DOW-UAP-D077: AARO Unresolved Case Analysis Update: Western United States Event

The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office’s (AARO) ongoing analysis of a reported incident near a sensitive national security site in the western United States involving unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) over a period of two days in October 2023 remains unresolved as of June 2026.

This memorandum summarizes the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office’s (AARO) ongoing analysis of a reported incident near a sensitive national security site in the western United States involving unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) over a period of two days in October 2023. As of June 2026, the…

Six federal law enforcement special agents reported observing 'orbs launching other orbs' near a sensitive national security site in the western United States at approximately dusk over a period of two days in October 2023.

Over a period of two days in October 2023, six federal law enforcement special agents reported observing 'orbs launching other orbs,' near a sensitive national security site in the western United States at approximately dusk.

The phenomena’s most distinctive reported feature was the repeating nature of their pattern of behavior, in which a luminous orange 'mother orb' appeared to produce smaller red 'orbs,' one after another, multiple times over a period of several hours.

The phenomena’s most distinctive reported feature was the repeating nature of their pattern of behavior, in which a luminous orange 'mother orb' appeared to produce smaller red 'orbs,' one after another, multiple times over a period of several hours.

The red 'orbs' reportedly persisted for several seconds before disappearing, however, in at least one instance, the agents described a red 'orb' as remaining stationary above a ridgeline for several hours.

The red 'orbs' reportedly persisted for several seconds before disappearing, however, in at least one instance, the agents described a red 'orb' as remaining stationary above a ridgeline for several hours.

The agents provided consistent accounts using similar language to characterize their experiences and the apparent behavior of both the red and orange 'orbs.'

The agents provided consistent accounts using similar language to characterize their experiences and the apparent behavior of both the red and orange 'orbs.'

AARO assesses that contextual factors supersede intrinsic biological and perceptual limitations when assessing narrative descriptions of the phenomena’s morphological and performance characteristics.

AARO assesses that contextual factors supersede those limitations, and that the nature of the reported incident warrants further investigation.

Approximately 40 percent of the reported phenomena lack a plausible explanation after first stage analysis and thus remain unresolved.

Approximately 40 percent of the reported phenomena lack a plausible explanation after first stage analysis and thus remain unresolved.

The reported characteristics do not align with those of military aircraft exhaust.

The reported characteristics do not align with those of military aircraft exhaust.

A loitering time of several hours exceeds the standard battery capacity and operational limits of typical military and commercially available multi-rotor UAV systems.

exceeds the standard battery capacity and operational limits of typical military and commercially available multi-rotor UAV systems. c.

The visual and behavioral characteristics of the specific types of flares carried by the military aircraft operating in the area differ from those of standard illumination flares.

The visual and behavioral characteristics of the specific types of flares carried by the military aircraft operating in the area differ from those of standard illumination flares.

AARO assesses that the characteristics described in the agents’ narrative account align with those of certain U.S. military technologies.

AARO assesses that the characteristics described in the agents’ narrative account align with those of certain U.S. military technologies.

The reported kinematic profiles diverge significantly enough from those of known adversary systems that AARO assesses foreign intelligence activity as highly unlikely.

The reported kinematic profiles diverge significantly enough from those of known adversary systems that AARO assesses this hypothesis as highly unlikely.

AARO’s preliminary exclusion-based hypothesis is that unrecognized technology may account for up to 40 percent of the phenomena associated with this incident.

AARO’s preliminary exclusion-based hypothesis is that, given the otherwise unexplained kinematic and physical characteristics described in narrative reports, unrecognized technology may account for up to 40 percent of the phenomena associated with this incident.