Documented case · Al Taqaddum Air Base, Iraq
Al Taqaddum aerostat recording
23 October 2017 · Details below are limited to the linked public record. Source conclusions are attributed and do not establish an extraordinary cause.
- Incident date
- 23 October 2017
- Place in source
- Al Taqaddum Air Base, Iraq
- Location precision
- The case report identifies Al Taqaddum Air Base. The marker identifies the named base area, not a precise object coordinate.
Documented record
An infrared sensor aboard a force-protection aerostat operating 2,700 feet above the base recorded 17 minutes and 30 seconds of footage of an object that appeared to float above the ground.
Source assessment
AARO assessed with high confidence that the object did not show anomalous behavior and was consistent with a cluster of fully and partially inflated balloons.
Details stated in the record
- Evidence
- 17 minutes, 30 seconds of infrared video
- Sensor platform
- Force-protection aerostat at about 2,700 feet
- Reported altitude
- Not reported
- AARO-assessed altitude
- About 850–2,200 feet
- Reported speed
- Not reported
- AARO-assessed speed
- About 4–14 mph
- Reported shape
- Abnormally shaped
- AARO-assessed shape
- Balloon shaped
- Reporter
- Unknown in the case summary
- Reported behavior
- Floating above the ground
- AARO confidence
- High confidence: no anomalous performance and consistent with a balloon cluster.
Not available in the cited public record
- The released summary does not give an exact object coordinate.
- The original reporter is listed as unknown in the case summary.
Source references
- Al Taqaddum case resolution (opens in a new tab)
AARO · U.S. Department of Defense