Western US Event
UnresolvedOrbs launching orbs (western United States, 2023)
In October 2023, six federal agents guarding a sensitive site watch, over two days, orange orbs that “release” red orbs, a fiery sphere by a peak and an object that floats off the road. AARO explains part of it with military flares; the rest, resting on testimony alone, remains open.
- Date
- Oct 2023
- Location
- Near a sensitive national security site in the western United StatesThe records do not give the place. The catalogue's “western United States” zone is used; the official map is illustrative.See the area on the globe →
- Platform
- From the ground · six federal special agents in teams of two, on foot and driving [1 · p. 1]
- Sensor
- Human eye, binoculars and night vision goggles · no video, photos or technical data, according to AARO [1 · p. 2][3 · p. 1][7 · p. 3]
- Official status
- Unresolved · AARO, June 2026: “the case remains unresolved”. It attributes about 60 % of what was seen to military flares; the remaining 40 % has no plausible explanation [1 · p. 1–3]
01 Sensor readout
There is no recording to analyze: according to AARO, the agents captured no video, photos or technical data. One of them, however, mentions a video with the audio of their reactions (see “Discrepancies between sources”). Everything that follows rests on testimony. [1 · p. 2][4 · p. 4]
02 Images from the file
Only images from the records themselves: official pages, charts and photos, and drawings the witnesses handed in. Artist's recreations and AI-generated images are not shown, even when the catalogue includes them.
Not shown: the FBI's two videos and ten images, which the catalogue describes as “artistic interpretation” made in 2026; the official map, whose images were generated with AI; and Witness 2's illustrations, also AI-generated. [8 · p. 1][4 · p. 5][9]
03 Timeline
At dusk on one of the two days. Around 19:00, a bright orb “expelled three or four red lights”; it happens about five times in half an hour and the teams confirm they see it. The red lights hang over the southern horizon until 23:00. [4 · p. 1–2][1 · p. 1]
Second day, 18:58. An orange light by a peak, “hovering with zero resistance or movement”, for a minute. At 19:18 and 19:37, an orb releases red orbs and a white flash is seen on the horizon. [7 · p. 1–2][3 · p. 1–2]
Next morning, 04:30. Two lights that looked like a car slide sideways off the road, raising no dust, and go out. Around 05:30, in the same place, an almost transparent object floats about 6 m above the ground. [7 · p. 2–3][2 · p. 3–4]
PURSUE releases four AARO slides on the case, with later measurements: the fiery orb was about 1,050 m away and 12–18 m across. [2 · p. 2]
AARO updates its analysis: the case remains unresolved. About 60 % fits flares from a military exercise; for the remaining 40 %, its provisional hypothesis is “unrecognized technology”, with no technical data behind it. [1 · p. 1–4]
PURSUE releases the memorandum, five witness accounts, an illustrative map made with AI and the FBI's recreations. [9][8 · p. 1]
04 Hypotheses
Status as stated by the official sources cited. The archive takes no side.
- Compatible
Flares from military aircraft
AARO rates it “partially plausible”: the records confirm infrared flares in an exercise and the radar fits about 60 %. It does not explain the rest: there were no aircraft in the line of sight, and an orb that stays put for hours is incompatible with a flare. The agents say it did not look like the flares they know. [1 · p. 3]
- Compatible
U.S. technology
“Plausible, inconclusive”: each feature resembles some U.S. military system, but none explains them all and the records do not show whether they were there. [1 · p. 3]
- Pending
Unrecognized technology
AARO's provisional hypothesis for the unexplained 40 %, by ruling out the others. The memorandum itself warns it rests on testimony alone, with no technical data or physical evidence. [1 · p. 4]
- Unlikely
Drones
An orb that stays for hours exceeds the battery of typical multirotors, military or commercial. [1 · p. 2–3]
- Unlikely
Natural or astronomical phenomena
The weather did not favor ball lightning or refraction effects. Stars, planets, meteors or satellites do not fit what was seen from different angles, nor an orb that lasts for hours. [1 · p. 3–4]
- Unlikely
Foreign intelligence activity
“Highly unlikely”: the behavior described departs too far from known adversary systems, although AARO cannot rule out new platforms. [1 · p. 3]
- Ruled out
Military aircraft exhaust
Military aircraft were there, but flew too high for their exhaust to look like orange orbs; nor does it fit the silence or the orbs that “release” others. [1 · p. 2]
05 Testimony
“I could see a star through the object, as well as the crest of the hill and some vegetation. It was almost like looking at something through water”06 Editor's reading
The editor's opinion, not an official finding. It rests on the records cited and changes if they do.
