DISCLOSURE / FILE

Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf

DOW-UAP-D7, Mission Report, Arabian Gulf, 2020

A U.S. military Mission Report (MISREP) documenting an aircrew observation of a balloon-like UAP tracked at 31,000 feet over the Arabian Gulf in 2020, visually identified via targeting infrared sensor.

Brief

This Mission Report (MISREP) records a U.S. military operator's observation of a UAP described as looking like a balloon, traveling with the winds at approximately 31,000 feet MSL. The report notes a "weapons quality 1 track" of the object and visual identification through the aircraft's TFLIR (Targeting Forward-Looking Infrared) sensor. The reporter compared the object to a previously reported UAP from the 48th Fighter Wing (48FW). The document is partially redacted under classification exemption 1.4(a).

Metadata

Agency: Department of War
Release: 5/8/26
Type: PDF • .pdf
Length: 6 pages
Classification: SECRET
Programs: AARO, 48th Fighter Wing (48FW)
Tags: balloon-like, Arabian Gulf, 2020, TFLIR, infrared sensor, 31000 ft MSL, MISREP, 48FW reference

Key points

UAP described by operator as looking like a balloon, similar to a previously reported UAP from the 48th Fighter Wing (48FW).p.6
Object tracked traveling with the winds at 31,000 feet MSL, consistent with passive balloon behavior.p.6
Aircrew obtained a "weapons quality 1 track" on the object, indicating a high-confidence sensor lock suitable for engagement.p.6
Aircrew was able to make a "NEXT to shoot" on the track and visually identify the UAP via the onboard TFLIR (Targeting Forward-Looking Infrared) pod.p.6
The GENTEXT section is marked SECRET, and multiple fields are redacted under classification exemption 1.4(a) (military plans, weapons systems, or operations).p.6
Only 1 of 6 pages contains extractable text; the remainder of the MISREP form appears to be image-only or fully redacted.p.6

Verbatim

LOOKS LIKE A BALLOON, SIMILAR TO PREVIOUSLY REPORTED UAP FROM 48FW.
p.6
OBSERVED A WEAPONS QUALITY 1 TRACK OF A UAP TRAVELING WITH THE WINDS AT 31,000 FT MSL IVO 323'S.
p.6
WAS ABLE TO MAKE A NEXT TO SHOOT ON THE TRACK AND VISUALLY ID THE UAP IN THE TFLIR.
p.6
UAP Description (e.g, size, shape, color, markings, recognizable features): LOOKS LIKE A BALLOON
p.6

Most interesting

The reporter explicitly cross-references a prior 48th Fighter Wing UAP sighting, suggesting a pattern of similar balloon-like observations across U.S. Air Force units.
The aircrew achieved a "weapons quality 1 track," the highest sensor-track fidelity tier, meaning the object was firmly locked and engageable, before visually identifying it through TFLIR.
Despite the balloon-like appearance and wind-driven movement, the encounter was still formally reported as a UAP and forwarded to AARO via the MISREP channel rather than being dismissed in the field.
The 31,000-foot altitude places the object in the upper troposphere, a regime consistent with high-altitude meteorological or surveillance balloons.

Cross-references

PDF321-Knot UAP Acceleration, Arabian GulfDepartment of War
PDFFour Sequential UAPs Over Arabian Gulf, 2020Department of War
PDFProbable UAP, Arabian Gulf MISREP 2020Department of War
PDF40-Knot Hover Plus 278-Knot Pair, 2020Department of War
PDFTwo-Minute Formation Over Persian Gulf, 2020Department of War
PDFThree Persian Gulf UAPs in Five Hours, 2020Department of War
PDFCloudy Persian Gulf Transit Sighting, 2020Department of War
PDFStrait of Hormuz UAP Sighting, October 2020Department of War

Related research

PAPERThe New Science of Unidentified Aerospace-Undersea Phenomena (UAP)Knuth et al. · 2025
PAPERUnidentified aerospace-undersea phenomena (UAP) status and outlookPlatzer · 2025
PAPERGalileo Project Observatory Class System ArchitectureBridgham et al. · 2025
PAPERThe UFO Enigma: A Call for US Government DisclosureNell · 2025

Common questions

What is Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf?: A U.S. military Mission Report (MISREP) documenting an aircrew observation of a balloon-like UAP tracked at 31,000 feet over the Arabian Gulf in 2020, visually identified via targeting infrared sensor.
What does Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf reveal?: UAP described by operator as looking like a balloon, similar to a previously reported UAP from the 48th Fighter Wing (48FW). Object tracked traveling with the winds at 31,000 feet MSL, consistent with passive balloon behavior. Aircrew obtained a "weapons quality 1 track" on the object, indicating a high-confidence sensor lock suitable for engagement.
Which agency produced Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf?: Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf is a primary-source record from Department of War. Its original classification was SECRET.
When is Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf dated?: Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf is dated 2020. It was declassified 2026-05-08.
What programs and topics appear in Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf?: Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf references AARO, 48th Fighter Wing (48FW), balloon-like, Arabian Gulf, TFLIR and infrared sensor.
What does Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf say, in its own words?: "LOOKS LIKE A BALLOON, SIMILAR TO PREVIOUSLY REPORTED UAP FROM 48FW." (source p. 6).

