Within Senate Hearing
Why Two Drone Videos Changed The Hearing
The Middle East orb and South Asia aircraft clips showed how Kirkpatrick separated unidentified footage from genuinely anomalous behaviour.
On this page
- The Middle East orb that stayed unidentified
- The South Asia clip likely explained by sensor effects
- What the contrast revealed about Kirkpatrick's evidence threshold
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Introduction
Two short MQ-9 Reaper drone videos became some of the most important exhibits in Sean Kirkpatrick’s April 2023 Senate testimony because they illustrated a distinction that sat at the centre of his approach to UAP investigations. An object could remain unidentified without being evidence of extraordinary technology, and a video that appeared extraordinary at first glance could later receive a conventional explanation. Rather than presenting either clip as proof of alien craft or revolutionary physics, Kirkpatrick used them to demonstrate how the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) evaluated evidence and set thresholds for stronger claims. [AARO]aaro.milCHARACTERISTICS. PERFORMANCE.Read moreAAROThe US Department of Defense & the UAP MissionDecember 14, 2023 — 19 Apr 2023 — South Asia, 2023: MQ-9 observed UAP object apparently…
For supporters, the videos showed that AARO was willing to admit uncertainty when a case could not be resolved. For critics, they highlighted how limited public evidence often was. Either way, the paired examples revealed the standard Kirkpatrick repeatedly emphasised during discussions of the more than 650 UAP cases under review: unidentified does not automatically mean anomalous, and anomalous-looking footage is not automatically proof of something extraordinary. [Space]space.compentagon aaro ufo hearing april 2023SpacePentagon has 'no credible evidence' of aliens or UFOs that…19 Apr 2023 — The director of the Pentagon's new UFO office shot down…
The Middle East orb that stayed unidentified
The first video shown during the hearing came from an MQ-9 operating in the Middle East. It depicted what appeared to be a small metallic or silver orb crossing the camera’s field of view. The footage was brief, and the object showed no obvious wings, propulsion system or identifying features. [DVIDS]dvidshub.netMiddle East ObjectA video that depicts an apparent silver, orb-like object cross the sensor's field of view. This clip was taken by an MQ…
What made the case notable was not that AARO considered it extraordinary. In fact, Kirkpatrick explicitly stated that the office did not assess the object as displaying anomalous behaviour. The object remained unidentified because the available information was insufficient for a confident identification, not because it had demonstrated impossible performance. [DVIDS]dvidshub.netMiddle East ObjectA video that depicts an apparent silver, orb-like object cross the sensor's field of view. This clip was taken by an MQ… [2U.S.] Department of War
This was an important distinction in Kirkpatrick’s public messaging. AARO described the clip as representative of many reports where investigators possessed only limited data. Without additional sensor tracks, contextual information, corroborating observations or higher-quality imagery, analysts could not determine exactly what the object was. The case therefore remained open in the archive, awaiting further evidence. [Wikimedia Commons]commons.wikimedia.orgWikimedia CommonsFile:MiddleEast UAP 20220712 Official Footage from the USG…This clip was taken by an MQ-9 in the Middle East…
The orb became a useful example because it challenged both extremes of the debate:
- It was not identified with confidence.
- It was not dismissed as a hoax.
- It was not presented as evidence of non-human technology.
- It remained unresolved because the evidential record was incomplete. [DVIDS]dvidshub.netMiddle East ObjectA video that depicts an apparent silver, orb-like object cross the sensor's field of view. This clip was taken by an MQ…
That position reflected Kirkpatrick’s broader argument that unresolved cases should be treated as unresolved, rather than automatically assigned either mundane or exotic explanations.
The South Asia clip likely explained by sensor effects
The second MQ-9 example pointed in the opposite direction. This footage, recorded in South Asia, initially appeared more dramatic than the orb video. It showed an object apparently leaving a wake or trail behind it, creating the impression that it might be exhibiting unusual propulsion characteristics. [AARO]aaro.milOpen source on aaro.mil.
