South Asia: MQ-9 Records Anomalous Object with Wake
An MQ-9 Reaper drone captured infrared footage of a fast-moving object displaying an apparent atmospheric wake while operating in South Asia. The sensor recorded the anomaly while filming another MQ-9 aircraft in the region.
Background
On January 15, 2023, a military MQ-9 Reaper drone equipped with forward-looking infrared sensors recorded unusual aerial activity in South Asia. The footage captured an unidentified object moving rapidly across the sensor's field of view from left to right, exhibiting what appeared to be an atmospheric wake or cavitation trailing behind it. The drone was reportedly recording another MQ-9 when it detected the anomaly. The video subsequently became subject to analysis by the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), which later concluded the object was likely a commercial aircraft and the visible trail resulted from video compression artifacts rather than physical atmospheric effects.