- Conventional explanation likely
- Open
- Anomalous
- The witnesses are strong and agree: federal agents familiar with the setting and military hardware, in separate teams and from different angles. AARO considers it among the most compelling in its holdings. [1 · p. 2][9]
- There is a conventional explanation for much of it: an exercise with infrared flares at the same place and time, which radar puts where the agents were looking for about 60 % of what was seen. [1 · p. 3]
- But there is only testimony, and the published accounts are dated June 2026, more than two and a half years later. Distances and sizes are eyeball estimates in low light, and the accounts shift in detail: the shape of the “kite”, the time between sightings, the number of agents. [3 · p. 1–2][2 · p. 3–4][1 · p. 2]
- What keeps it open: an orb that stays put for hours and ground-level objects no hypothesis explains, and a video one witness says exists that does not appear in the file. [1 · p. 3–4][4 · p. 4]
— Isaac Chaves, editor · Reading of
07 Discrepancies between sources
- The video: AARO says the agents recorded no video or photos, but Witness 2 writes “In the video footage, I believe we say something about thinking it was going to hit us” and that the most valuable part is “the audio of our reactions”. Witness 5 also set up a camera. There is no record of whether that video was handed in or which incident it covers. [1 · p. 2][4 · p. 4][7 · p. 2]
- The duration: “two days” according to AARO and the accounts; “several days” according to the official map. Witness 4 also recounts sightings days and months later. [1 · p. 1][8 · p. 1][6 · p. 2–3]
- The agents: six according to AARO's memorandum; seven in the catalogue description and the slides, which add a USPER7 who did not see the object. [1 · p. 1][2 · p. 4][9]
- Between the two “kites”: 30 minutes according to the slides; “an hour or two later” according to Witness 1; from 04:30 to about 05:30 in Witness 5's notes. [2 · p. 4][3 · p. 2][7 · p. 2–3]
- The shape of the “dark kite”: a thin line about 4 feet wide in the witness's account and drawing; “triangular” in later conversations with AARO. [7 · p. 3–4][2 · p. 3]
- The fiery orb: 500–600 m by eye; about 1,100 m with Witness 1's rangefinder and 1,050 m according to AARO. The witness put it at “20 feet or more” (about 6 m); AARO, at 12–18 m. [3 · p. 1][2 · p. 2]
08 The case in PURSUE
How PURSUE publishes this case: its official description and every record, with links to the files. Reproduced as is, catalogue errors included.
Official description
This document is a summary of statements by seven US PERSONs employed by the federal government who separately reported observing several unidentified anomalous phenomena in the western United States over the course of two days in 2023. The summary notes the US PERSONS reported four distinct categories of experiences, including observing “orbs launching other orbs” at a distance, observing a large stationary glowing orb at close estimated range, pursuing a large phenomenon near the ground, and observing a large, seemingly transparent phenomenon, reported to being akin to a “translucent kite.” Although there is no technical data directly associated with this report, contextual factors — such as these events sharing features with others reported to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), the reporters’ credibility, and the potentially anomalous nature of the events themselves — combine to make this report among the most compelling within AARO’s current holdings.
Catalogue records · 21
Western US Event · Document · Department of War · May 8, 2026 · Main record
2023 · Western United States
DOW-UAP-D077 · Document · Department of War · Jun 12, 2026
AARO Unresolved Case Analysis Update: Western United States Event
2023 · Western United States
Official description
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 2023. As of June 2026, the case remains unresolved.