At first glance, the apparent trail looked potentially significant. In public UFO discussions, visible wakes, unusual signatures and unconventional flight characteristics are often cited as indicators that an object may not be an ordinary aircraft. Kirkpatrick used the case to show why investigators must be cautious about such impressions. [AARO]aaro.milAARO HomeUnidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) means (A) airborne objects that are not immediately identifiable; (B) transmedium objects…
According to AARO’s analysis, the footage was captured by an MQ-9’s forward-looking infrared sensor while it was observing another MQ-9. Further review suggested that the object was likely a conventional commercial aircraft. The dramatic-looking trail was assessed as a sensor or video-processing artefact related to compression effects rather than a genuine physical wake demonstrating exotic propulsion. AARO stated that the case was moving toward resolution pending final review. U.S. Department of War [Ang AF]106rqw.ang.af.milAng AFVideoAn MQ-9 forward-looking infrared video sensor captured this footage in South Asia as it was recording another MQ-9. After anal…
The significance of the clip was not that investigators instantly solved it. Rather, it demonstrated that an apparently anomalous visual feature could weaken under deeper technical analysis. What initially appeared to be unusual behaviour became less remarkable once analysts considered imaging limitations, infrared interpretation and the characteristics of the recording system itself. [U.S. Department of War]war.govdod working to better understand resolve anomalous phenomenaDepartment of WarDOD Working to Better Understand, Resolve Anomalous…19 Apr 2023 — Kirkpatrick, AARO… An MQ-9 forward-looking infra…
What the contrast revealed about Kirkpatrick’s evidence threshold
Taken together, the two MQ-9 videos offered perhaps the clearest public demonstration of Kirkpatrick’s evidential framework.
The Middle East orb remained unidentified, yet AARO did not regard it as evidence of extraordinary technology. The South Asia object initially looked more unusual, yet technical analysis pointed toward a conventional explanation. The lesson was that neither identification status nor visual impressiveness alone determined how AARO judged a case. [DVIDS]dvidshub.netMiddle East ObjectA video that depicts an apparent silver, orb-like object cross the sensor's field of view. This clip was taken by an MQ…
Kirkpatrick repeatedly argued that stronger conclusions required more than intriguing footage. Investigators wanted multiple data sources, sensor corroboration, contextual information, performance measurements and evidence that could survive technical scrutiny. A single video clip could raise questions, but it rarely settled them. [Space]space.compentagon aaro ufo hearing april 2023SpacePentagon has 'no credible evidence' of aliens or UFOs that…19 Apr 2023 — The director of the Pentagon's new UFO office shot down…
This approach also helps explain why Kirkpatrick resisted claims that hundreds of unresolved UAP reports constituted evidence of non-human technology. In his view, many cases fell into one of two categories:
- Insufficient information to identify the object.
- Initially unusual appearances later explained through better analysis.
