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According to the Department of War document, titled ‘DOW-UAP-D28, Mission Report, Iraq, September 2024’, a U.S. military aircraft crew observed an unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAP) during a weapons calibration test in Iraq on September 20, 2024. The crew reported seeing a lens flare via MX-20 and MX-25 IR sensors after firing an AGM-176 Griffin air-to-surface missile, which they described as moving through the aircraft’s sensor field-of-view at a high rate of speed. The reporter assessed that the flare was associated with “a significant heat source”, although all descriptive and estimative language contained in this report reflects the reporter’s subjective interpretation at the time of the event.
The Department of War released this document, a Mission Report (MISREP), under the PURSUE archive on May 8, 2026. The MISREP is a standardized reporting form used by the U.S. military to record the circumstances surrounding its operations, often used to report Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). The document’s official description offers limited detail beyond the circumstances of the UAP sighting, noting that the crew performed a weapons calibration test, releasing 20x105mm, 101x30mm, and 1xAGM-176, and observed the UAP during the test.
The document provides context on the operation, including the mission type, armed overwatch, and the aircraft’s configuration, but redacts specific details such as the aircraft’s callsign, tail number, and crew members’ names. The report also mentions the use of various sensors and systems, including the AN/APN-241 radar, AN/ALR-56M radar software load, and AAR-47 missile warning system. According to the document, the aircraft took off from OKAS at 1740Z and arrived on station at approximately 1930Z, checking in with the operations center before conducting the weapons calibration test.
Context and Implications
Per Wikipedia’s entry on the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, AARO is an office within the United States Office of the Secretary of Defense that investigates unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and other phenomena. The office’s first director was physicist Sean Kirkpatrick, who reported to then-deputy defense secretary Kathleen Hicks. The current director is Jon T. Kosloski. The release of this document under the PURSUE archive suggests that AARO is actively investigating UAP sightings and working to provide more transparency and information to the public.
While the document provides some insight into the circumstances surrounding the UAP sighting, it raises more questions than it answers. The nature and origin of the UAP remain unknown, and the document’s redactions limit the amount of information available to the public. As the Department of War continues to release documents under the PURSUE archive, readers should watch for future updates and disclosures that may shed more light on this incident and others like it.
The release of this document also highlights the ongoing efforts of the U.S. military to investigate and understand UAP sightings. As more information becomes available, it is likely that the public will gain a better understanding of the phenomenon and the steps being taken to address it. For now, the ‘DOW-UAP-D28, Mission Report, Iraq, September 2024’ document provides a fascinating glimpse into the world of UAP sightings and the work of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office.
As the investigation into UAP sightings continues, it is essential to approach the topic with a critical and nuanced perspective, recognizing the limitations of the available information and the need for further research and disclosure. By examining the documents released under the PURSUE archive and considering the context provided by Wikipedia and other sources, readers can gain a deeper understanding of this complex and intriguing topic.
