DOW-UAP-D020

Mission Report, Iraq, 2023

Agency: Department of War
Format: Document, 6 pages
Incident date: 3/31/23
Place: Iraq
Released: Release 01, May 8, 2026
Source: war.gov
Topics: Mission reports

Description from war.gov

This document is a Mission Report (MISREP), a standardized reporting form the U.S. Military uses to record the circumstances surrounding its operations. U.S. military services often use MISREPs to report Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) to AARO. The GENTEXT, or “general text” section of these reports often contains important qualitative, contextual information, distinguishing it from the more quantitative, or numerical, data found elsewhere in the report. A U.S. military operator reported observing “several bright objects maneuvering quickly” west to east northeast. The operator reported achieving a track on the UAP via an onboard targeting pod for approximately 20 seconds. The report describes that UAP then dimmed and disappeared from the targeting pod. All descriptive and estimative language contained in this report reflects the reporter’s subjective interpretation at the time of the event. Such characterizations should not be interpreted as a conclusive indication of the presence or absence of any intrinsic object features or performance characteristics.

Redactions war.gov lists this record as redacted. Withheld material is blacked out in the file itself.

Page 1

SECRETINOFORN Declassified by MG Richard A. Harrison USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Declassified on: 8 October 2025 Misrep undefined-8584059 Narrative (S//REL TO USA, FVEY) 311901ZMAR23 - _ (1.4a FLT), A 2-SHIP OF F-16CM, TOOK OFF FROM PRINCE SULTAN AIR BASE (OEPS) ISO OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE. 1.4a FLT WAS FRAGGED TO CONDUCT DCA IN THE ESSA (2100-0000). MISSION WAS FLOWN AS FRAGGED. (S/REL TO USA, FVET) 20072-1.4a FLT ENTERED IZ AIRSPACE. NFTR. (S/PEL TO USA, EVEY) 2058Z - 1.4a FLT ENTERED SY AIRSPACE AND CHECKED ONSTA W/ KINGPIN TO CONDUCT DCA IN THE ESSA. (S/NT> 2302Z - [1.4a FLT OBSERVED MULTIPLE POSS UAPS. (SEE UAP) (S/REL TO USA, FVEX 0000Z - [1.4a FLT CHECKED OFFSTA W/ KINGPIN AND PROCEEDED TO RTB (OEPS). NSTR. (S//REL TO USA, FVEY) 0046Z - 1.4a FLT EXITED IZ AIRSPACE. (S//REL TO USA, FVEY) 0148Z - [1.4a FLT LANDED AT OEPS W/ ESD AT 0215Z. NFTR.// (S/RELIDO) Mission Narrative Admin CLASSIFICATION • Classification: SECRET • Associated Caveats: NOFORN • Classification Source (MS or Classification Guide ID): MS • Declassification Date (YYYYMMDD): 20480401 OPERATION • Operation: INHERENT RESOLVE 3.5c, FOIA Exemption (b)(6) -SECRETINOFORN MDR 25-0094 thru MDR 25-0099 / JS-250710-TM8S Approved for Release to AARO 10/17/25 001

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SECRETINOFORN Declassified by MG Richard A. Harrison USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Declassified on: 8 October 2025 • Domain: AIR • Operations Center: 609th • Major Command (MAJCOM): AFCENT • Combatant Command (COCOM): USCENTCOM MSGID • Report Type: MISREP • Originator (Unit or Squadron): 77 EFS • Submit Date: MSNID • Tasking Order (ATO): MT • Mission Type: DCA • ATO Mission Number: 1.4a • Country Tasked: US - UNITED STATES • Service Tasked: A - AIR FORCE Poc POC • Rank: 1LT • Faul-NavaRamptions (b) 3), 130b, (b)(6) • Unit: 77 EFS • Wing: 378 AEW • Phone Numbor:FOIA Exemption (b)(6) • Email C 3.5c, FOIA Exemption (b6) • Service: Air Force • Operations Center: 609 CAOC • Rank: SSgt • Full BEares Exemptions (b3), 130b, (b)(6) • Unit: Unavailable • Wing: 378 AEW • Phone Number: [FOIA Exemption (X6) • Email: [ 3.5c, FOIA Exemption (b)(6) • Service: Air Force • Operations Center: 609 CAOC 3.5c, FOIA Exemption (b)(6) SECRET/NOFORN MDR 25-0094 thru MDR 25-0099 / JS-250710-TM8S Approved for Release to AARO 10/17/25 002