The MQ-9 examples illustrated both possibilities. [AARO]aaro.milCHARACTERISTICS. PERFORMANCE.Read moreAAROThe US Department of Defense & the UAP MissionDecember 14, 2023 — 19 Apr 2023 — South Asia, 2023: MQ-9 observed UAP object apparently…
Why the videos mattered to assessments of Kirkpatrick’s credibility
For evaluating Sean Kirkpatrick’s credibility, the videos are significant because they show how he handled ambiguity in a public setting. He did not present the orb as proof of something extraordinary merely because it lacked an identification. Nor did he claim certainty where analysts were still reviewing evidence. At the same time, he publicly discussed a case that remained unresolved rather than insisting every report already had a mundane answer. [DVIDS]dvidshub.netMiddle East ObjectA video that depicts an apparent silver, orb-like object cross the sensor's field of view. This clip was taken by an MQ…
Supporters view this as evidence of a disciplined analytical approach. They argue that the paired videos demonstrated a willingness to separate mystery from anomaly and to distinguish unanswered questions from evidence of exotic technology. Critics, by contrast, contend that the public received only limited data and that outside analysts could not independently verify all of AARO’s conclusions. Some researchers later proposed alternative explanations for the Middle East orb, while others argued that the available footage was too sparse to support any firm conclusion. [bellingcat]bellingcat.comisnt that a balloon deflating a dod ufo videobellingcatIsn't That A Balloon? Deflating a DoD UFO Video24 Oct 2023 —… video of a metallic, spherical orb flying over the Middle East…
Yet the broader point of the hearing remained consistent: the videos were presented less as revelations than as case studies in evidence standards. Within the wider discussion of the 650 UAP cases, they showed the threshold Kirkpatrick believed had to be crossed before investigators could move from “unidentified” to “genuinely anomalous”. On the public record, neither MQ-9 example met that threshold. [AARO]aaro.milOpen source on aaro.mil. [U.S. Department of War]war.govDepartment of WarMultimedia | U.S. Department of War12 Jul 2022 — This clip was taken by an MQ-9 in the Middle East, and while AARO asses…
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Endnotes
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Source: aaro.mil
Title: CHARACTERISTICS. PERFORMANCE.Read more
Link: https://www.aaro.mil/Portals/136/PDFs/AARO_Brief_to_SASC-DoD_UAP_Mission-April_19_2023_508.pdfSource snippet
AAROThe US Department of Defense & the UAP MissionDecember 14, 2023 — 19 Apr 2023 — South Asia, 2023: MQ-9 observed UAP object apparently...
Published: December 14, 2023
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Source: war.gov
Title: dod working to better understand resolve anomalous phenomena
Link: https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3368109/dod-working-to-better-understand-resolve-anomalous-phenomena/Source snippet
Department of WarDOD Working to Better Understand, Resolve Anomalous...19 Apr 2023 — Kirkpatrick, AARO... An MQ-9 forward-looking infra...
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Source: space.com
Title: pentagon aaro ufo hearing april 2023
Link: https://www.space.com/pentagon-aaro-ufo-hearing-april-2023Source snippet
SpacePentagon has 'no credible evidence' of aliens or UFOs that...19 Apr 2023 — The director of the Pentagon's new UFO office shot down...
Published: april 2023
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Source: dvidshub.net
Link: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/880273/middle-east-objectSource snippet
Middle East ObjectA video that depicts an apparent silver, orb-like object cross the sensor's field of view. This clip was taken by an MQ...
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Source: war.gov
Link: https://www.war.gov/Multimedia/videoid/880273/Source snippet
Department of WarMultimedia | U.S. Department of War12 Jul 2022 — This clip was taken by an MQ-9 in the Middle East, and while AARO asses...
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Source: commons.wikimedia.org
Link: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AMiddleEast_UAP_20220712_Official_Footage_from_the_USG_for_Public_Release.webmSource snippet
Wikimedia CommonsFile:MiddleEast UAP 20220712 Official Footage from the USG...This clip was taken by an MQ-9 in the Middle East...
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Source: 106rqw.ang.af.mil
Link: https://www.106rqw.ang.af.mil/News/Video/videoid/880271/dvpTag/Objectives/Source snippet
Ang AFVideoAn MQ-9 forward-looking infrared video sensor captured this footage in South Asia as it was recording another MQ-9. After anal...
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Source: bellingcat.com
Title: isnt that a balloon deflating a dod ufo video
Link: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2023/10/24/isnt-that-a-balloon-deflating-a-dod-ufo-video/Source snippet
bellingcatIsn't That A Balloon? Deflating a DoD UFO Video24 Oct 2023 —... video of a metallic, spherical orb flying over the Middle East...
