DISCLOSURE / FILEPersian Gulf CENTCOM Infrared Track August 2020
DOW-UAP-PR091, "21 AUG [CALLSIGN] Observes UAP in Persian Gulf"
A 4:48 infrared video, uploaded to a classified network in August 2020 by an unidentified user, assessed by AARO as likely captured by a U.S. military platform in the CENTCOM area of responsibility and showing an unidentified area of contrast transiting the sensor frame.
Brief
AARO assessed this video as likely derived from an infrared sensor aboard a U.S. military platform operating in the CENTCOM area of responsibility in August 2020. It surfaced as part of 51 potentially UAP-related records that eight House members formally requested access to on March 6, 2026. AARO flags that the materials lack a substantiated chain of custody and that the uploader is identified only as a user who posted to a classified network. Of the 4:48 runtime, the first 3:07 is blank; the remainder shows the sensor zooming, panning, and tracking an area of contrast that ultimately becomes indistinguishable from video grain.
Metadata
- Agency
- Department of War
- Release
- 5/22/26
- Incident
- 2020
- Location
- CENTCOM
- Type
- VIDEO • .mp4
- Length
- 4:49
- Programs
- AARO
- Tags
- area of contrast, infrared sensor, Persian Gulf, CENTCOM, 2020, classified network upload, unverified chain of custody
Key points
- Eight members of the U.S. House of Representatives formally requested access to 51 potentially UAP-related records held by the Department of War and the Intelligence Community on March 6, 2026.
- AARO assessed the video as likely derived from an infrared sensor aboard a U.S. military platform operating within the CENTCOM area of responsibility.
- The materials in this collection lack a substantiated chain of custody, per AARO's own characterization.
- The video was uploaded to a classified network by an unidentified user in August 2020; the uploader's callsign is redacted in the public release.
- Of the 4:48 runtime, the first 3:07 contains no visible content; observable sensor activity begins at 03:08.
- The UAP is characterized only as an 'area of contrast' that transits the frame top-to-bottom, is tracked by the sensor panning, and eventually becomes indistinguishable from video grain.
- AARO explicitly disclaims that the video description should not be interpreted as reflecting any analytical judgment, investigative conclusion, or factual determination regarding the event's validity, nature, or significance.
Most interesting
- The first 3 minutes and 7 seconds of the 4:48 video contain no visible content — usable sensor footage occupies only the final 100 seconds.
- The uploader's callsign is fully redacted; the title appears publicly as '21 AUG 2020 [CALLSIGN] Observes UAP in Persian Gulf.'
- AARO formally acknowledges a lack of substantiated chain of custody for this and the broader collection of 51 records — an unusual concession in an official release document.
- The 51-record congressional request was filed by eight sitting House members as recently as March 6, 2026, indicating active legislative pressure on the Department of War's UAP holdings.
- The phenomenon is never characterized beyond 'area of contrast' — AARO issues a blanket disclaimer against reading any analytical weight into even that minimal description.