sea region, consistent with the incident location stated in the war.gov listing.
• The document references a 'UAP 1' attachment cited in the mission narrative on page 1, but no such attachment appears in the seven-page declassified release.