DOW-UAP-D078 · Document · Department of War · Jun 12, 2026
Notional Map: Western United States Event
October, 2023 · Westen United States
Official description
This image is a notional representation of four incidents reportedly involving unidentified anomalous phenomena in the western United States, as seen from above. This illustration depicts multiple incidents reported by U.S. federal law enforcement special agents over a period of several days in October 2023.
DOW-UAP-D079 · Document · Department of War · Jun 12, 2026
Narrative Statement 1, Western United States Event, 2023
October, 2023 · Westen United States
Official description
This memorandum presents the first-hand narrative from Witness 1 provided to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). Witness 1 was one of several United States (U.S.) federal law enforcement special agents who reported observing unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) over a period of two days in October 2023 in the western United States.
DOW-UAP-D080 · Document · Department of War · Jun 12, 2026
Narrative Statement 2, Western United States Event, 2023
October, 2023 · Westen United States
Official description
This memorandum presents the first-hand narrative from Witness 2 provided to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). Witness 2 was one of several United States (U.S.) federal law enforcement special agents who reported observing unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) over a period of two days in October 2023 in the western United States.
DOW-UAP-D081 · Document · Department of War · Jun 12, 2026
Narrative Statement 3, Western United States Event, 2023
October, 2023 · Westen United States
Official description
This memorandum presents the first-hand narrative from Witness 3 provided to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). Witness 3 was one of several United States (U.S.) federal law enforcement special agents who reported observing unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) over a period of two days in October 2023 in the western United States.
DOW-UAP-D082 · Document · Department of War · Jun 12, 2026
Narrative Statement 4, Western United States Event, 2023
October, 2023 · Westen United States
Official description
This memorandum presents the first-hand narrative from Witness 4 provided to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). Witness 4 was one of several United States (U.S.) federal law enforcement special agents who reported observing unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) over a period of two days in October 2023 in the western United States.
DOW-UAP-D083 · Document · Department of War · Jun 12, 2026
Narrative Statement 5, Western United States Event, 2023
October, 2023 · Westen United States
Official description
This memorandum presents the first-hand narrative from Witness 5 provided to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). Witness 5 was one of several United States (U.S.) federal law enforcement special agents who reported observing unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) over a period of two days in October 2023 in the western United States.
FBI-UAP-D014 · Document · FBI · Jul 10, 2026
Correspondence Relating to UFO Sightings, 1967, 1974
10/10/74 · Various
Official description
This file contains two pieces of correspondence. The first, dated 9/22/1967, relays a description of an incident provided by an eleven-year-old child in which they heard a “weird” noise and saw a “flash of light.” The second, dated 9/30/1974 and 10/10/1974, is an exchange of letters between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Mr. Larry Bryant regarding an “alleged April 8, 1954 sighting of an occupied unidentified flying object (UFO).” The FBI’s response to Mr. Bryant’s inquiry indicated that it maintained no record of such an event, and that, circa 1974, the Bureau does not collect information regarding UFO sightings.
FBI-UAP-D014 · Image · FBI · Jun 12, 2026
Digital Rendering, Narrative Statement 1-1, Western United States Event, 2023
October, 2023 · Westen United States
Official description
This image is an artistic interpretation 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. This image is based upon a first-hand description provided by a federal law enforcement special agent, as described in DOW-UAP-D079. The Federal Bureau of Investigation prepared this digital rendering at the request of the Department of War in 2026.
FBI-UAP-D015 · Image · FBI · Jun 12, 2026
Digital Rendering, Narrative Statement 1-2, Western United States Event, 2023
October, 2023 · Western United States
Official description
This image is an artistic interpretation 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. This image is based upon a first-hand description provided by a federal law enforcement special agent, as described in DOW-UAP-D079. The Federal Bureau of Investigation prepared this digital rendering at the request of the Department of War in 2026.
FBI-UAP-D016 · Image · FBI · Jun 12, 2026
Digital Rendering, Narrative Statement 2-1, Western United States Event, 2023
October, 2023 · Western United States
Official description
This image is an artistic interpretation 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. This image is based upon a first-hand description provided by a federal law enforcement special agent, as described in DOW-UAP-D080. The Federal Bureau of Investigation prepared this digital rendering at the request of the Department of War in 2026.
