Persian Gulf: FLIR Captures Three UAP in Triangle Formation
On August 23, 2012, a US military MQ-1 Predator drone operating under US Air Force direction recorded three unidentified objects in triangle formation over the Persian Gulf using Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR). The objects demonstrated abrupt directional changes and intelligent control with no visible propulsion or thermal signatures. The footage was catalogued within US Intelligence Community investigations and released by journalists Jeremy Corbell and George Knapp in January 2026.
Background
On August 23, 2012, at 18:21 UTC, military personnel operating a MQ-1 Predator drone under US Air Force direction documented multiple unidentified objects in formation using thermographic/FLIR imaging over the Persian Gulf (coordinates 28.4547N, 50.5603E). The approximately 75-second video initially shows what appears to be a single triangular craft with lights, which resolves into three separate objects. The objects were classified as Orbs in formation and designated as Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena. According to the releasing journalists, the footage demonstrates the absence of traditional propulsion systems or thermal signatures during observed, seemingly playful maneuvers. The case was officially documented and catalogued within Intelligence Community investigations. The analytical value lies in the metadata of the reconnaissance instrument rather than image quality alone.
Significance
This represents another officially documented military FLIR encounter catalogued within Intelligence Community investigations, demonstrating continued UAP incursions in strategically sensitive regions.