Airborne ISR Catches Five Objects Over Iraq

Brief

On 6 May 2022, a U.S. Air Force ISR asset operating under USCENTCOM / Operation INHERENT RESOLVE observed five UAP via full-motion video between 1514Z and 1934Z while conducting target-development in grid area 38SMC53. The first object was visually assessed as resembling a possible missile crossing the sensor field-of-view; the four subsequent objects fit the profile of possible birds. Dust degraded FMV collection quality throughout the mission. The document is a standard MISREP, declassified 7 October 2025 by the USCENTCOM Chief of Staff and released to AARO.

Metadata

Agency

Department of War

Release

5/8/26

Location

Middle East

Type

PDF • .pdf

Length

6 pages

Classification

SECRET//REL TO USA, FVEY (declassified)

Programs

INHERENT RESOLVE

Tags

possible missile, possible birds, FMV/infrared, Middle East, 2022, INHERENT RESOLVE, 5x objects, grid 38SMC53

Key points

• Mission conducted under Operation INHERENT RESOLVE, AFCENT/USCENTCOM, 432 AEW, with full-motion video exploited by DGS1.p.2
• ISR asset took off at 0246Z on 6 May 2022 and commenced SIGINT collection at 0958Z.p.1
• Primary sensor listed as FMV\SI; tasking type PLANNED; activity description TARGET DEVELOPMENT.p.5
• At 1514Z–1515Z the aircraft observed a UAP in its field-of-view near grid 38SMC53/54.p.5
• A total of five UAP were observed crossing the sensor FOV between 1514Z and 1934Z.p.6
• The first UAP was visually assessed ('VISRECCE') as a possible missile; the remaining four fit the profile of possible birds.p.6
• Dust conditions hindered most FMV ground collection throughout the observation window.p.6
• The mission report formally records one IMINT tasking, one SIGINT tasking, and one observation.p.1
• Document declassified by MG Richard A. Harrison, USCENTCOM Chief of Staff, on 7 October 2025; original declassification date on the document was 20470506.p.1

Verbatim

• FROM 1514Z to 1934Z, 1.4a OBSERVED 5X UAP FLY ACROSS THE SCREEN.

  p.6

• AT 1514Z 1.4a OBSERVED A UAP WITH THE VISRECCE OF A POSSIBLE 1.4a MISSILE FLY ACROSS THE FOV IVO 38SMC53 1.4a 96 1.4a

  p.6

• ALL 4X REMAINING UAP FIT CLOSER TO THE PROFILE OF POSSIBLE BIRDS.

  p.6

• DUST HINDERED MOST FMV COLLECTION OF THE GROUND.

  p.6

• AT 1515Z 1.4a OBSERVED A POSSIBLE UAP IN ITS FOV IVO OF 38SMC54 1.4a 96 1.4a (SEE OBVS 1).

  p.5

• 1 IMINT TASKING PROSECUTED, 1.4a HOURS, 1 SIGINT TASKING PROSECUTED, 2 TOTAL TASKINGS PROSECUTED; 1 OBSERVATION

  p.1

Most interesting

• The observation window for UAP activity spans nearly four and a half hours (1514Z to 1934Z), yet the released video clip covers only five seconds — raising questions about how much additional footage was captured or retained.
• The first UAP was characterized by 'VISRECCE' — visual recognition — suggesting the crew attempted a positive identification against known aircraft profiles and could not rule out a missile signature.
• The platform was simultaneously conducting SIGINT collection during the same on-station period, meaning signal-intelligence data may exist that overlaps with the UAP observation timeline, though no SIGINT findings regarding the UAP are reported.
• Grid references for the aircraft location and observed activity location (38SMC53) appear identical, suggesting the UAP passed through the same airspace the platform occupied rather than at standoff range.
• The original declassification date stamped on the document was 6 May 2047 — 25 years from the incident date — before early release was authorized in October 2025.