FBI-UAP-D017 · Image · FBI · Jun 12, 2026
Digital Rendering, Narrative Statement 2-2, Western United States Event, 2023
October, 2023 · Western United States
Official description
This image is an artistic interpretation 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. This image is based upon a first-hand description provided by a federal law enforcement special agent, as described in DOW-UAP-D080. The Federal Bureau of Investigation prepared this digital rendering at the request of the Department of War in 2026.
FBI-UAP-D018 · Image · FBI · Jun 12, 2026
Digital Rendering, Narrative Statement 2-3, Western United States Event, 2023
October, 2023 · Western United States
Official description
This image is an artistic interpretation 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. This image is based upon a first-hand description provided by a federal law enforcement special agent, as described in DOW-UAP-D080. The Federal Bureau of Investigation prepared this digital rendering at the request of the Department of War in 2026.
FBI-UAP-D019 · Image · FBI · Jun 12, 2026
Digital Rendering, Narrative Statement 2-4, Western United States Event, 2023
October, 2023 · Western United States
Official description
This image is an artistic interpretation 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. This image is based upon a first-hand description provided by a federal law enforcement special agent, as described in DOW-UAP-D080. The Federal Bureau of Investigation prepared this digital rendering at the request of the Department of War in 2026.
FBI-UAP-D020 · Image · FBI · Jun 12, 2026
Digital Rendering, Narrative Statement 2-5, Western United States Event, 2023
October, 2023 · Western United States
Official description
This image is an artistic interpretation 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. This image is based upon a first-hand description provided by a federal law enforcement special agent, as described in DOW-UAP-D080. The Federal Bureau of Investigation prepared this digital rendering at the request of the Department of War in 2026.
FBI-UAP-D021 · Image · FBI · Jun 12, 2026
Digital Rendering, Narrative Statement 1-3, Western United States Event, 2023
October, 2023 · Western United States
Official description
This image is an artistic interpretation 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. This image is based upon a first-hand description provided by a federal law enforcement special agent, as described in DOW-UAP-D079. The Federal Bureau of Investigation prepared this digital rendering at the request of the Department of War in 2026.
FBI-UAP-D022 · Image · FBI · Jun 12, 2026
Digital Rendering, Narrative Statement 2-6, Western United States Event, 2026
October, 2023 · Western United States
Official description
This image is an artistic interpretation 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. This image is based upon a first-hand description provided by a federal law enforcement special agent, as described in DOW-UAP-D080. The Federal Bureau of Investigation prepared this digital rendering at the request of the Department of War in 2026.
FBI-UAP-D023 · Image · FBI · Jun 12, 2026
Digital Rendering, Narrative Statement 2-7, Western United States Event, 2023
October, 2023 · Western United States
Official description
This image is an artistic interpretation 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. This image is based upon a first-hand description provided by a federal law enforcement special agent, as described in DOW-UAP-D080. The Federal Bureau of Investigation prepared this digital rendering at the request of the Department of War in 2026.
FBI-UAP-PR005 · Video · FBI · Jun 12, 2026
Digital Recreation, Narrative Statement 3-1, Western United States Event, 2023
October, 2023 · Western United States
Official description
This video is an artistic interpretation 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. This digital recreation is based upon a first-hand description provided by a federal law enforcement special agent, as described in DOW-UAP-D081. The Federal Bureau of Investigation prepared this digital recreation at the request of the Department of War in 2026
FBI-UAP-PR006 · Video · FBI · Jun 12, 2026
Digital Recreation, Narrative Statement 3-2, Western United States Event, 2023
October, 2023 · Western United States
Official description
This video is an artistic interpretation 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. This digital recreation is based upon a first-hand description provided by a federal law enforcement special agent, as described in DOW-UAP-D081. The Federal Bureau of Investigation prepared this digital recreation at the request of the Department of War in 2026
Catalogue discrepancies
Errors or inconsistencies in the catalogue itself, noted as they appear. They do not change what the documents say.
