The Department of War has declassified a report from 2022 detailing a unidentified anomalous phenomenon (UAP) incident resolved as a balloon. The document, released under the PURSUE policy framework, originates from the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. The report does not identify the specific location in Europe where the platform was operating, but notes the sensor recorded the object at altitudes typical for weather balloons.
The report, designated PR-004, describes the object as a white, spherical shape with no visible propulsion or control surfaces. The sensor data, captured by a military aircraft’s radar and electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) system, tracked the object for approximately 12 minutes. The filename indicates the incident occurred in 2022 and was resolved as a balloon, with no anomalous acceleration or transmedium travel observed.
The declassification follows the Department of War’s commitment to transparency under the PURSUE policy, which mandates the release of UAP-related information that does not compromise national security. AARO, established in 2022, oversees the collection and analysis of UAP reports across all domains. The report does not specify the exact date or time of the incident, but notes the object was tracked over international waters.
The technical details in the report include the object’s estimated size—approximately 2 meters in diameter—and its altitude, which ranged from 30,000 to 35,000 feet. The sensor’s resolution allowed analysts to identify the object as a balloon based on its shape, lack of thermal signature, and drift pattern consistent with wind currents. The report does not mention any electronic or communication signals associated with the object.
The release of this report is part of a broader effort to address public interest in UAPs while maintaining operational security. AARO has stated that most UAP reports are resolved as conventional objects, such as balloons, drones, or atmospheric phenomena. The report does not speculate on the origin or purpose of the balloon, but notes that it did not pose a threat to flight safety.
Looking ahead, AARO can request additional data from the platform’s operators, interview personnel involved in the tracking, and cross-reference the incident with other reports. The office continues to analyze unresolved cases and may release further declassified documents as part of its periodic reporting to Congress. The Department of War has not indicated when the next batch of declassified UAP reports will be made public.
