UAP flew through aircraft sensor field of view during weapons employment — Iraq (Ayn al-Asad area), 20 September 2024
On 20 September 2024 at 2027:59Z, a gunship (AFSOC/SOTU 016/16 SOS) conducting armed overwatch and weapons calibration in Ayn al-Asad's ROZ Raindrop, Iraq at FL130 observed 1 UAP transiting through the MX-20 and MX-25 sensor field of view at high speed between munition release and target impact. The UAP created an IR lens flare on both sensors, indicating a significant heat source. No third-party aircraft were reported in the airspace. UAP response to the aircraft's detection appeared predetermined, not reactive. It is uncertain whether an object detached from the primary UAP before it exited the sensor field of view.
“"AFTER WEAPONS RELEASE, THE WEAPONS SYSTEMS OFFICER (WSO) AND COMBAT SYSTEMS OFFICER (CSO) OBSERVED AN UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT 'FLY' THROUGH THE AIRCRAFT SENSORS AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE UAP CREATED AN IR LENS FLARE ON THE MX-20 & MX-25 SENSORS, WHICH INDICATED A SIGNIFICANT HEAT SIGNATURE COMING FROM THE OBJECT. IT IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME WHETHER AN OBJECT DETACHED ITSELF FROM THE PRIMARY UAP IMMEDIATELY BEFORE LEAVING THE SENSOR FIELD OF VIEW."”
File title references 'East-China-Sea' but document content clearly indicates Iraq (Ayn al-Asad AB, MGRS 38SKC, OKAS, Op INHERENT RESOLVE) — the filename is a batch assignment error. UAP event serial: 202027ZSEP2024-CENTCOM. Maneuverability description ('UAP FLEW THROUGH [REDACTED] SENSOR IN BETWEEN MUNITION RELEASE AND MUNITION IMPACT') is operationally distinctive; the UAP's appearance during live munitions employment adds to the documentation significance. Anomalous characteristic noted: 'PATH OF MOVEMENT APPEARED PREDETERMINED AND NOT IN RESPONSE TO [REDACTED] DETECTION.' Possible sub-object detachment unresolved. MX-20 and MX-25 both produced IR returns. No radar interrogation. Weapons employed: 20x105mm, 101x30mm, 1x AGM-176. Report ID: MDR 25-0100.