Two IR-significant contacts with one orbiting the other in 1/30th of a second, noise jamming received — DCA mission, 27 October 2020

A SPEAR Range Fouler Debrief form submitted by an O-3 from NEFS (redacted squadron) documents a DCA mission event on 27 October 2020 at 01:12:21Z. Directed by KINGPIN, the reporting aircraft obtained radar lock and target pod video on two IR-significant contacts at 26,000 ft but was unable to close beyond 16.9 NM for positive identification. The target pod showed two IR-significant contacts, one of which was observed circling the other in 1/30th of a second before both disappeared. Visual tally was described as 2x red blinking strobes. Noise jamming was received and indicated by two chevrons on the aircraft's systems. The location and all geographic details are redacted.

“"KINGPIN DIRECTED ID OF UNKNOWN CONTACT. [redacted] OBTAINED RADAR LOCK AND TARGET POD VIDEO BUT UNABLE TO GET CLOSER THAN 16.9NM TO GET A BETTER ID. THE TARGET POD SHOWED 2 IR SIGNIFICANT CONTACTS. ONE RANGE FOULER WAS CIRCLING AROUND THE OTHER IN 1/30TH OF A SECOND, THEY WERE GONE. TALLY ACHIEVED WAS 2X RED BLINKING STROBES AND NOISE JAMMING WAS RECIEVED. NOISE JAMMING WAS INDICATED BY TWO CHEVRONS."”

Declassified by MG Richard A. Harrison, USCENTCOM Chief of Staff. Date 10/27/20 and time 01:12:21Z are explicitly stated. Altitude 26,000 ft stated. Location is entirely redacted; no geographic context available. 'One orbiting the other in 1/30th of a second' implies extremely high angular velocity if taken literally — this would be physically extraordinary and is flagged accordingly (physics_class: impossible_by_known_physics), though OCR noise or imprecise witness language cannot be ruled out. Noise jamming with two-chevron indication is a significant reported detail suggesting possible electronic warfare. Stable trackfile confirmed. All location fields null due to full redaction. OCR quality moderate.