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-SECRETINOFORN Declassified by MG Richard A. Harrison USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Declassified on: 8 October 2025 APPROVER • Rank: TSgt • Fuld Vauer emptions (bX3) 130b, (bY6) • Unit: Unavailable • Wing: Other • Phone Number: FOIA Exemption (b)(6) • Email: 3.5c, FOIA Exemption (b)(6) • Service: Air Force • Operations Center: 609 CAOC INGEST • Rank: • Full Name: • Unit: • Wing: • Phone Number: • Email: • Service: • Operations Center: ACEQUIP ACEQUIP • Aircraft Callsign: C 1.4a • Radar Name or Destination: [1.4a, 1.4g • Radar Software Load or Mission Data: 8070 / MMC 7.3 • Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) Name or Designator: ALR-56M • RWR Software Load or Mission Data: 102 / SY0730 • MWS Name or Designator: • MWS Software Load or Mission Data: • IRCM Name or Designator: • IRCM Software Load or Mission Data: • ECM Name or Designator: ALQ-184 • ECM Software Load or Mission Data: C01856 • CMD Name or Designator: ALQ-213 • Chaff Designator: RR-180 • Num Chaff or Cartridges: 60 • Flare Designator: MJU-53, MJU-66 • Num Flares: 45 • Towed Decoy Name or Designator: ALE-50 3.5c, FOIA Exemption (b)6) SECRETHNOFORN MDR 25-0094 thru MDR 25-0099 / JS-250710-TM8S Approved for Release to AARO 10/17/25 003

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SECRET NOTORN Declassified by MG Richard A. Harrison USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Declassified on: 8 October 2025 • Towed Decoy Software Load or Mission Data: MTP AA51 • Num Towed Decoys: 2 • Type of Radar-Guided AAM: AIM-120 • Num Radar-Guided AAM: 2 • Type of IR-Guided AAM: AIM-9X • Num IR-Guided AAM: 2 • Gun Name or Designator: M61A1 • Num Gun Rounds: 510 • Air-to-Ground Wpn to Include Num of Each: 1.4a • TGT Pod Name or Designator: SNIPER LDP • Additional Avionics: HTS-P R7.85 • Data Link: LINK 16 • Gentext: ACEQUIP • Aircraft Callsign: 1.4a • Radar Name or Destination 1.4a, 1.4g • Radar Software Load or Mission Data: 8070 / MMC 7.3 • Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) Name or Designator: ALR-56M • RWR Software Load or Mission Data: 102 / SY0730 • MWS Name or Designator: • MWS Software Load or Mission Data: • IRCM Name or Designator: • IRCM Software Load or Mission Data: • ECM Name or Designator: ALQ-184 • ECM Software Load or Mission Data: C01856 • CMD Name or Designator: ALQ-213 • Chaff Designator: RR-180 • Num Chaff or Cartridges: 60 • Flare Designator: MJU-53, MJU-66 • Num Flares: 45 • Towed Decoy Name or Designator: ALE-50 • Towed Decoy Software Load or Mission Data: MTP AA51 • Num Towed Decoys: 2 • Type of Radar-Guided AAM: AIM-120 • Num Radar-Guided AAM: 2 • Type of IR-Guided AAM: AIM-9X • Num IR-Guided AAM: 2 • Gun Name or Designator: M61A1 • Num Gun Rounds: 510 • Air-to-Ground Wpn to Include Num of Each: 1.4a • TGT Pod Name or Designator: SNIPER LDP MDR 25-0094 thru MDR 25-0099 / JS-250710-TM8S 3.5c, FOIA Exemption (bX6) SECRETINOFORN Approved for Release to AARO 10/17/25 004

