33 SOS Tracks Circular Object Over Eastern Mediterranean

Brief

During an ISR sortie over the Eastern Mediterranean on 27 October 2023, a U.S. special operations aircraft from 33 SOS/27 SOW observed a UAP flying just above ocean surface at 0035Z while en route to its tasked location. The object was described as seemingly circular, made multiple sharp 90-degree turns at an estimated 80 MPH, and was lost from the sensor feed at 0038Z — a contact window of roughly three minutes. The crew assessed the object as benign, recorded no intelligent control or signatures, and logged propulsion, payload, and RF characteristics as unknown. The mission report was submitted to AARO and declassified by MG Richard A. Harrison on 22 January 2026, accompanied by 2:57 of infrared video.

Metadata

Agency

Department of War

Release

5/8/26

Location

Greece

Type

PDF • .pdf

Length

7 pages

Classification

UNCLASSIFIED (after declassification)

Programs

AARO

Tags

circular UAP, FMV sensor, infrared sensor, ocean surface, 90-degree turns, Eastern Mediterranean, Greece, 2023, MISREP 9329374, AARO submission

Key points

• UAP first acquired at 0035Z on 27 October 2023 while the crew was en route to their tasked target, flying just above the surface of the ocean.p.7
• The object executed multiple sharp 90-degree turns at an estimated kinetic velocity of 80 MPH.p.6
• UAP described as 'SEEMINGLY CIRCULAR, TOO SMALL TO MAKE OUT DETAILS' by the observing crew.p.7
• Contact was lost at 0038Z, yielding an observation window of approximately three minutes.p.7
• Primary sensor was FMV; the AN/DAS-4 targeting pod and infrared sensor also referenced in the accompanying video.p.4
• Crew officially assessed UAP as 'Benign' and answered 'NO' to the 'UAP Under Intelligent Control' field.p.6
• Propulsion means, RF frequency, RF duration, and payload were all logged as 'UNK'.p.6
• Physical state was recorded as 'Solid'; no effects on personnel, equipment, or recoverable material were noted.p.6
• Mission flown by 33 SOS / 27 SOW under AFSOC/USCENTCOM, takeoff from LGLR (Larissa AB, Greece), landing at OJMS (Muwaffaq Salti AB, Jordan); total mission time 13 hours 30 minutes.p.4
• Document originally carried a declassification date of 20481026; pulled forward for release to AARO on 26 January 2026 — roughly 22 years early.p.1

Verbatim

• AT 0035ZJ 1.4a !WAS EN ROUTE TO THEIR TAR I ET WHEN THEY SPOTTED A UAP FLYING JUST ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE OCEAN WATER. THE UAP TOOK MULTIPLE 90 DEGREE TURNS AT AN ESTIMATED 80 MPH. AT 00382, 1.4a LOST THE UAP FROM THEIR FEED.

  p.7

• SEEMINGLY CIRCULAR, TOO SMALL TO MAKE OUT DETAILS

  p.7

• UAP Maneuverability Observations: Sharp 90 degree turns

  p.6

• Observer Assessment of UAP: Benign

  p.6

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

  p.6

• UAP Physical State: Solid

  p.6

Most interesting

• The aircraft took off from Larissa Air Base (LGLR) in Greece and landed at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base (OJMS) in Jordan — indicating a cross-theater ISR routing through which the UAP encounter was incidental, not a dedicated UAP collection mission.
• The observation window was only about three minutes (0035Z to 0038Z) before the object disappeared from the sensor feed, leaving no opportunity for extended characterization or re-acquisition.
• Despite documented 90-degree turns at 80 MPH, the crew's structured assessment returned 'Benign' — reflecting AARO reporting norms that decouple maneuverability observations from threat designation.
• The accompanying 2:57 infrared video shows the sensor locking the object with a blue reticle, engaging a contrast filter to improve differentiation, and then losing lock as the target became indistinguishable against the ocean background — a pattern consistent with a low-infrared-contrast object at wave-top altitude.
• The original classification header carried a future declassification date of 20481026 (26 October 2048); the document was declassified and released to AARO 22 years ahead of that schedule.
• No UAP signatures of any kind were recorded — no RF emissions, no effects on aircraft systems, no recoverable material — leaving the sensor footage as the sole evidence of the event.
• The mission's primary purpose was target development against violent extremist organizations (GCP-VEO); the UAP was an unplanned contact encountered while transiting to the assigned collection point.