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Source: aaro.mil
Link: https://www.aaro.mil/UAP-Cases/Official-UAP-Imagery/ -
Source: aaro.mil
Link: https://www.aaro.mil/Source snippet
AARO HomeUnidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) means (A) airborne objects that are not immediately identifiable; (B) transmedium objects...
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Source: dvidshub.net
Link: https://www.dvidshub.net/r/tw42u9Source snippet
Middle East Object19 Apr 2023 — This clip was taken by an MQ-9 in the Middle East, and while AARO assesses the object in the clip is not...
Additional References
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/167nwhe/aaros_videos_the_us_government_cannot_identify/Source snippet
AAROs Videos: The US Government cannot identify...An MQ-9 forward-looking infrared video sensor captured this footage in South Asia as i...
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Source: sencanada.ca
Link: https://sencanada.ca/en/about/Source snippet
About the SenateThe Senate is the Upper House in Canada's bicameral parliamentary democracy. It unites a diverse group of accomplished Ca...
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Source: twz.com
Link: https://www.twz.com/news-features/revelation-that-mq-9-reapers-are-now-engaging-aerial-targets-comes-from-uap-hearingSource snippet
Revelation That MQ-9 Reapers Are Now Engaging Aerial...9 Sept 2025 — A newly disclosed video claims to show an MQ-9 trying to bring down...
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Source: facebook.com
Title: the video caught by an infrared camera aboard the platform in 2013 was reported
Link: https://www.facebook.com/WDTV5News/posts/the-video-caught-by-an-infrared-camera-aboard-the-platform-in-2013-was-reported-/1401468618694557/Source snippet
The video, caught by an infrared camera aboard...The video, caught by an infrared camera aboard the platform in 2013, was reported by th...
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Source: metabunk.org
Title: The hi-tech camera picks up the movement, switching targets from
Link: https://www.metabunk.org/threads/middle-east-2022-mq-9-observed-apparent-spherical-uap-via-aaro.12932/Source snippet
Middle East 2022 MQ-9 Observed Apparent Spherical UAP...22 Apr 2023 — The footage was shot on July 12, 2022 from an American MQ-9 Reaper...
Published: July 12, 2022
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Source: europeafrica.army.mil
Title: mil African Lion Middle East Object. Defense Media Activity
Link: https://www.europeafrica.army.mil/What-We-Do/Exercises/African-Lion/?dvpTag=object&dvpmoduleid=55722&videoid=880273Source snippet
LionMiddle East Object. Defense Media Activity - Proper. April 19, 2023 | 0:24... Sean Kirkpatrick, director... orb-like object cross t...
Published: April 19, 2023
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Source: allarab.news
Title: us drone operating in middle east spots mysterious orb
Link: https://allarab.news/us-drone-operating-in-middle-east-spots-mysterious-orb/Source snippet
20 Apr 2023 — A “Reaper” drone, being operated in the Middle East by the US military, identified a strange “metallic orb” flying through...
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Source: thedebrief.org
Title: The Debrief Has the Mystery Behind One of the U.S
Link: https://thedebrief.org/has-the-mystery-behind-one-of-the-u-s-militarys-uap-videos-been-solved/Source snippet
Military's UAP...26 Oct 2023 — Screenshot of an unreconciled UAP captured with electro-optical sensors aboard an MQ-9 Reaper, shown duri...
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Source: brewminate.com
Title: the missile the orb and the limits of what we know
Link: https://brewminate.com/the-missile-the-orb-and-the-limits-of-what-we-know/Source snippet
The Missile, the Orb, and the Limits of What We Know19 Sept 2025 — On September 9–10, members of Congress were shown video of a U.S...
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Source: reddit.com
Title: new mosul orb foia video reveals kirkpatrick
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/1lrfvar/new_mosul_orb_foia_video_reveals_kirkpatrick/Source snippet
Likely Lied...The video was first shown during the April 2023 Senate/AARO hearing with Kirsten Gillibrand chairing, where Kirkpatrick pr...
Published: April 2023
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