2026 war.gov/ufo PURSUE Releases 01–06 & AARO Multi-Sensor UAP Correlation Engine

During Revolution 3 of the Gemini VII mission on December 4, 1965, Command Pilot Frank Borman and Pilot Jim Lovell photographed a cylindrical metallic-albedo object accompanied by a luminous multi-lobed plume at 301 km (187 mi / 987,500 ft) altitude and 17,023 mph (7.61 km/s). PURSUE Release 01 provides 4K micro-densitometric scans of the original Hasselblad 70mm Orbital Film paired with NORAD Space Surveillance Radar two-line element (TLE) reconstructions. Observers tracking low-Earth orbital cylinders, upper-stage boosters, and bright LEO passes can resolve magnitude +2.5 to +6.0 targets using 15x70 astronomy binoculars[↗] or a plate-solved smart telescope[↗] with satellite ephemeris tracking.

Captured during Apollo 17 trans-Earth coast on December 12, 1972 at a cislunar altitude of 115,000 km (71,458 mi / 377,296,588 ft), frame AS17-147-22470 records a structured high-contrast specular anomaly against the blackness of deep space. PURSUE Release 01 pairs 35mm Photogrammetry and Hasselblad 70mm Orbital Film grain analysis to separate hardware reflections from emulsion artifacts. Deep-sky cislunar hardware and high-altitude NEOs between magnitude +11 and +15 require a plate-solved smart telescope[↗] with live-stacking CMOS photometry and a light pollution filter[↗].

Declassified under PURSUE Release 05 (DoW PR-134), this November 14, 2025 multi-sensor intercept off San Diego, California correlated shipboard AN/SPY-1B Radar tracks with airborne ATFLIR IR and MX-20 EO/IR locks on a 9.1 m (30 ft) fast-mover maintaining level stratospheric flight at 18,288 m (60,000 ft / 18.29 km / 11.36 mi) and 4,250 mph (1.90 km/s / Mach 5.54). High-altitude stratospheric fast-movers and grazing bolides along coastal ranges are monitored using an all-sky meteor camera[↗] paired with an ADS-B receiver[↗] and SDR receiver[↗] for transponder exclusion.

Released in PURSUE Tranche 05, this declassified FBI FD-302 aviation investigation documents a April 19, 2025 commercial and military aircrew visual encounter corroborated by FAA ARSR-4 primary radar and defensive AN/SPY-1B Radar / ATFLIR IR telemetry over New Mexico (35.0°N, -106.6°W). Multiple flight crews reported a 45.7 m (150 ft) matte-gray linear craft crossing at 10,972 m (36,000 ft / 10.97 km / 6.82 mi) and 1,840 mph (0.82 km/s / Mach 2.40). Flight crews and ground skywatchers cross-verifying high-altitude linear tracks against civil traffic should pair 15x70 astronomy binoculars[↗] with a dual-band ADS-B receiver[↗] and RTK GPS module[↗].

Formally cataloged in PURSUE Release 02 by DoD AARO and USCENTCOM, an MQ-9 Reaper ISR platform tracked a 1.2 m (4 ft) specular metallic sphere across the Persian Gulf (26.2°N, 51.5°E) at 4,572 m (15,000 ft / 4.57 km / 2.84 mi) and 380 mph (0.17 km/s / Mach 0.50) using a gimbaled MX-20 EO/IR turret and WESCAM MX-15D Thermal sensor. Low-altitude daytime metallic spheres and anomalous UAV targets are best resolved with high-contrast 10x50 binoculars[↗], an ADS-B receiver[↗], and an RTK GPS module[↗] for azimuth-elevation logging.

Re-digitized at 8K resolution in PURSUE Release 06 from NARA Record Group 341, U.S. Navy Warrant Officer and Chief Photographer Delbert C. Newhouse filmed 12–14 bright self-luminous or specular discoid objects maneuvering in formation over Tremonton, Utah (41.71°N, -112.16°W) on July 2, 1952 using a Bell & Howell 16mm camera with a 3-inch telephoto lens. Daylight and twilight high-albedo formation targets at 3,658 m (12,000 ft) can be tracked with tripod-mounted 15x70 astronomy binoculars[↗] or a smart telescope[↗] operating in solar-safe / high-shutter tracking mode.

Benchmark multi-sensor case in PURSUE Release 03: on November 14, 2004, USS Princeton (CG-59) AN/SPY-1B phased-array radar, E-2C Hawkeye radar, F/A-18F visual aircrews (CDR David Fravor & LCDR Alex Dietrich), and AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR IR pods tracked a 14 m (46 ft) white oblong "Tic-Tac" craft dropping from 24,384 m (80,000 ft / 24.38 km / 15.15 mi) to 15 m (50 ft) above the Pacific Ocean in 0.78 seconds (18,000+ mph / 8.05 km/s / Mach 23.47). Maritime horizon and high-altitude aerospace tracking benefits from stabilized 15x70 astronomy binoculars[↗], an all-sky meteor camera[↗], and an SDR receiver[↗] for S-band / ADS-B correlation.

Archived in PURSUE Release 04 from DHS / U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, a Bombardier DHC-8 maritime patrol aircraft recorded 3 minutes and 54 seconds of calibrated L-3 WESCAM MX-15D 3–5 μm thermal video over Aguadilla, Puerto Rico (18.49°N, -67.13°W) on April 25, 2013. The 1.5 m (5 ft) object maneuvered at 365 m (1,200 ft / 0.365 km / 0.23 mi) and 95 mph (0.042 km/s) before entering the Atlantic Ocean without splash signature or deceleration. Coastal low-altitude airspace monitoring combines 10x50 binoculars[↗] with an ADS-B receiver[↗], digital anemometer[↗], and RTK GPS module[↗] to distinguish wind-borne thermal lanterns from powered transmedium tracks.