482nd Squadron Tracks West-East Object Over Baghdad

Brief

On 1–2 December 2022, an Air Force asset from the 482nd Attack Squadron flew a 19-hour, 17-minute ISR mission over Baghdad under Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. At 1620Z on 1 December, the crew observed one possible UAP/UAV flying west to east near grid 38SMB while operating at FL180; they did not divert to pursue the contact and continued their assigned tasking. The primary sensor was FMV (Full Motion Video); approximately ten seconds of infrared footage was captured and later exploited by DGS-AR. No UAP RF signatures were detected and no effects on personnel were reported.

Metadata

Agency

Department of War

Release

5/8/26

Location

Iraq

Type

PDF • .pdf

Length

6 pages

Classification

UNCLASSIFIED (declassified 2025-10-08; original markings indicate SECRET-level)

Programs

INHERENT RESOLVE, BLASPHEMY

Tags

UAP/UAV, infrared/FMV, Iraq, Baghdad, 2022, INHERENT RESOLVE, west-to-east trajectory, FL180, 38SMB grid

Key points

• A single possible UAP/UAV was observed flying west to east near Baghdad (grid 38SMB) at 1620Z on 1 December 2022.p.6
• The observing aircraft was at FL180 (18,000 feet) at the time of the sighting.p.6
• The crew did not pursue the UAP and continued the assigned ISR mission; no further UAP events were observed.p.6
• Primary sensor was FMV; sensors available included AH (AIRHANDLER) and BLASPHEMY.p.4
• No UAP RF signatures were detected and no effects on personnel were reported.p.6
• Total mission time was 19 hours 17 minutes, with takeoff and landing at OKAS.p.4
• FMV footage was exploited by DGS-AR after the mission.p.1
• The original record carried a declassification date of 20471202 (2 December 2047) but was declassified early by MG Richard A. Harrison, USCENTCOM Chief of Staff, on 8 October 2025.p.1
• Weather was not a factor in the observation.p.5

Verbatim

• OBSERVED POSSIBLE UAP. SEE UAP LINE l.

  p.1

• FMV WAS EXPLOITED BY DGS-AR

  p.1

• Primary Sensor: FMV

  p.4

• Total Mission Time: 19 hours 17 minutes

  p.4

• (U) WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR

  p.5

• UAP Effects on Persons: (U) NONE REPORTED

  p.6

• DID NOT FOLLOW UAP.

  p.6

• CONTINUED THE MISSION AS TASKED, NO FURTHER EVENTS WERE OBSERVED.

  p.6

Most interesting

• The UAP observation consumed a single line in an otherwise routine 19-hour ISR mission; no diversion, no follow-up tasking, and no second sighting were recorded.
• The sensor suite lists 'BLASPHEMY' as an available system alongside the more familiar AH (AIRHANDLER) SIGINT platform — an uncommon codename with no public attribution.
• The original declassification date was set 25 years in the future (2047); the document was pulled forward under MDR 25-0094 through MDR 25-0099 and released in October 2025.
• Both the friendly aircraft location and the UAP first-seen location share the same partially redacted 38SMB grid coordinate, suggesting the object passed close to or through the aircraft's operating area.
• Despite belonging to an attack squadron (482ATKS), the aircraft flew with zero weapons or countermeasures loaded — all ACEQUIP munitions fields read '-', confirming a pure ISR configuration.
• The sighting occurred roughly four hours into a nine-hour on-station window, during active scans for high-value individuals, personnel in suits, weapons, and convoys — meaning sensor operators were alert and actively searching when the contact appeared.