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Extracted text · Page 1

Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf

Page 1 Page 2 Page 6

Page 1 · vision OCR

1.4(a)
[REDACTED]

Page 2 · vision OCR

1.4(a)
[REDACTED]

Page 6 · born-digital extraction

1.4(a) 1.4(a) GENTEXT/UAP • UAP Description (e.g., size, shape, color, markings, recognizable features): LOOKS LIKE A BALLOON, SIMILAR TO PREVIOUSLY REPORTED UAP FROM 48FW. • Gentext (UAP Event Description): (SECRET) OBSERVED A WEAPONS QUALITY 1 TRACK OF A UAP TRAVELING WITH THE WINDS AT 31,000 FT MSL IVO 323'S. 1.4(a) WAS ABLE TO MAKE A NEXT TO SHOOT ON THE TRACK AND VISUALLY ID THE UAP IN THE TFLIR. 1.4(a)

Full transcript6 pages · 80 words›

Concatenated page-by-page transcript. Born-digital pages came through pdf.js; scanned pages were transcribed by Claude vision OCR. Pages marked unreadable failed multiple OCR retries (heavy redaction, microfilm artifacts, or blank separators) and are kept in place for audit.

Page 1vision OCR
```
1.4(a)
[REDACTED]
```
Page 2vision OCR
```
1.4(a)
[REDACTED]
```
Page 3vision OCR
```
1.4(a)
[REDACTED]
```
Page 4vision OCR
```
1.4(a)
[REDACTED]
```
Page 5vision OCR
```
1.4(a)
[REDACTED]
```

Page 6born-digital extraction

1.4(a) 1.4(a) GENTEXT/UAP • UAP Description (e.g., size, shape, color, markings, recognizable features): LOOKS LIKE A BALLOON, SIMILAR TO PREVIOUSLY REPORTED UAP FROM 48FW. • Gentext (UAP Event Description): (SECRET) OBSERVED A WEAPONS QUALITY 1 TRACK OF A UAP TRAVELING WITH THE WINDS AT 31,000 FT MSL IVO 323'S. 1.4(a) WAS ABLE TO MAKE A NEXT TO SHOOT ON THE TRACK AND VISUALLY ID THE UAP IN THE TFLIR. 1.4(a)

DISCLOSURE / FILE

Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf

Brief

Key points

UAP described by operator as looking like a balloon, similar to a previously reported UAP from the 48th Fighter Wing (48FW).p.6

Object tracked traveling with the winds at 31,000 feet MSL, consistent with passive balloon behavior.p.6

Aircrew obtained a "weapons quality 1 track" on the object, indicating a high-confidence sensor lock suitable for engagement.p.6

Aircrew was able to make a "NEXT to shoot" on the track and visually identify the UAP via the onboard TFLIR (Targeting Forward-Looking Infrared) pod.p.6

The GENTEXT section is marked SECRET, and multiple fields are redacted under classification exemption 1.4(a) (military plans, weapons systems, or operations).p.6

Only 1 of 6 pages contains extractable text; the remainder of the MISREP form appears to be image-only or fully redacted.p.6

Verbatim

LOOKS LIKE A BALLOON, SIMILAR TO PREVIOUSLY REPORTED UAP FROM 48FW.

p.6

OBSERVED A WEAPONS QUALITY 1 TRACK OF A UAP TRAVELING WITH THE WINDS AT 31,000 FT MSL IVO 323'S.

p.6

WAS ABLE TO MAKE A NEXT TO SHOOT ON THE TRACK AND VISUALLY ID THE UAP IN THE TFLIR.

p.6

UAP Description (e.g, size, shape, color, markings, recognizable features): LOOKS LIKE A BALLOON

p.6

Most interesting

The reporter explicitly cross-references a prior 48th Fighter Wing UAP sighting, suggesting a pattern of similar balloon-like observations across U.S. Air Force units.

The aircrew achieved a "weapons quality 1 track," the highest sensor-track fidelity tier, meaning the object was firmly locked and engageable, before visually identifying it through TFLIR.

Despite the balloon-like appearance and wind-driven movement, the encounter was still formally reported as a UAP and forwarded to AARO via the MISREP channel rather than being dismissed in the field.

The 31,000-foot altitude places the object in the upper troposphere, a regime consistent with high-altitude meteorological or surveillance balloons.

Common questions

What is Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf?

What does Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf reveal?

UAP described by operator as looking like a balloon, similar to a previously reported UAP from the 48th Fighter Wing (48FW). Object tracked traveling with the winds at 31,000 feet MSL, consistent with passive balloon behavior. Aircrew obtained a "weapons quality 1 track" on the object, indicating a high-confidence sensor lock suitable for engagement.

Which agency produced Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf?

Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf is a primary-source record from Department of War. Its original classification was SECRET.

When is Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf dated?

Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf is dated 2020. It was declassified 2026-05-08.

What programs and topics appear in Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf?

Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf references AARO, 48th Fighter Wing (48FW), balloon-like, Arabian Gulf, TFLIR and infrared sensor.

What does Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf say, in its own words?

"LOOKS LIKE A BALLOON, SIMILAR TO PREVIOUSLY REPORTED UAP FROM 48FW." (source p. 6).

1.4(a) 1.4(a) GENTEXT/UAP • UAP Description (e.g., size, shape, color, markings, recognizable features): LOOKS LIKE A BALLOON, SIMILAR TO PREVIOUSLY REPORTED UAP FROM 48FW. • Gentext (UAP Event Description): (SECRET) OBSERVED A WEAPONS QUALITY 1 TRACK OF A UAP TRAVELING WITH THE WINDS AT 31,000 FT MSL IVO 323'S. 1.4(a) WAS ABLE TO MAKE A NEXT TO SHOOT ON THE TRACK AND VISUALLY ID THE UAP IN THE TFLIR. 1.4(a)

Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf

Brief

Metadata

Key points

Verbatim

Most interesting

Cross-references

Related research

Related topics

Common questions

Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf

Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf

Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf

Brief

Metadata

Key points

Verbatim

Most interesting

Cross-references

Related research

Related topics

Common questions

Weapons-Lock on Balloon-Like UAP, Arabian Gulf