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SEERETTNOFORN Declassified by MG Richard A. Harrison USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Declassified on: 8 October 2025 • Additional Avionics: HTS-P R7.85 • Data Link: LINK 16 • Gentext: Timeline Takeoff • Callsign: 1.4a • Number of Aircraft: 2 • Asset Type (Aircraft): 1.4a, 1.4g • Aircraft Tail Number(s): 1.4a, 1.4g • Takeoff Location (ICAO Code): OEPS • Takeoff Time DTG: 311901:00ZMAR23 • Mode 3 (IFF Codes): 6266 • Gentext/Additional Details: (U) NSTR. • Mission Canceled: Landing • Last Land Location (ICAO Code): OEPS • Last Land Time: 010148:00ZAPR23 • Last Engine Shutdown Time: 010215:00ZAPR23 • Total Mission Time: 6 hours 47 minutes • Gentext/Additional Details: (U) NSTR. On Station • Time On Station DTG: 312058:00ZMAR23 • Callsign: 1.4a • JTAR Number: - • Killbox (Location): ESSA • Mission Type: DCA • JTAC Callsign: KINGPIN • Gentext/Additional Details: (U) NSTR. • Did not Arrive On Station: Off Station • Time Off Station DTG: 010000:00ZAPR23 • Total Time On Station: 3 hours 2 minutes • Gentext/Additional Details: 3.5c, FOIA Exemption (b)(6) SECRET/NOFORN MDR 25-0094 thru MDR 25-0099 / JS-250710-TM8S Approved for Release to AARO 10/17/25 005

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SECKETINOFORN Declassified by MG Richard A. Harrison USCENTCOM Chief of Staff Declassified on: 8 October 2025 UAP • Initial Contact DTG: 312302:05ZMAR23 • MIDS Type / Asset Type: 1.4a, 1.4g • Tail Number: 1.4a, 1.4g • Friendly Aircraft Location: 37SGA131.4a721.4a • Friendly Aircraft Altitude/Depth: FL265 • Friendly Aircraft Speed: 293 • Friendly Aircraft State: N/A • Training Range (If applicable): • Operational Range: NE OF RLZ • UAP Physical State: • Number of UAP Sighted: POSS 10X-20X • UAP Signatures: No • UAP RF Frequency: • UAP RF Duration: • UAP Effects on Persons: (U) NONE. • Full Name: 3.5c, FOIA Exemption (b)(6) • Email:_ 3.5c, FOIA Exemption (bX6) • Phone Number (VOSIP/STE): FOIA Exemption (b)(6) • UAP First Seen Location: DATA MASKED • UAP Altitude, Depth, Velocity, and Trajectory (indicate estimated or measured): FL600+ GENTEXT/UAP • UAP Description (e.g., size, shape, color, markings, recognizable features): (SINT) STARTING AT 2302:05Z 1.4a FLT OBSERVED SEVERAL BRIGHT OBJECTS MANUEVERING QUICKLY WEST TO EAST NE OF RLZ. 1.4a FLT WOULD OBTAIN POSS UAP ON TARGETING POD (TV MODE) FOR APPROX 20S BEFORE OBJECT WOULD BECOME DIM AND DISAPPEAR FROM TARGETING POD. NONE OF THE OBJECTS WERE SEEN IN ANY FORMATIONS AS PREVIOUSLY SEEN IN PRIOR SORTIES. NFTR. ANALYST COMMENT: [1.4a FLT COMPARED TARGETING POD BETWEEN POSS UAP AND STAR. RESULTS WERE DIFFERENT. 3.5c, FOIA Exemption (bX6) -SECRET/NOFORN MDR 25-0094 thru MDR 25-0099 / JS-250710-TM8S Approved for Release to AARO 10/17/25 006

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Machine summary

Written by Claude Sonnet 4.6 (Anthropic) on May 22, 2026, from the record's text and war.gov's description. It is not part of the record and can contain errors; check it against the document.

DOW-UAP-D020 is a Secret/NOFORN Mission Report (MISREP) submitted by the 77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, 378th Air Expeditionary Wing, under USCENTCOM, covering an incident on 31 March 2023. A two-ship of F-16CM aircraft operating out of Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, conducted a defensive counter-air (DCA) mission over Syria in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. At approximately 2302Z, while northeast of an area designated RLZ, the flight observed an estimated 10–20 bright objects maneuvering rapidly from west to east. The crew acquired at least one object on a Sniper targeting pod in TV mode for roughly 20 seconds before the object dimmed and disappeared. Reported altitude was FL600 or above. No formations were observed, in contrast to prior sorties.

The report is notable for an analyst comment noting that a targeting pod comparison between the possible UAP and a star yielded different results, suggesting the crew and analysts attempted basic discrimination. The reference to "prior sorties" implies this was not an isolated event for this unit, though those records are not included here. Personnel names, contact details, specific tail numbers, and the friendly aircraft's precise grid coordinates are redacted under FOIA exemptions b(3), b(6), and 130b. The UAP first-seen location is explicitly masked. No sensor data beyond the targeting pod observation is described, and no radar or RWR contacts are mentioned.

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