- DOW-UAP-D078: the place is spelled “Westen United States” (for “Western United States”).
- DOW-UAP-D079: the place is spelled “Westen United States” (for “Western United States”).
- DOW-UAP-D080: the place is spelled “Westen United States” (for “Western United States”).
- DOW-UAP-D081: the place is spelled “Westen United States” (for “Western United States”).
- DOW-UAP-D082: the place is spelled “Westen United States” (for “Western United States”).
- DOW-UAP-D083: the place is spelled “Westen United States” (for “Western United States”).
- The catalogue uses the code FBI-UAP-D014 for two different files.
- FBI-UAP-D014: the place is spelled “Westen United States” (for “Western United States”).
09 Sources
- [1]
Record · U.S. Department of War · PURSUE (AARO) · Jun 12, 2026
DOW-UAP-D077 · AARO Unresolved Case Analysis Update: Western United States Event
AARO memorandum signed by its director (4 pages, 2026-06-05): incident summary, analytic factors, seven hypotheses assessed and next steps. The case remains unresolved.
Checked on Oct 7, 2026 · Open the original ↗
- [2]
Record · U.S. Department of War · PURSUE (AARO) · May 8, 2026
Western US Event (AARO slides)
Four AARO slides, one per incident: “Orbs Launching Orbs”, “Large, Fiery Orb”, “Dark Kite” and “Transparent Kite”, with AARO's later measurements.
Checked on Oct 7, 2026 · Open the original ↗
- [3]
Record · U.S. Department of War · PURSUE (AARO) · Jun 12, 2026
DOW-UAP-D079 · Narrative Statement 1, Western United States Event, 2023
Free-form account by Witness 1 given to AARO (memorandum of 2026-06-02): the agent who saw the fiery orb, the “dark kite” and the transparent one.
Checked on Oct 7, 2026 · Open the original ↗
- [4]
Record · U.S. Department of War · PURSUE (AARO) · Jun 12, 2026
DOW-UAP-D080 · Narrative Statement 2, Western United States Event, 2023
Free-form account by Witness 2 given to AARO (memorandum of 2026-06-02): three incidents, including one said to have been caught on video; adds images generated with AI from the witness's prompts.
Checked on Oct 7, 2026 · Open the original ↗
- [5]
Record · U.S. Department of War · PURSUE (AARO) · Jun 12, 2026
DOW-UAP-D081 · Narrative Statement 3, Western United States Event, 2023
Free-form account by Witness 3 given to AARO (memorandum of 2026-06-02): the orange orb releasing three red orbs and the lights over the airfield.
Checked on Oct 7, 2026 · Open the original ↗
- [6]
Record · U.S. Department of War · PURSUE (AARO) · Jun 12, 2026
DOW-UAP-D082 · Narrative Statement 4, Western United States Event, 2023
Free-form account by Witness 4 given to AARO (memorandum of 2026-06-02): the “hatching” of lights and sightings on later days and months; includes a hand sketch.
Checked on Oct 7, 2026 · Open the original ↗
- [7]
Record · U.S. Department of War · PURSUE (AARO) · Jun 12, 2026
DOW-UAP-D083 · Narrative Statement 5, Western United States Event, 2023
Free-form account by Witness 5 given to AARO (memorandum of 2026-06-02): dated notes from the agent of the “dark kite” and the transparent one, with three drawings of their own.
Checked on Oct 7, 2026 · Open the original ↗
- [8]
Record · U.S. Department of War · PURSUE (AARO) · Jun 12, 2026
DOW-UAP-D078 · Notional Map: Western United States Event
Illustrative map of the four incidents. The document itself warns that its images were generated with AI (genai.mil) and that the positions are not real.
Checked on Oct 7, 2026 · Open the original ↗
- [9]
Record · U.S. Department of War
Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE)
Department of War program, supported by ODNI, that releases declassified records of unresolved UAP cases from several agencies in tranches. None of the three Navy videos is in it.
Checked on Oct 4, 2026 · Open the original ↗
May contain errors by the AI and the editor · always check the official source. · Privacy