Awaiting editorial reviewSerial b9e9070a-2b9d-4b0a-a679-ec9662cbf5fb
PURSUE-RELEASE-01 Serial b9e9070a-2b9d-4b0a-a679-ec9662cbf5fb
Prepared summary.
A U.S. Navy O-3 pilot assigned to HSM-73, flying Side No. 705, reported three "unidentified small air contacts" over the North Arabian Sea on August 24, 2020, at 00:04:30 Zulu. The pilot described the contacts as having "wings/airframe" structure and a round shape, on a westerly heading, with no ES, radar track, or IFF track obtained. One contact was tracked before disappearing behind a cloud; upon regaining contact, two additional contacts were seen due east, and all three "appeared to maintain their relative course, speed, and altitude." The document was declassified by MG Richard A. Harrison and approved for release on March 27, 2026.
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[page 1] Declassified by MG Richard A. Harrison USC Please do n Please do not use the purple er of Sta Declassie "submit" button above. Save and March 2020 email the complete file manually (see below). # Range Fouler Debrief Form Please complete this form to the best of your ability. If you do not have the requested information, please leave the field blank. If there was more than one "group," please report each on a separate form for data collection purposes. You should receive a response within 5 business days. Last Name, First Name: <empty> Rank: O-3 Squadron: HSM-73 SIPR Email Address: <empty> Crew Position: Pilot This information is for contact only. SPEAR sanitizes all reports of identifying information. Absolute ly no identifying information for aircrew or squadrJn will be recorded for analysis. Date (mm/dd/yy): 08/24/20 Time of detection (hh:mm:ss Z): 00:04:30 Day / Night: Night Side No.: 705 Buno: 168122 Mission Description (CAS, BFM, etc): SSC LFE?: No # Range Fouler Debrief Form (cont.) Date (mm/dd/yy): 08/24/20 Time of detection (hh:mm:ss Z): 00:04:30 Day / Night: Night Side No.: 705 Buno: 168122 Contact Working Area (Ex: W-72 1A): 21440 Contact Latitude (DD:MM:SS): 21440 Contact Longitude (DD:MM:SS): 1.4a N/S: <empty> EW: <empty> C (B: <empty> Please attempt to determine a Lat / Long for the contact at initial detection. We recommend using JMPS to reference the sensor-derived bearing and range relative to the bullseye you had in use. If that method is not available, any reasonable derivation of location will work, but please be as specific as possible and make a note in the comments section. These locations may be used to cue other means of tracking. Radar Equipped: Other AIM-9x Self-Track: [ ] ATFLIR Autotrack: [ ] # of Contacts in "Group": 3 Tally Achieved: [ ] EA Indications (Check all that apply): [ ] ECM Arc [ ] Letter Identifier [ ] False Trackfiles [ ] Other/Ambiguous 21440 21440 1.4a Yes 310 Contact Working Area (Ex: W-72 1A) Contact Latitute (DD:MM:SS) N/S Contact Longitude (DD:MM:SS) EW Contact Altitude (Ex: 22000) Altitude Constant? Wind Dir at Contact Alt (Ex) (From) 5 Wind Speed Was the contact moving? Yes Direction/Speed 270/UNK (Ex. 090/15) # Range Fouler Debrief Form (cont.) Radar Equipped: Other Stable Trackfile?: No # of Contacts in "Group": 3 AIM-9x Self-Track: [ ] ATFLIR Autotrack: [ ] Tally Achieved: [ ] EA Indications (Check all that apply): [ ] ECM Arc [ ] Letter Identifier [ ] False Trackfiles [ ] Other/Ambiguous Please check all that apply: Round: [x] Moving Parts: [ ] Square: [ ] Metallic: [ ] Balloon-shaped: [ ] Markings: [ ] Wings/Airframe: [x] Translucent: [ ] Other Shape: [ ] Opaque: [ ] Apparent Propulsion: [ ] Reflective: [ ] Please use the field below to describe the contact and any interaction in your own words with as much detail as possible. Please be sure to include any detail not included in questions above. # Range Fouler Debrief Form (cont.) 1.4a observed 3x possible unidentified small air contacts while conducting routine operations in the North Arabian Sea. Negative ES, radar track, and IFF track. Distance to contact was unknown. Speed of contact was unknown. Precise course of contact was unknown, but appeared to be on a westerly heading. No interaction took place between 1.4a and the unknown air contacts. Initially observed 1x unknown air contact and tracked it before losing sight as it went behind a cloud. When contact on the unknown air contact was regained, 2x additional unknown air contacts were seen due east of the location of the initial contact. All 3x unknown air contacts appeared to maintain their relative course, speed, and altitude. Don't use the purple "submit" button! Save this form with filename "Date_Squadron_RF.pdf" and email it to <empty> (b)(6) (Also in the global). For troubleshooting, call <empty> (b)(6) Thank you for your time. Please ensure all display tapes are ripped for the entire time of interaction and saved as a .wmv (Example: 4 May VFA-106 HUD.wmv). Squadron intel personnel shall upload those files to the repository located at this link. <empty> (b)(6) SECRET/INFORM USCENTCOM MOR 26-0038 to 26-0046 Approved for Release to MR9 # Range Fouler Debrief Form (cont.) 03/27/26 000001